Alla Prima Still Life with David Shevlino (October 2026)
Painting the Alla Prima Still Life with David Shevlino
Join tutor and alla prima artist David Shevlino and learn to paint the alla prima still life over 4 days. Whether your ultimate goal is to paint portraits, figures, still lifes or landscapes, painting an alla prima still life is the perfect way to learn to handle oil paint or to improve your painting skills. Under David’s guidance, you will gain the confidence and knowledge you need to carry on your journey as a painter.
You will be painting ‘alla prima’ or wet into wet. This enables you to complete paintings quickly and relatively straightforwardly without waiting for paint layers to dry.
What will I learn?
This class is about painting alla prima (wet into wet) and the techniques used to create a fresh, direct response to your subjects.
David will spend time discussing, as well as demonstrating, basic proportions and how to recognise the planes of your subject and how to simplify them. This class will be particularly helpful for those who want to expand from a tight painting style to a more loose, economical paint application.
You will also learn about brushes, paints, mediums, solvents and paints.
Who is the tutor?
This course is taught by David Shevlino. David Shevlino studied at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, the University of Pennsylvania and the Art Students’ League of NY. His work has been featured in publications internationally, and he has exhibited his work and taught workshops throughout North America and Europe. He has also produced a series of instructional videos showcasing his painting methods.
Materials list
Brushes
- Filberts, flats of varying sizes. Avoid soft synthetic brushes and brights. For stiff synthetics, I recommend the Rosemary Ivory series HERE
- Bring at least x2 1 ¾” and one 1” wide, larger brushes.
- For a natural bristle, any good quality manufacturer will do. (Robert Simmons, Silver brush, Windsor Newton, etc.)
Oil colours
- Titanium white
- Cadmium red light
- Cadmium orange or equivalent
- Burnt sienna
- Yellow ochre
- Alizarin Crimson
- Ultramarine blue
- Purple
- Cadmium yellow light
- Viridian green
- Olive green (Gamblin recommended)
- Raw Umber
Other Equipment
- If you need a palette, we recommend here or here, depending on your budget. (If you already own a palette, no need to buy a new one. Any will do!)
- 6 x Neutrally toned gray canvas or panels, 14" x 18" to 16" x 20" inches. If you prepare your grounds yourself, use Liquitex neutral gray #5 to tone them. If you bring identical panels or canvases, it makes them easier to transport home.
- Jar or can for your thinner at least 3" in diameter
- Jar with a lid for used paint thinner
- Linseed oil and odourless solvent (e.g., Sansodor). Note that turpentine is not permitted in the studio. Raw Umber will provide kitchen towels.
Objects to paint
Please also bring 2 - 3 items you'd like to paint. We recommend simple, organic objects (depending on your level/experience/ambition). For example, apples and pears are much easier to paint than flowers, patterned vases or shiny teapots.
How many students will there be?
There is a maximum of 12 participants, and the tutor will customise the course according to your individual needs.
Studio Access & Parking
The studio and car park will open at 9:30 am each day. We kindly ask that you do not arrive before this time, as staff will be preparing the space.
We close at 5:30 pm, so please ensure you are packed up and ready to leave by then. Thank you for helping us keep everything running smoothly!
If you have any questions, please see our frequently asked questions or contact us.
