Pet Portrait Painting in Oils

Discover the art of oil portraiture and take your painting skills to the next level with this hands-on pet portraiture course.

Designed for those with a basic understanding of painting, this course will deepen your knowledge, refine your technique, and help you create stunning portraits.

Explore the timeless methods of the Old Masters, learning techniques like layering glazing and achieving life-like skin tones and fur textures. Capture the essence of your subject by focusing on expression, character, and composition.

Through step-by-step
Demonstrations and one-to-one mentoring, you'll build confidence in your
abilities while developing your personal artistic style. Whether you’re
Inspired by classical approaches or modern interpretations, this course will
equip you with the skills to bring your vision to life. By the end of the
Five week course, you'll have created a beautiful, finished portrait to be
Proud of - and gained a deeper appreciation for the art of oil painting.

Each week, you will learn through:

Group explanation and
Demonstrations, taking your through each stage of the portraiture process

Personalised mentoring: one-to-one support to help you refine your skills and
Overcome challenges, with an emphasis on building confidence and creative
Expression

Life coaching principles: Encouragement and mindset techniques to help you unlock your
Full potential, embrace your unique artistic voice, and stay motivated.

This holistic approach ensures
Students feel empowered and supported, fostering both artistic and personal
Growth.

Over 8 weeks we will cover:

First steps in portraiture

Creating a preliminary sketch or monochrome study of your subject

Capturing your subject through photography

Drawing with charcoal

Using a grid: learn how to create and use a grid to accurately transfer your image onto canvas

Exploring other transfer methods, such as freehand drawing, tracing and projecting

Introduction to underpainting

Understanding Your Canvas: explore different materials for painting, preparing your surface and more.

Introduction to Grisaille painting

Blocking in the foundation

Colour theory for portraiture

Adding colour to your underpainting

Refining and Polishing Your Portrait

Highlights and lowlights

Lines of distinction

Backgrounds that pop

Final Adjustments

By the end of the course, your
Portrait should be polished, dynamic, and ready to showcase, reflecting the
Skills and techniques you've developed throughout the course!

About the tutor:

Tutor Lis Naylor is an
award-winning artist, sculptor, and qualified life coach based in Leicester
With a deep commitment to equality, family, and living life to its fullest.

Her passion lies in helping
Others express themselves, gain confidence, and develop a better
understanding of the world through art. In 2018, Lis was honoured to receive
the Attenborough Award at the Leicester Society of Artists Annual Exhibition.
With a BA Hons and an MA in Fine Art, Lis’ practice spans vibrant oil
paintings, dynamic gel prints, and expressive silk screen prints. She
Particularly enjoys animal and human portraiture, as well as life drawing.

Lis loves sharing her knowledge
and skills through teaching. In her workshops, she combines clear
Step-by-step group demonstrations with one-to-one mentoring to create a
supportive and inspiring environment. Outside of art, she finds joy in
Spending time with her dogs and horses, who are a constant source of
inspiration and love. Her passion for animal and human portraiture reflects
This connection, capturing the unique character and spirit of her subjects.
Find out more about Lis’ work at https://www.lisnaylorart.co.uk/

Further information:

All materials are provided.

Participants must be aged 18+.

This course will run on Monday afternoons, 1:30pm - 4:30pm
for 8 weeks, starting on 7 September, with the final session on 26 Oct 2026.

If the course/workshop
You'd like to book is sold out, we do operate a waiting list - simply contact
Our box office team on / arts-centre@le.Ac.UK and ask to be added
to the waiting list. We’ll then contact you if a place becomes available
With absolutely no obligation to accept it if you've made other plans!

Please ensure that you read and
agree to our updated Terms & Conditions before booking as
Courses/workshops are non-refundable in some circumstances.

We aim to make
all our sessions as accessible as possible and carers/PAs are very welcome
just remember to book their free place when you book your session. If you'd
Like to talk to us in advance of booking or attending your sessions to
discuss your access needs, our Box Office team is here to help! Email
Arts-centre@le.Ac.UK, pop in or call, open 7 days a week.

We have four blue badge parking spaces outside Attenborough Arts
Centre, plus double yellow line roadside parking very close to the building
For blue badge holders for up to three hours if our parking spaces are
Occupied.

Free parking for all customers is available
after 5pm on weekdays and all day at weekends in the University of Leicester
car park next door to Attenborough Arts Centre on Lancaster Road.

The closest public car park
for parking at all other times is Victoria Park, 5-10 minutes walk from us.