5 Day In-Person Oil Painting Portrait Masterclass
This is not your typical painting workshop.
“I’m creating an experience for artists that I wish existed for me. Five days of intensive, personalised teaching where we break down the entire creative process, from concept to finished painting. You’ll create a work designed around your own artistic goals, with individual guidance on your creative decisions, techniques and the skills you need to strengthen to make the paintings you want to make and build the artistic practice you want to have.
Portraiture asks us to slow down, look closely at another person and search for what it is about them that we want to honour in paint. Across five focused days, Jesse will guide you through the complete process of designing, drawing and painting a portrait.”
— Jesse Le Clerc
Join Jess Leclerc in a 5-day, hands-on Oil Painting Masterclass where you’ll develop personalised techniques, deepen your understanding of figure in landscape painting, and create your own piece with guidance every step of the way.
Currently running Australia’s largest private art school with over 800 weekly students, Jess has established herself not only as a professional art teacher with over 25 years experience, but as an award winning artist in her own right. This combination of both practising artist & teacher is what sets Jess and her masterclass apart.
Having also attended in-person workshops globally, led by renowned artists like Casey Baugh, David Kassan, Shana Levenson, Robin Eley and Andrew Tischler. Jess incorporates the valuable insights and techniques learnt from these artists.
Monday 11th January - Friday 15th January 2027
Places are limited, this masterclass does sell out.
About This Masterclass
Students will learn how to paint with these modes: value, temperature, perspective, volume of paint and edges.
In this comprehensive, almost 40-hour oil painting masterclass, students will delve into techniques and expertise Jesse has gathered as an emerging Australian figure-in-landscape painter and teacher.
Each morning and afternoon, Jesse will complete a full demonstration of the stage students will be working on, allowing everyone to see the process clearly before beginning their own work. Throughout the week she will also provide detailed step-by-step guidance, and personalised instruction for every student.
While the Masterclass follows a carefully structured five-day program, much of Jesse’s teaching is responsive to the artists in the room.
She works closely with each student to understand their strengths, challenges and what they’re wanting to develop in their own practice. For someone who naturally paints with lots of detail, that might mean learning to loosen their brushwork. For another, it might mean developing stronger drawing skills, colour relationships or a more confident approach to painting.
The teaching is tailored to what each student and the group as a whole needs, so while everyone learns the same foundational principles, the direction of their individual work can be completely different.
Jesse will cover design and composition, foundational drawing, underpainting, colour theory and how students can apply their own style to their work.
This Masterclass isn’t about learning to paint like Jesse. Students will choose from a selection of curated reference images, then work with Jesse to design their own unique artwork, making decisions about composition, colour, paint handling and style.
The aim is to give each student the skills and understanding to make work that feels like their own, and to develop techniques they can continue using in their creative practice long after the Masterclass.
Alongside their painting, each student will build a Personal Practice Journal throughout the five days. The journal is designed to help you capture what you’re learning, understand where you are in your own practice and begin developing a practical plan for what to work on next, so the progression continues long after the masterclass is over.
Students will not rely on projection or tracing for their portraits. Instead, Jessie will teach her proven method of achieving perspective through manual sketching and observational skills.
Whilst this masterclass is suited for all levels of artists, it is required that students have had some experience with using oils before enrolling.
Schedule, Dates & Location
Friday 25th September – Tuesday 29th September
Monday 11th January – Friday 15th January 2027
Art School Co. – 32 Wises Rd, Buderim QLD
Day 1 – Demonstrations, Drawing, and Designing a Portrait
Day 2 – Demonstrations, Drawing up on Canvas and Underpainting
Day 3 – Demonstrations, Painting and Finding the Flow of the Piece
Day 4 – Demonstrations, Full day of painting.
Day 5 – Finalising the Portrait: How to Bring Your Artwork to Completion
8.30am – 4pm Daily (we finish at 4pm each day so there’s still time to get some sunlight in the afternoon)
What’s Included
- 5 full days of tuition from Jess
- Daily demonstrations
- A Personal Practice Journal
- A choice of curated reference photographs, with usage rights included
- Your canvas
- Art School tote bag and apron
- Group lunch on the final day
- Easels, tables and chairs, all provided
Supply Options
If you choose to rent or buy your supplies through us, you won’t need to source the paints or brushes listed in the Full Paint & Brush List below. Regardless of which option you choose, please also check the “What You Need to Bring” section for the few items every student needs to bring with them.
