Foundation Series: Oil Basics
The best place to start painting in Amsterdam
Oil paint has a reputation for being difficult. Slow to dry, easy to overwork, a lot of rules about what goes where.
Most of that reputation is just what happens when no one shows you the basics properly.
Foundations in Oil is a 5-week course that starts from scratch. You'll learn how the medium actually works how to mix it, move it, build it up in layers and finish with a painting you made yourself, start to finish.
What the course looks like
Five sessions. Two hours each. Maximum 10 people.
You'll start with drawing before you touch paint. From there you build a painting step by step: blocking in shapes, developing light and shadow, finishing with texture and detail.
Oil paint rewards patience. This course teaches you how to work with that, not against it.
Who it's for
Complete beginners are welcome. So are people who've painted before but never properly learned oil.
If you've been curious about oil but assumed it was too technical, too messy, or just not for you, this is a great place to start.
What you leave with
A finished oil painting. A foundation in drawing, colour mixing, and layering. And a clearer sense of how you want to keep going.
Choose your course
Oil Basics, Fridays 6-8pm
SPRING/SUMMER
May 29 - June 26 · €259 · Book Now →
June 3 - July 31 · €259 · Book Now →
How the courses works
5 weeks
2 hours per session (Fridays, 6-8pm)
Small groups (max 10)
Beginner-friendly
Step-by-step guidance
€259
You’ll work with the same small group each week, building your artwork step by step in the course medium.
What you’ll do over 5 weeks:
Week 1: Get comfortable
Meet your materials, mix your first colours, and make some simple studies. Oil paint behaves differently to anything else
Week 1 is about understanding that, not fighting it.
Week 2: Build confidence
A series of quick paintings to loosen up, explore composition, and start feeling at home with the medium.
Week 3: Start your painting
Map out your composition and block in colour. The canvas is no longer empty.
Week 4: Add depth
Develop light, shadow, and texture. This is where oil paint really starts to show what it can do.
Week 5: Finish and make it yours
Individual guidance, final decisions, and a finished painting you actually want to keep.
Meet Your Instructors
Carlo Tozzi
Carlo is an Italian based in Amsterdam, with over 20 years of experience in the art world as an artist and curator. He’s exhibited his work in Madrid, London, Amsterdam, and The Hague. After organizing workshops, lectures, and art events, he founded st-Art in January 2019 to further support and mentor emerging contemporary artists.
You can view some of his work in our Gallery or on his Instagram.
Paulina Siniatkina
Paulina Siniatkina is a visual artist, educator, and global health advocate based in Amsterdam. Her work explores collective trauma and social taboos through a blend of personal insight and research. Trained in monumental painting at the Surikov Art Institute (2013), she holds a Master’s in socially engaged art from ArtEZ (2023). With over a decade of teaching experience, Paulina combines academic depth with a socially conscious approach, inspiring students to create with confidence and purpose.
You can view some of her works on her Instagram.
FAQs
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No. Foundations is designed for beginners.
Drawing is always introduced in Week 1 so everyone starts on solid ground. -
That’s exactly why this course exists.
Creativity isn’t something you either have or don’t. It’s something you build through practice. The course is structured so you learn step by step, alongside a small group who are all starting in the same place.
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Because each week builds on the previous one, we recommend attending all sessions. But we know life happens, you can come to a studio practice session and come a little earlier to the next class. The teacher will help you catch up.
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By the end of the course you’ll have a finished artwork you created yourself, along with the confidence to continue developing your practice.
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Both. The course is structured and focused, but the atmosphere is supportive and welcoming. No competition, no judgment - just people learning together.