Workshops
Workshops at BARA last between one day and five days, providing an opportunity to intensively develop your chosen area. All workshops are fully tutored and run as a series of exercises so you understand what you are doing, and feel in control. Each day is designed very carefully in such a way that you can remember it and put it into practice at home. Classes are small, so you will get plenty of attention. Suitable for all levels of experience, from beginner to advanced.
Click the images below to enlarge
The options:
Portrait Drawing
This is a perfect place to start if you are new to drawing faces, or if you are struggling and you need to Regroup. Learn to Look, how to understand the form of the face and put the information down on paper. A series of exercises that Julie has designed and redesigns, helping you to learn to draw what you really SEE (as opposed to what you think you see!), as well as understanding the impact of light and form. You will be taught the art of shading, mapping and comparative measuring. There are many aspects and ways to draw portraits. Each day will concentrate on one approach. Suitable for all levels of experience.
Oil painting - a brush up or an introduction to this medium.
These workshops are suitable for learners at all levels. You will be guided you through this lovely medium slowly but steadily, so you understand exactly what you're doing, using clear, tried and tested exercises. Observational study (working from life, not from photographs), beginning with a drawing study, then moving on to paint - understanding tonal values, colour and mixing.
Portrait in Oils
This workshop shows you how to mix skin colours using a limited palette, how to map the face and transfer it to canvas. You will paint many small studies over the course of a few days, examining planes of the head, the importance of tones and composition as well as layering in oil paint. Fully tutored, clear instruction designed to help you understand the processes involved.
Progress shots oil Julie’s painting
Life Drawing
Again, these are TUTORED sessions, so if you are a beginner you will be guided how to approach drawing the human form. Half day and full day sessions. Regular Friday evening life classes, 6pm-8pm (Friday Night-Life!!) Really enjoyable and the time flies by. In-studio only.
Watercolour
Subjects range from Pen & Wash, to Painting flowers, Landscapes and Skies.
There is really something for everyone here. Watercolour is a lovely medium, clean and relatively quick. A refreshing way to understand about colour and get to grips with the layering processes involved. Learn how to mix colour, work swiftly (work slowly!), get ready for some location work while on holiday, or brush up your existing skills. See programme for different subjects.
Boboli Gardens, Florence, Sketch book, Julie Douglas
Pastel Workshops
The subject varies, from trees to water to animals. A lovely medium well worth exploring. .
The Summer 2025 Programme of Workshops (check back as there will be confirmations and additions)
JUNE Friday evening 20th June (6pm - 9pm) & Saturday afternoon 21st June (3.30pm - 7.30pm) PASTEL WORKSHOP with the theme of WEATHER. This delicious new workshop will cover mixing, composition, black and white as well as colour pastels, and we will produce several artworks through a series of lovely exercises over the two sessions. Materials provided plus refreshments. Cost £180.00
JULY GRAPHITE DRAWING from life. This workshop is designed for all levels of past experience. If you are a beginner you will be taught the fundamentals of observation drawing and your skills will sky rocket! If you are more experienced with drawing, this is your opportunity to fine tune your skills, and have the luxury of spending a longer time on your artwork. (Date to be confirmed, please email for information)
JULY - portrait sketching in oils. 5 days, 5 faces.
AUGUST COLOUR PENCIL WORKSHOP - faces and hair.
AUGUST COLOUR PENCIL WORKSHOP - your pet!
Please note, courses are added regularly so please email if you'd like to be kept updated. Please also get in touch if you'd like to do something which is not listed here OR if you'd like to do something but can't make the date, and I will do my best to accommodate you. Also, I do often make typos, so please forgive me if this has happened….
Distance is no object to your Learning, bring Julie to your home! Live classes online
Julie’s popular drawing and painting programme will work, using Zoom, to enable personal growth and development while working from home. Using a combination of full tutorial videos, notes and weekly online classes, Julie will guide you through a fulfilling and rewarding creative experience. Julie has helped thousands of students to improve their drawing and painting through her user friendly, positive approach.
To participate in online classes and online workshops, students need internet access and a computer or tablet device. Students are supported with tutorial videos and constant feedback during the live class. Julie has taught 100’s of classes using Zoom - they are incredibly popular with students and have proven an excellent teaching platform.
