Spend a dedicated weekend studying the human figure in oil paint with internationally trained Italian artist Irene Messia. Hosted at Hive Art Gallery, this intensive two-day workshop will lead participants through the foundational elements of figure painting — including proportion, tonal relationships, structure, and colour — all while working directly from a live model.

Drawing from her classical European training, Irene shares a traditional, atelier-based approach to oil painting — placing strong emphasis on observation, accurate drawing, value relationships and the sculptural understanding of form. Students will develop a deeper awareness of how light describes the human figure, and how to build a painting step-by-step with clarity and confidence.

This workshop is suitable for beginners wanting a solid foundation, as well as intermediate artists looking to refine their technique and strengthen their understanding of the figure in oils. Irene offers individual guidance throughout, ensuring each participant progresses at their own level.

Dates: March 14th & 15th
Time: 9:00am – 3:30pm AEST
Location:The Hive Art Gallery - 23/5 Coghill Dr, Currumbin Waters. Upstairs first door on the left. There is plenty of street parking on the weekends. The studio is air-conditioned.

There will be a 30 minute lunch break. There is a small kitchenette you can use to heat your lunch, please leave it clean as you found it. Bread Social is less than a two minute walk from the gallery and has plenty of great food and drink options. Fuel Bakehouse is a short drive from the Gallery also.

To respect the rules of the gallery there will be no cleaning of oil paints/brushes on site. Bring some glad wrap and paper towel to wrap your brushes for transporting them home to clean.

What we Provide

• 1 x Primed Canvas - 50 × 76cm

• Painting Easels

What to Bring

Mediums & Materials

• Refined poppy seed oil

• Turps

• Paper towel

• Glad wrap (to wrap and transport brushes for cleaning at home)

• Palette knife

• Painting palette

Brushes
(At least two of each size)

• No. 2

• No. 3

• No. 5

• No. 6

• No. 10

Oil Paint Colours

• Titanium White

• Raw Umber

• Burnt Umber

• Burnt Sienna

• Yellow Ochre

• Cadmium Red

Spend the weekend immersed in the timeless discipline of figure painting, refining your eye and strengthening your technical skills in a supportive and inspiring studio environment.

About your instructor IRENE MESSIA

Irene was born and trained in Rome. She studied art at the Mario Mafai Art School and simultaneously attended the three-year painting course at San Giacomo Art School in Rome.

After completing secondary school, she pursued further art studies at several institutions, including the Art Academy of Rome, and graduated in Art History from Roma Tre University in 2014.

She then moved to Australia, where she had her first solo exhibition at Dust Temple Gallery on the Gold Coast. in 2017, she relocated to London, working on various art commissions.

She returned to Australia in 2019, collaborating with local artists, participating in sculpture group exhibitions such as the Swell Sculpture Festival for three consecutive years, and teaching drawing and painting.

Since 2023, she has been based again in Rome, focusing primarily on marble sculpture. She has exhibited in two group shows at Galleria del Bufalo and continues to develop her artistic practice while maintaining collaborations in Australia.

Read more about Irene on her website: https://www.irenemessia.com/

Terms & Conditions – Workshop Enrolment

Please consider your availability carefully before booking. Ensure you have checked your dates and confirmed any work or personal commitments.

All courses have a strict no-refund policy.

If you are unable to attend, a credit may be offered provided we receive at least 7 days’ notice prior to the course commencement date. This allows time for us to offer your place to another student. Credits are not available for late cancellations or non-attendance.

If you change your mind or are no longer able to attend, you may transfer or gift your enrolment to another person, however the original booking will otherwise be forfeited.

Life Drawing Sessions reserves the right to cancel or reschedule classes due to insufficient enrolments or venue unavailability. In the event that a class is cancelled by the organiser, all enrolled students will receive a full refund for that class.

By booking, you acknowledge and agree to these Terms & Conditions.