Seeing & Mixing Colour: The Optical Art of Portrait Painting
24 to 28 August 2026
INSTRUCTOR | Tom van de Wouwer
HOURS | 9:30 to 16:30 (lunch from 12:30 to 13:30) – 30 hours of studio lessons
LANGUAGE | Nederlands / English (group discussions are in English)
TUITION FEE | €750,-
LIMIT | 16 students
RECOMMENDED LEVEL | This workshop is accessible to beginners, but recommended for artists with some experience painting in oils.
Course Description
Dive into the fascinating world of colour in painting with this hands-on workshop, focused on working from a portrait model. Through small colour studies, you’ll explore the rich variety your palette has to offer. You’ll also learn practical techniques for mixing oil paints and gain strategies for tackling some of the trickier aspects of colour when painting from observation.
The workshop will guide you through both the optical experience of colour and the challenges of translating it onto canvas. You’ll explore colour theory, palette organization, historical and modern palettes, and colour relationships, gaining tools to paint with greater confidence and clarity.
The class combines lectures and demonstrations with one-on-one feedback from life, giving you space to experiment while receiving personalised guidance. Tom’s instruction is tailored to all levels: beginners will find this logical analysis of colour approachable, while advanced students will be challenged to deepen your understanding.
Tom says:
“Join us to have your myths about colour dispelled and fresh insights gained! Bring your most vibrant colours, bring your dullest colours, prepare your toughest questions and I will try to answer them all!”
Key Learning Concepts
- Gain confidence in colour mixing and application when painting from life, with practical strategies for working in oils
- Explore colour theory and relationships, including palette organisation, historical and modern approaches, and optical effects
- Develop the ability to translate observed colour onto canvas with accuracy, clarity, and expressive potential
- Receive personalised guidance and feedback to deepen your understanding and experiment with colour
- Challenge assumptions about colour and gain fresh insights into how to use it effectively in portrait painting
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Tom van de Wouwer
Tom Van de Wouwer was born in Kapellen, Belgium. He studied drawing and painting with Ted Seth Jacobs in the U.S. and France, Studio Escalier (Paris) and Steven Assael, NYC.
Tom’s work has exhibited in Belgium, U.K. and the U.S.A. and is collected internationally. When he is not creating personal work, Tom divides his time between teaching workshops or instructing students privately.
His work has largely focused on people and portraits, and more recently has evolved to explore the human condition through a contemporary painter’s visual and historical language.
Tom currently lives with his family in Opwijk, Belgium.