Self-portrait in Oils

Learn to paint a realistic self-portrait on this detailed course.

Key details

Location

Falmouth Campus

Course duration

4 days

Course overview

Gain a detailed technical understanding of self-portrait and oil painting techniques on this 4-day course run by Emily Roberts.

Starting with the foundational knowledge of the classical sight size technique, you'll spend 4 days in practical workshops creating first drawings and then a final painting in oil of yourself. You’ll take all your work home with you at the end of the course.

Suitable for all levels and based in a lovely light art studio on our Falmouth Campus, with all materials you’ll need included.

Tuition fees per individual: £550

How to apply

See course dates below that are available to book.

Upcoming courses

Self-portrait by Emily Roberts

Mon 28 Jul 2025

4-day course 28 - 31 July | Price: £550

Self-portrait in oils

In-person

Join us to paint a realistic self-portrait in oil paint on this detailed 4 day course. Starting...

Self-portrait in oils

If no upcoming Short Courses are displayed above, get in touch with us for more information.

Course details

Join us to paint a realistic self-portrait in oil paint on this detailed 4 day course.

We'll teach you to look at the technicalities of anatomy, proportions, and compositional strategies as well as expression.

As well as gaining a technical understanding of self-portrait and oil painting techniques, you'll also study colour theory, learning to mix paint using a limited colour palette.

You'll take your charcoal drawings and final self-portrait in oil on canvas home with you.

On our final afternoon the course will conclude with a peer review of everyone’s work and a small celebration of achievements. You’ll leave with your final oil painting on canvas, your charcoal drawing, and a greater understanding of oil painting techniques that you can use in your work following the course.

Please see the course outline for more information on what each day will cover.

This course is taught by Emily Roberts, an artist and teacher whose work is held in private collections across Europe and North America.

All materials you’ll need are included in this course, using professional art supplies; and tea and coffee is provided each day. Please bring a packed lunch with you or there are nearby café’s in Falmouth (an hour is allowed for lunch each day).

Day one:
After discussing the symbolic history of the self portrait and testing a few compositional devices, as well as the history of the sight size technique, we will choose the pose. We will then begin to draw the self portrait in charcoal, focusing on finding contour and delineating light and shade.

Day two:
We will continue with the charcoal portrait drawing, slowly building up the values, finding variation in the treatment of edges and working towards likeness. In the final hour of the day we will have the option to transfer the outlines of this drawing on to the canvas.

Day three:
Beginning with a demonstration of the limited palette, colour mixing and paint application we will begin to paint, completing a ‘lay in’ by the end of the day. We will discuss wet into wet painting, and the value of painting in thin layers that build towards an intensity of colour. We will also continue to check the drawing, ensuring that the likeness and shapes remain.

Day four:
We will begin the day by assessing the paint quality, and then continue to build up layers of paint, creating thicker, more opaque light areas and keeping the darker areas thinner and more translucent. Techniques such as glazing, impasto, scraping back and mechanical softening will all be covered, as well as finalising design elements in order to create a harmonised composition.

How you'll learn

Emily teaches this course in an accessible method where traditional techniques are built up step by step. Each day will be spent in taught sessions, with time to develop and explore techniques as you work through each day.

Each evening there is optional time to continue to develop your work on your own, with the studio open until 21:00.

Who is this course for

This course is suitable for creative people with all levels of experience, whether you are a beginner wishing to explore oil painting or whether you have existing experience of drawing or portraiture and wish to develop your technique further.

Course leader: Emily Roberts

Emily Roberts is a figurative painter and sculptor. After studying History of Art at the University of Bristol she attended Charles Cecil Studios in Florence where she trained in classical drawing and oil painting. Since then she has expanded her field of knowledge from this traditional foundation to include pastel painting, ceramic sculpture, stone carving and the creation of inks and paints with an increased focus on creating her own materials from natural, sustainable, local materials.

At Charles Cecil Studios Emily also took on various teaching and administrative roles, and has continued to teach throughout her career at studios across the UK and Europe. She is currently a Senior Technician for Life Drawing and Painting at Falmouth University and teaches regular workshops in Cornwall, including at St Ives School of Painting. 

She has shown work in institutions such as the Royal Academy, Turner Contemporary and Mall Galleries. Her work is held in private collections across Europe, Asia and America. 

Each day will have the following timings:  

9.30: Arrival and welcome, tea and coffee  

10am – 1pm: Morning session   

1pm – 2pm: Lunch break (please bring a packed lunch or visit a nearby cafe)  

2pm – 5pm: Afternoon session  

5pm – 9pm: The art studio will remain open until 9pm on days 1-3 for you to continue working on your own, if you wish to do so.

An apron or clothing you don’t mind getting messy!
Please remember to bring a packed lunch with you.
You may wish to bring a reusable water bottle with you.

All materials and equipment you’ll need are provided, using professional-quality art supplies. However if you have favourite brushes you wish to use please bring them with you.

Tea/coffee is included each day. Please bring a packed lunch with you.

This course is taught in a lovely light fine art studio on the top floor of Lamorva on our Falmouth Campus.

Our Falmouth Campus can be reached via a range of public transport options. You can find out more, here.  

For campus maps and information on visiting us, please visit our How to find us page. 

This course is open to all adults with no prerequisite knowledge, it’s suitable for all levels of experience. Whether you are a beginner wishing to explore self-portraits or oil painting or whether you have existing experience of portraiture and wish to develop your technique further this course will be suitable for you.

Accommodation is not included in this course cost. If you would like to book accommodation, please see our accommodation for short course students page for a range of options.  

Our Falmouth campus is not fully accessible, with some activities in early Victorian three storey buildings.

Please contact us if you have questions about mobility and access.  

How to apply

To apply for this course, make your selection from the available dates below, this will take you to an event page where you will be able to book yourself onto the course via the Book now link.

Tuition fees per individual: £550