09 - 12 October

Tickets

Artists have always been fascinated with the depiction of interior spaces from their uses as a setting for devotional religious paintings in Renaissance times through the domestic scenes of dutch painters such as Vermeer to Impressionist masters like Bonnard and Vuillard.

Depicting an interior allows the artists to use layers of space and lighting to create both a convincing sense of depth in a painting and to create interesting stories and narratives around both our own lives and the histories of others.

Russborough is unique amongst historic houses in Ireland in retaining most of its original art and artefacts from it’s two main owners, the Earls of Milltown and the Beit family. It offers countless fascinating options for paintings from the grand opulent views in the entrance hall and reception rooms to intimate vignettes of domestic lives lived in this beautiful home.

  • How to observe and depict interior spaces with historical awareness, drawing inspiration from Renaissance devotional works, Dutch domestic scenes, and Impressionist interiors.

  • How to apply the principles of linear and atmospheric perspective to create convincing depth and spatial layering within interior settings.

  • Techniques in charcoal drawing to explore tone, contrast, and composition in complex interior scenes.

  • How to use oil painting to develop rich textures, nuanced lighting, and atmospheric color in the depiction of interiors.

  • How to interpret and represent the layered history and lived experiences within interiors, using Russborough as a rich source of visual material—from its opulent entrance halls to its quiet, lived-in corners.

  • How to develop your own visual storytelling by combining technical skill with artistic intuition in both drawing and painting mediums.

Course Structure

The first day will be spent preparing, drawing and working on concepts and planning. During this time we will have access to the House interior for drawing from life and taking photographs for reference.

Subsequent days will be spent in the Schoolhouse for Art studios in the grounds of Russborough House working our ideas up into finished oil paintings. Dave will guide participants through the process through a series of step-by-step demonstrations and will be on hand to offer one-to-one support throughout the course.