Overview of the oil foundation course

“The aim of the course is to set the individual in good stead to paint confidently with oils in the studio and to undertake exercises and studies in oil independently.” - Louise Lenz school founder

The Burnt Sienna oil painting course is a traditional and practical foundation in oil painting developed by Louise Lenz and Hannah Turner- Duffin over the last 10 years. The course consists of six three hour classes in our beautiful historic studio in Neukölln. The course offers an academic beginner's active introduction to oil painting; covering contemporary studio practice right through to building a canvas stretcher from scratch. The course is designed to empower the individual to continue painting after the course ends and establish their own independent studio practice.

Tutor Emily Morey in the studio

The course will break down many of the myths surrounding oil painting and enable students to become familiar with oil paint and painting techniques. You will finish the course with a rich array of paintings and studies ranging from a painting on canvas where you have constructed the canvas yourself and some oil studies on oil paper.

Working alongside a practicing artist with one on one tutorials, group critiques and painting demonstrations with five other students, you will develop and hone your artistic skills and individual practice. The course is complimented and fortified with group critiques and dialogues to build your confidence and ability to speak about your art work and printed exercise and information sheets.

The course will provide you with an introduction to but not limited to:

  • paint handling palette preparation how to build a tonal scale

  • under painting with thinners how to make up the palette and start painting on a white canvas

  • composition construction with a scanner , transfer techniques etc.

  • mediums and glazes what solvent vehicle use for your oil paint

  • colour theory

  • glazing and mark making

  • surface preparation in gesso or rabbit skin glue

  • stretcher building how to construct your own canvas from scratch

  • contemporary art theory vs traditional theory



‘I’m so glad to have found this beauty of an art school. So far I’ve attended the winter oil course and the portrait in oil workshop and I can’t wait to do more. Louise (and Jesse) have been excellent teachers, enabling and inspiring me to explore painting- something I’ve had on my list for a very long time. Thank you Burnt Sienna!” Testimonial from Rachel Foreman 2021 



Course Content                    (subject to change with developments and improvements - all content here included plus more)

Week one:  We will begin with an introduction and orientation of the studio, then move on to  transcribing an image from a master work or image: focus will be upon paint handling, mixing black, building a palette and application of a tonal scale in order to produce a study on paper in the time given. Grisaille painting technique: monochromatic painting.

Week two:  Discussion and introduction to surfaces. Stretching the canvas on the bars. Adding glue to size the canvas.  Preparing sources and thumbnails, we will begin to think  about constructing a composition. Students are asked to bring resources, photographs, source material postcards and objects etc. We start constructing a composition and building a ground.

Week three :   Extension of introduction to surfaces and application to stretched canvas. Introduction to colour theory and colour mixing and applying this to a still life painting on paper under guidance. Hannah will demonstrate how to make up a colour palette and you will work throughout the session from a still life. There will be a focus on colour values, composition, form, colour identification and mixing and mark making. 

Week four: Introduction to underpainting and starting a canvas painting using your own resources, going back over composition and colour theory as we move forwards throughout the sessions.

Week five:  Introduction to glazing techniques and more on colour theory. Start to build glazes on individual canvases, working with contrast and tone, building depth and creating highlights.

Week 6:  Finishing highlights lowlights, varnishing and depth. Continuing on to the final layers of your paintings and completing your canvas paintings. Depending on each student's development there is the possibility to complete several studies on paper and one canvas painting.


Materials and Equipment 

Course fees include the teaching fee, oil painting materials and all studio equipment. Students are encouraged to bring their own brushes if they have them. During the course we ask students to buy two small tubes of oil colour of their choice and student quality. The rough cost of this would be max. 30 euros. However if you are on a budget it is not essential and you can complete the course without extra purchases. We do use expensive products and oil painting is not a poor mans business. You will find although we use academy quality paints we will use quality oil papers and canvases with a broad range to give you the experience to go out and get your own products after the course.  There are refreshments in the studio including tea, coffee, biscuits and snacks.

What do I need to bring with me ?

Please bring clothes that can get dirty, any snacks you might need, positive energy and ideas for creativity! Any art materials you would like to discuss with the tutor, any paints you have collected, sketchbooks with notes or drawings to inspire you. House slippers are provided we do not permit outdoor shoes in the space, some people like to bring their own slippers this is welcome.

Where does the course take place ?

The oil painting course is taught in our beautiful Neukölln attic studio in the heart of the art district and far from the bustle of the street. It is in the attic on the top floor so take your time on the stairs, especially if you have any health problems. The studio is well ventilated with Dyson air purifier, roof access and fans. There are plenty of local shops and bakeries to find lunch. We are about a 4 minute walk from Rathaus Neukölln on the U7 and 10 minutes from Hermannplatz U8.

Refund policy

A deposit is payable to secure a place on our courses of 150 euros. A refund of the deposit is possible up until 2 weeks before the first class. A return of the full fee is possible at 50% two weeks before the course start date. The fee is payable on the date of your first class, if you need to spread the payments out over the course length we can set up a payment plan.

Lateness, missed classes and sickness

If you will be more than 10 minutes late without letting the tutor know, please expect to miss the class. Of course life happens but let us know as soon as you know what's going on, places on our courses are precious and with only limited spaces in an intimate setting we look for discipline in our students, this in turn is great for artistic output!

 If you are ill for a class or unable to attend please let us know as far in advance as possible via email or whatsapp. We can offer a refund of the deposit up to 2 weeks before the start of the course and not afterwards. Under very special circumstances we do offer full refunds. If you are ill please wait until you are fully recovered to attend your class. 

Burnt Sienna Philosophy 

Burnt Sienna art school Berlin offers two core courses in drawing and painting, these courses take seasonally. The programme has been developed by artist Louise Lenz over the last 10 years and she is an associate  tutor at the Newlyn School of Art. The traditional teaching techniques and methods Louise brings from this highly respected art school in Cornwall are brought to Berlin and work alongside contemporary methods. Louise is the mentee of artist Jesse Leroy Smith who comes from the ROyal Academy schools.  Unlike other independent art schools in Berlin, Burnt Sienna Art School Berlin  limits class sizes in order to ensure the highest level of artistic development and flexibility towards methods of teaching. After every course students are awarded with a certificate on completion.

Entry requirements

Basic English language although German is understood and spoken too. This course is suitable for both beginners and those looking to set up a studio independently.  We ask that you have lived in Berlin for at least 3 months and you have good boundaries with your employer in order to attend the course as fully as possible. The studio is in the Attic on the 6th floor so some mobility is required.