Bird Painting in Acrylics for Improvers-Mansfield Woodhouse Library-AL

Mansfield Woodhouse Library, Mansfield

Key details

Date -
Sessions Fridays: 12:30pm - 3pm
No. sessions 6
Venue Mansfield Woodhouse Library, Mansfield
For ages 19+
Group size 5 - 12
Cost Free

About this course

Suitable for Improvers, on this course, you will be taught how to paint birds. You will complete several small paintings in acrylic based on a photo reference. Working from photographs, tuition is provided through a mixture of demonstrations and exercises according to your needs, as well as informal group critiques and discussions, all helping to increase your knowledge and enjoyment of nature painting.

  • The course covers tips and tricks on how to successfully paint different birds in nature. 
  • Selecting appropriate photo references 
  • Analising examples of birds painting in the work of different artists 
  • Colour mixing: saturated versus non saturated colours 
  • Depicting details: hard edges versus soft edges 
  • Blending, layering and impasto techniques 

Resources required by attendees

  • 20 x 30 cm stretched canvases or canvas boards
  • Acrylic paper
  • Sketch pad
  • Acrylic paint* (Cadmium Red, Alizarin Crimson, Magenta, Cadmium Yellow, Lemon Yellow, Cobalt Blue, Ultramarine Blue, Burnt Umber, Titanium White acrylic paint), white acrylic  gesso
  • Palette
  • Glycerin, 
  • Spray bottle
  • A range of synthetic paint brushes
  • Graphite pencils
  • Metal palette knife
  •  Silicone spatula
  • Baby wipes
  • Cotton rags 

The art materials are to be discussed during the first session of the course when the tutor will cover the topic. 


This course is programmed as part of the Miner2Major Landscape Partnership scheme, supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

Booking your place and fee information

If you are in receipt of certain benefits you will be offered the course for free, however if you have a financial barrier which may prevent you from enrolling on the course  please visit our webpage for further information  https://www.inspireculture.org.uk/skills-learning/funding-your-courses/


To secure your place on the course BOTH the following must be done:

  • Complete the EVENTBRITE BOOKING.
  • Complete our INSPIRE ONLINE ENROLMENT FORM for each person attending the course.

You should be redirected to the Inspire Online Enrolment Form after completing the Eventbrite booking.  If you are not redirected, please use the link supplied in the Eventbrite booking confirmation email.


To book and enrol on one of our courses, you must have been living in England and have been resident in the UK for the past 3 years.


Some exceptions may apply if you are living in England with evidence of the right to remain and are from an EEU/EEAU country (completion of a questionnaire will be required).


As we no longer receive funding for our ESFA-funded courses for learners living in the devolved areas listed below, full cost fees would apply to these courses if you live in these areas:

  • Barnsley, Doncaster, Rotherham and Sheffield 
  • Cambridgeshire and Peterborough
  • Greater London
  • Greater Manchester
  • Liverpool City Region
  • Newcastle Upon Tyne, North Tyneside and Northumberland
  • Tees Valley
  • West of England
  • West Midlands
  • West Yorkshire

Any questions?

Check the FAQs page, or get in touch:

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