Option 1: BYO Supplies
If you are a painter you may have most of the required supplies, so check the list below for what Jesse recommends and bring your own. If BYO supplies, similar quality paint brands and brush sizes can be used also. Eg Winsor & Newton / Schmincke / Art Spectrum / Michael Harding / Sennelier / Rosemary Co. etc. Please don’t cut corners with cheap supplies!
Option 2: Rent Supplies From Us
We will be offering a paint supply rental program for those who don’t want to buy or bring their paints. For $100 you can use all of the paint, medium and brushes you’ll need for the workshop. This option is great for students travelling interstate.
Option 3: Buy Supplies From Us
Students can pre-purchase all painting supplies needed for the masterclass at a 20% discount through Art Store Co. This includes Jess’ 10 colour palette and 5 brushes. Choose this option at checkout and we will have your supplies waiting for you upon arrival.
Once enrolled we will send all students additional info closer to the date.
Full Paint & Brush List
This section is specifically for students choosing Option 1: BYO Supplies.
This list is only for students bringing their own paints and brushes. If you’re renting or buying through us, you can skip this section, we’ve got those covered.
Again, your paints do not need to be these specific brands. If you already have the same colours in another brand, that is perfectly fine. They just need to be artist quality paints.
Paints needed:
- WN Artist Cobalt Blue
- WN Artist French Ultramarine
- Schmincke Norma Transparent Red Brown
- WN Artist Permanent Alizarin Crimson
- WN Artist Cadmium Red
- WN Artist Cadmium Yellow Pale
- WN Artist Yellow Ochre Light
- WN Artist Naples Yellow Light
- WN Artist Titanium White
- Schmincke Norma Royal Blue
Brushes recommended:
- Smooshing Brush Size 4
- Smooshing Brush Size 8
- Filbert Hog Hair Size 1
- Filbert Hog Hair Size 3
- Hog Filbert or Flat Brush Size 12
It’s completely fine if you don’t have these exact brushes. Similar artist quality brushes that serve the same purpose will work perfectly well.
Jesse will be supplying:
Cadmium Orange, Cobalt Turquoise. Jesse will also provide the canvas and any additional colours not already included in the materials list.
What You Need to Bring
This section applies to every student, regardless of which supply option they choose.
Regardless of which supply option you choose, there are a few things every student should bring with them for the five days:
- 2–3 packets of baby wipes, any quality is fine
- Brush-cleaning containers
- Solvent and brush-cleaning products, e.g. odourless solvent, brush soap or cleaning oils
- NO TURPENTINE PLEASE
Optional:
- Palette knives
- Paint rags
How Does the Personal Practice Journal Work?
At the start of the masterclass, Jesse provides each student with their own Personal Practice Journal to work alongside their painting. Throughout the five days, it becomes a place to record what you’re learning, reflect on where you are in your practice and identify the areas you want to continue developing.
You’ll use it to start mapping out what to practise, what you might make next and the areas of your practice that need more attention.
Towards the end of the masterclass, Jesse works with you individually to shape these ideas into a personal plan for moving forward, based on where you are, what you want to develop and what will help you continue making when you return home.
What Image Will Students Be Painting?
Students will choose from a selection of reference photographs curated by Jesse and a professional photographer specifically for the Masterclass.
Rather than everyone painting the same image in the same way, each student will work with Jesse to develop their own composition, colour palette and design choices, creating an artwork that reflects their individual style and artistic goals.
Advanced painters may also bring their own reference image, provided it has been approved by Jesse before the Masterclass.
FAQs
Do I need portrait or oil painting experience?
You by no means need to be an experienced portrait painter, but we do ask that you have some familiarity with using oil paints before attending the masterclass.
Can I bring my own reference photo?
Advanced students may bring their own reference image, provided it is pre-approved by Jesse before the masterclass date. Email Jesse to submit your reference for approval.
What happens if it sells out?
Subscribe to our cancellation list to be notified.
Questions?
Any further questions? Please email Jess.
