Description

🖼️ Discovering pigments and oil techniques from the 15th-17th century

Dates : 7-11 September 2026
Location : In Paris Ateliers, SOUHAM (Paris 13th)
Duration : 5 days / 30 hours of lessons (6h/day)
Price : 450 €
Level : all levels
Places : max 10 participants

This course offers an immersion in the techniques of ancient painting through the discovery of natural pigments, the preparation of supports and the learning of the traditional processes used by European painters from the Middle Ages to the Renaissance.

Participants will realize a personal work while discovering the historical know-how related to the manufacture of colours and the construction of a painting in successive layers.

Day 1 – Discovery of materials, preparation of support and installation of your table

Introduction to the history of ancient painting, Presentation of natural pigments: mineral, plant and animal origins, preparation of traditional media (roofing and gesso preparation). Setting up the drawing and first layer (maigre) of paint on your painting.

Day 2 – Fabrication of colors, preparation of mediums and resumption of work of your table

Study of the different natural pigments (those necessary to make your table), Grinding and preparation of pigments, principles of colour conservation and stability, manufacture of traditional mediums, initiation to painting chemistry. Second layer of paint on your painting.

Day 3 – Continuation of media manufacturing and continuation of your table work

Application of 2 additional layers of gesso. Chassis voltage if necessary. Third layer of paint on your painting: looking for just tones; more material input.

Day 4 – End of media manufacturing and continuation of your table work

Application of 2 additional layers of gesso. Sanding every layer. Fourth layer of paint on your table: material differentiation work: flesh, wood, fabrics ...

Day 5 – Completion and presentation of achievements

Final touches, colour harmonization, work on details and effects of matter, finishing of the work, collective presentation of the works and exchanges around the techniques discussed.

At the end of the course, the participants will be able to identify and use different natural pigments, prepare a painting medium according to traditional methods, manufacture colors and mediums, implement a painting in successive layers and realize a personal work inspired by ancient techniques and understand the fundamental principles of painting of the ancient masters.

📝 Registration

👉 Directly to Paris Ateliers, by following this link: LISTING