Scottish Castles in Oil: A Four-Week Painting Workshop

Join James Robertson for a four-week painting workshop inspired by the dramatic castles and landscapes of Scotland. Having moved to South Carolina from Scotland two years ago, he is delighted to share his love of Scotland’s rich history, rugged scenery, and distinctive light through this immersive painting experience.

Over four consecutive Saturdays, students will develop a finished oil painting of a Scottish castle while learning the fundamental principles of landscape painting, composition, colour, and value.

Week One: Observation, Composition, and Planning
You will begin by exploring a selection of reference images featuring some of Scotland’s most iconic castles, alongside examples of Scottish landscape paintings. Robertson will discuss composition, atmosphere, and the unique qualities of the Scottish landscape.

Students will then create a series of value sketches to explore different compositions before producing several small colour studies. These preliminary exercises will help establish the design, lighting, and mood of the final painting.

Week Two: Underpainting and Colour
Students will select the castle they wish to paint and begin the blocking-in stage of their final painting. This process establishes the major shapes and the pattern of light and shadow through an underpainting.

You will spend time experimenting with colour mixing, focusing on the earthy palette characteristic of the Scottish landscape, including ochres, muted greens, browns, and the subtle purples often found in the hills and heather.

You will then begin painting the sky, paying particular attention to establishing accurate values, as the sky sets the overall lighting and atmosphere for the entire painting.

Week Three: Building the Landscape
With the foundation established, you will develop the landscape by working from the distant hills and trees toward the middle ground. Students will gradually strengthen the forms, refine colour relationships, and begin introducing architectural and landscape details.

By the end of the session, the entire painting will be blocked in with its first full layers of colour, creating a solid foundation for the finishing stages.

Week Four: Finishing the Painting
The final session begins with another look at examples of Scottish landscape painting, focusing on the relationship between light, shadow, atmosphere, and colour.

Students will then complete the foreground, refine the castle, and add the final details that bring the painting to life. Robertson will discuss the role of detail in landscape painting and how knowing what to leave out can be just as important as knowing what to include.

The workshop concludes with the final finishing touches, signing our paintings, and celebrating the completion of a unique Scottish landscape inspired by some of Scotland’s magnificent castles.

Instructor: James Robertson
James Robertson is a landscape painter newly arrived from Scotland. Through his paintings, he captures moments of stillness found in the natural world.

Dates:
Aug. 15
Aug. 22
Aug. 29
Sept. 5

Times:
10 AM – 12 PM

Cost:
$200 | $65 drop in rate