Portrait painting alla prima
with Bríd Higgins Ní Chinnéide
Saturday May 23, 2026
A one day workshop in Oil portraiture from life with artist Bríd Higgins Ní Chinnéide.
Delve into the nuances of oil painting from life under expert guidance. A comprehensive exploration of the medium with a dedicated focus on the portrait, this is a unique opportunity to sharpen your practice while allowing your personal style to emerge.
Working directly from a live model, you’ll develop your observational skills and understanding of colour, proportion, and form. Bríd will guide you through the process of capturing the essence and character, from initial sketches to detailed oil paintings.
About the artist
Bríd Higgins Ní Chinnéide is an accomplished Irish oil painter, based in Dublin, celebrated for her compelling figurative work and portraits.
With a strong academic foundation in drawing and painting from the Repin Academy of Fine Arts in St. Petersburg, Russia, her paintings primarily feature figures and faces, often exploring the intricate social dynamics of groups through portraiture. Bríd's recent projects include the "In Residence" series, where she created compelling 3-hour portraits of fellow artists, and her explorations of perspective, as seen in her painting "View from the Podium," which ingeniously incorporates a small self-portrait from the sitter's viewpoint.
Her work has been exhibited in Dublin and London, including solo exhibitions at venues like The Dean Art Studios and Hang Tough Contemporary, showcasing her mastery of oil paints on various surfaces.
Focus areas
Color and Light
Exploring how light interacts with the face and figure, colour palette mixing, and applying colours to convey texture and space.
Composition and Storytelling
Developing compelling compositions that convey the narrative and emotion of the subject.
Brushwork and Texture
Experimenting with various brushwork techniques to achieve different textures and expressive qualities.
Individualised Feedback
Receive personalised critiques and guidance from Bríd throughout the workshop.
Materials
Basic painting materials will be provided including easels, tables, drawing boards, some solvents and papers as well as a life model.
We also ask that you bring:
Required colours:
– Raw umber
– Ultramarine blue
– Cadmium red med
– Burnt sienna
– Yellow ochre
– Titanium white
Optional colours:
– Burnt umber
– Cobalt green light
– Cerulean blue
– Alizaron crimson
– Cadmium yellow med
– Lemon yellow
Surfaces:
– Ensure you have a couple of small supports and one large one.
– Small supports: Approximately 20x30cm; 30x40cm, 30x30cm, etc.
– Large support : Approximately 50×60; 60x70cm,70x80cm, 50x50cm etc.
– Canvas, gesso board or primed canvas to be taped on a drawing board are all good supports.
– Ideally, stain your canvas with a light layer of burnt umber (mixed with a small amount of solvent) beforehand.
Also recommended:
– A bag of rags (torn up old t-shirts/pyjamas etc)
– Gloves when painting with Cadmium
– Oil painting paper
Please ensure to bring enough materials for the workshop. If you forget anything, we’ll have a limited number of replacement materials at the venue.
Location
Segotia Dublin in the heart of the city is our home base. In old Dublin slang the name Segotia literally means “dear friend” - a fitting name for the home of Parea Ada!
We’re sure you’re going to love it here. It’s a restorative and creative place that’s all about community, connection, and creativity.
Segotia isn’t just our home but the home of many other creative residents too - from painters to musicians and potters.
Booking
Bookings are now open and can be secured with a 50% deposit. The balance can be paid before the workshop start date. Please note that this deposit is non-refundable if cancelled within 30 days of the start date.
For more information, check our Terms and Conditions.
