Contemporary Figurative Painting Course

Discover contemporary figurative painting through observation, colour, and composition.



10 x 2 hours Class size 1 to 3 guests    

  £80 - £100 (£80 for Weekdays; £100 for Weekends) (PayPal Pay in 3 available)

Discover your artistic direction

Discover Your Artistic Direction

We'll begin by talking about your interests, inspirations and experience. Whether you already have a clear idea or need guidance, we'll develop a concept that feels personal and exciting.


Choose your materials

Choose Your Materials

Explore a range of painting surfaces—from paper and cardboard to wood and canvas—and discover the qualities of different paints and drawing materials, including acrylics, oil, gouache, watercolours, crayons, etc.


Plan your composition

Plan Your Composition

Learn how to translate your ideas into a strong composition. We'll discuss references, sketching techniques and how to prepare your surface before painting.


Build your painting step by step

Build Your Painting Step by Step

I'll demonstrate how to start a painting with confidence, developing it gradually through layers, from broad shapes and colour relationships to finer details.


Explore techniques and brushwork

Explore Techniques and Brushwork

Experiment with different ways of applying paint, handling brushes and using a variety of tools to create texture, atmosphere and expressive marks.


Refine and make it your own

Refine and Make It Your Own

As your painting develops, I'll provide individual feedback and guidance, helping you resolve the work while encouraging you to develop your own artistic voice.


Develop your artistic practice

Develop Your Artistic Practice

Leave with new techniques, fresh ideas and personalised guidance to continue building your skills. Each class is designed to help you grow your confidence and develop your own artistic voice over time.


Join this personalised, one-to-one figurative painting course and discover contemporary figurative painting through observation, colour and composition, all guided at a pace that suits you.
You'll begin by talking through your interests, inspirations and experience, whether you've got a clear idea already or need a helping hand finding one, so together we can shape a concept that feels genuinely personal and exciting to paint. From there, I'll introduce you to a range of painting surfaces, from paper and wood to canvas, and guide you through the possibilities of different paints and drawing materials, including acrylic, gouache, watercolours and crayons, so you can discover what best supports your artistic interests and working methods.
With your materials chosen, you'll learn how to turn your ideas into a strong composition, working through references, sketching techniques and surface preparation before gradually building your painting. I'll demonstrate how to develop a work with confidence, layer by layer, from broad shapes and colour relationships through to finer details, while exploring different approaches to brushwork, texture, atmosphere and expressive mark-making.
Throughout the process, you'll receive individual feedback tailored to your goals, helping you refine your work while developing and trusting your own artistic voice. My teaching is informed by over two decades of professional artistic practice, five years of Fine Arts education, and four years of postgraduate study at the Royal Academy of Arts in London. This means you'll be learning through an approach shaped not only by years of making and exhibiting artwork internationally, but also by the critical thinking and methodology associated with university-level Fine Arts education. Rather than simply demonstrating techniques, I aim to help you understand why you are making artistic decisions and how to build a sustainable, independent creative practice.
Because this course is designed to grow with you, each class builds on the last, introducing new techniques, materials and ideas alongside personalised guidance. As your confidence develops, I'll also help you build your own collection of materials and tools, choosing those that best suit your evolving practice rather than encouraging unnecessary purchases.
By the end, you'll have established the foundations of a long-term painting practice, supported by personalised mentorship and a structured approach that continues to evolve with every session. Whether you're taking your first steps or looking to deepen an existing practice, my goal is to give you the confidence, knowledge and critical understanding to continue developing as an artist long after each class ends.
Alongside my studio practice, I'm also the co-founder of Fair Art Trade, an international platform that supports and promotes contemporary artists. As a member of its board, I occasionally identify emerging artists whose work demonstrates a distinctive commitment and potential. While there is no formal pathway or guarantee of inclusion, exceptional students may, where appropriate, be encouraged to apply or be considered for the platform. My priority is always to support each student's artistic development, but I'm equally committed to helping dedicated artists connect with wider professional opportunities when the time is right.
What you'll get
Personalised mentoring, practical painting skills and long-term artistic development.
Knowledge required
Open to all levels—from complete beginners with no prior experience to more advanced artists looking to deepen and refine their painting practices.
What to bring
To get you started, I will explain in depth a wide range of materials and together we will be able to test them and explore their possibilities. As your practice develops, I'll help you build your own personalised toolkit, guiding you in choosing the materials and surfaces that best suit your artistic interests, working methods, and long-term goals.
Session repeats

After the first session, subsequent sessions can be arranged with the teacher, at a time that suits you.

Location

Thames-Side Studios Woolwich, Harrington Way, Off Warspite Rd, London SE18 5NR

Contemporary Figurative Painting Course location
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Your teacher

Tania Blanco
Tania Blanco

female Women-owned

I've been making art for over 20 years, driven by a fascination with how personal stories connect to wider social and environmental issues. I studied Fine Arts at the Polytechnic University of Valencia, spent part of my degree at Middlesex University in London, and later completed the prestigious postgraduate programme at the Royal Academy of Arts in London. Throughout my career, I've been fortunate to receive support from organisations such as the Pollock-Krasner Foundation, Casa de Velázquez, the Bogliasco Foundation, MATADERO Madrid and several international artist residency programmes, which have allowed me to develop my practice and exhibit my work in museums and galleries across Europe and the United States.
Teaching and guiding is a very rewarding part of my artistic journey. I love helping people to paint, as well as learning to observe, experiment and trust instinct and ideas. Whether someone is picking up a pencil for the first time or developing an established practice, I enjoy creating a welcoming environment where they feel confident to explore, ask questions and surprise themselves. My classes are not only about learning techniques but also about encouraging curiosity, creative thinking and finding your own visual language.
Something many people don't know is that contemporary art often begins with research rather than making. My own work combines drawing, sculpture, installation and found materials, inspired by current social and environmental issues, and I enjoy sharing how ideas evolve from observation into finished artworks.
Over the years, my work has been exhibited internationally, and my recent solo exhibitions have received recognition (https://www.taniablanco.com/BIO). Most importantly, I hope to share the excitement of making art with others and help students leave each session feeling inspired, more confident and eager to keep creating.

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2026-07-17 15:00:00
class 1E57MXLBSX b30fa37a8c654059964d2a78c24cea95 production london London London GB london