Van Gogh’s Café Terrace at Night Oil Painting Workshop (4 Sessions)

•  1 (50 cm x 40cm canvas)
• Oil paints
• Linseed Oil
• Aprons
• Pencils
• Erasers
• Brushes
• Tin Containers (holds turpentine to rinse brushes)
• Kitchen Towel  (to dry painting tools)

 

Participants are required to self-collect their painting in the studio one week after it has been left in the studio to fully dry. Due to limited storage space, collection will need to be done within one month from the workshop date. Any artworks left longer than that will be discarded.

• Beginners/Intermediates

• This workshop is suitable for humans that are 13 years and above in 2025 (Secondary 1 and above).

 

Laura Quek is a multidisciplinary artist passionate about visual arts and music-making. In terms of fine arts, she mainly paints realism works in oil and her works tend to be focused on capturing the intricate details and emotional depth of her subjects. Her approach is deeply influenced by musical compositions, and her artworks often translate auditory experiences into visual masterpieces.

 

Laura graduated from LaSalle School of Fine Arts with a Diploma in Interior Design, and had previously spent more than 10 years in the Interior Design industry, blending aesthetic sensibilities with functional design to create harmonious spaces. For over 10 years, she practised as a fine artist, with a particular emphasis on oil painting. 

 

Beyond her own art-making, she is experienced in conducting workshops and facilitating art classes for oil and acrylic painting. A strong believer in lifelong learning, Laura is continually seeking new knowledge and skills to enhance her own artistic practice and teaching methods. She advocates for painting as a form of therapeutic wellness, and believes that everyone can benefit from better emotional and mental well-being through creative expression. Learners enjoy Laura’s lessons for her detailed guidance in terms of painting technical skills, and appreciate her approach that encourages participants to embrace the artistic process and bring out their own emotional resonance behind their work.

 

Session 1: Sketching & Composition
Objective: Establish the structure and composition of Café Terrace at Night.

🔹 Sketching & Perspective Setup
    •    Lightly sketching the main structures: café, terrace, cobblestone street, and buildings.
    •    Establishing correct perspective lines to guide the composition.

🔹 Direct Painting (Outline)
    •    Using a thin layer of burnt sienna to outline composition, thus defining key areas.
    🔹 Applying Base Colors & Establishing Contrast
    •    Painting the sky with swirling brushstrokes to create movement.

⸻

Session 2: Building Color & Atmosphere
Objective: Lay the first layers of colour, focusing on Van Gogh’s vibrant palette and directional brushwork.

🔹 Applying Base Colours & Establishing Contrast (Con’t)
      •    Blocking In main colours and shapes
    •    Defining shadows in the street and buildings using cooler tones.

🔹 Mixing Van Gogh’s Signature Colours
    •    Creating warm yellows and oranges for the café glow.
    •    Mixing deep blues and purples for the night sky and shadows.

🔹 Creating the Glow of Lantern Light
    •    Using soft blending techniques to enhance the radiance of the café’s glow.
    •    Developing reflections on the cobblestone street with loose, broken brushstrokes.

⸻

Session 3: Texture & Impasto Techniques
Objective: Add depth, thickness, and expressive energy using a palette knife and heavy brushwork.

🔹 Using Impasto for Texture & Dimension
    •    Applying thicker paint with a palette knife for textured café walls.
    •    Creating raised brushstrokes in the sky and cobblestones to mimic Van Gogh’s style.

🔹 Enhancing Details & Movement
    •    Refining the curved strokes of the night sky.
    •    Using short, energetic strokes to shape the chairs, figures, and café windows.
    •    Adding variation in texture for a dynamic, expressive feel.

⸻

Session 4: Final Refinements & Finishing Touches
Objective: Bring the painting to completion with highlights, depth, and final details.

🔹 Enhancing Figures & Architectural Details
    •    Refining the silhouetted figures at the terrace using dark tones.
    •    Sharpening edges and details in the windows, shutters, and lamps.

🔹 Balancing Light & Shadow
    •    Adjusting contrast to make the café glow more intense.
    •    Softening certain areas to create a sense of harmony.

🔹 Final Touches & Varnishing Tips
    •    Adding final highlights to reflections and light sources.
    •    Discussing varnishing techniques to preserve the oil painting.

⸻

 

• A minimum of 3 pax is required for each workshop to start.
   
• Should you be unable to make it, we would appreciate it if you could inform us at least 5 days before the workshop so that we can free up your slot for someone else to come make art with us.
   
• Please be kind to us :) Just message us at 90111431 to inform us if you can't make it.
   
• Unable to make it for the workshop due to work commitments/emergencies/medical conditions? No worries, we can arrange a makeup session for you ☺
  (No refunds will be given)
   
• In the event that the session has to be cancelled, participants will be informed within 3 days before the session. 
   
• Safety in the studio is always our top priority. However, Artify Studio will not be held liable or responsible for any accidents that happen on our premises.
   
• Refunds will not be issued if students are unable to attend lessons. However, you may transfer your session to another individual if you are unable to attend.