Intro to Oil Painting Workshop: Painting Bay
February 2026
Join me this February on Zoom for a live workshop as we learn the basic techniques of painting a model with oils! This special NaMoPaiMo edition of my intro workshop is simplified to allow more participants and offered with a much lower price point. We will still delve further into some more advanced techniques for more advanced painters. So all experience levels are welcome, from complete beginner to seasoned painter! In five sessions we will cover the basics of applying oil paint to a model, how to shade with oils, color theory related to bay horses, and how to apply final details with acrylics, all in hopes of completing a model from start to finish within the month of February!
Cost for 6 session course: $75 (or just $30 if you’ve already taken one of my bay/chestnut courses!)
If button does not work, you may email me at equineartbyheatherbullach@gmail.com. Please include your name, your email for an invoice, and your email to receive the Zoom links (if different). You may wish to check your spam and add my email to your address book to avoid messages going to your spam folder.
Schedule
We will meet from 8:00-10:00pm EST on each of the following dates. Join live and ask questions as you paint, or watch the recorded session in your own time! Each session is recorded and available for rewatch the next day. Sessions will also be available for some time beyond the month of February if you would like to participate without the time constraint, or rewatch to paint another project!
Feb 2, Monday: Apply first layer of oils
Feb 5, Thursday: Apply second layer, incorporate a bit more shading
Feb 9, Monday: Increase shading to full range
Feb 12, Thursday: Final detail shading
Feb 19, Thursday: Acrylic detailing
Feb 28, Saturday: Final paint party! Finish details
Oil painting supplies
For the course, you will need the following supplies. Read below for possible substitutions and eliminations. If you’ve taken the Painting Black course in previous years, you should only need 5 additional oil colors, and possibly a few more brushes. You can never have too many brushes!
I’ve included all supplies mentioned on the list, both necessary and optional (other than the at home/from other shops items). So please check carefully and remove/adjust as needed!
•Oil paints: any artist brand you choose should be fine (though a non-professional grade may not perform as well). Colors are not interchangeable. I recommend the specific colors on the list. I would also strongly recommend using the Griffin Alkyd black and white as these will aid in faster drying. You may use traditional black and white oils, but expect dry times to be slower.
If you are on a budget and would like to reduce the number of paints, Alizarin Crimson, Purple Lake, and Raw Umber would be the least used colors. These are each amazing and necessary for certain shades of bay, but it is possible to create a lovely shade of bay without them. Alizarin would be the first I’d add back in, as it’s necessary for creating some deep red tones in the darker ranges of bay.
•Mediums: A good oil medium like refined linseed oil is a must. I chose a fast dry linseed oil for this class to aid in dry time with the 1 month completion goal.
• Brushes: If you are doing a traditional or classic scale model, you could eliminate one or two of the smallest short handle brushes. You’ll want all of the long handle brushes, doubling up on the #4 and #6, and two to three of the mop brushes.
If you are doing a venti/curio scale model or smaller, you could eliminate the #4 and #6 long handle brush, and add a couple more #2 long handle or #4 short handle. One mop should be fine. Or, if you’re going for more is more, add some additional mop sizes. The 3/4″, 1/2″, and 1/4″ are all wonderful!
Pearl-Ex pigments: Pearl-ex pigments are completely optional. If you would like to incorporate them, these are the three pigments I use for a bay: Interference Blue, Super Copper, and Aztec Gold.
Palette Knife: A must for mixing oil paints!
Supplies you’ll need from home, or from your local stores:
•Paper towels I strongly recommend Scott blue Shop Towels as they are lint free. They can be found in local auto stores or supermarkets.
•Tinfoil to use as your palette (or, whatever palette you prefer to use: Glass, ceramic tiles, disposable paper palettes, etc.)
•Murphy’s oil soap and an empty jar or cup (you may also use a brush cleaner such as Master’s, or even just dishsoap)
•X-acto knife (or carbide scraper if possible)
•Rubber gloves for cleaning brushes
•Sealer of your choice. I prefer Testor’s dull coat before switching to acrylic detailing and for a final matte finish. If you prefer a satin finish, you’ll also want Winsor and Newton Professional spray varnish in satin.
Additional supplies for acrylic basecoating and detailing
For adding acrylic base coating and detailing you’ll also want a selection of acrylics and separate acrylic brushes.
•Colors: Must have colors are Titanium white, Bone Black, and Burnt Siena. I strongly recommend also having Titanium Buff (for softer, less stark markings), Yellow Ochre or Raw Sienna (for shell hooves and eyes), and Alizarin Crimson (for any nose pinking). If you’d like to add blue eyes, I would choose Ultramarine Blue. My preferred brand is Golden Fluid acrylics. You may work with whichever brand you choose. I would avoid anything heavy body. I also really like having a small bottle of white Liquitex Gesso. Gesso is great for adding to your white acrylics for markings for just a bit more tooth and easier application.
•Brushes: The short handle filberts from the list above are great acrylic detail brushes (you’ll want to have separate oils and acrylics brushes, so buy two sets). You’ll also want a good mini round brush. There are many options. My go to is Winsor Newton Series 7 Kolinsky Sable miniature round in size 3/0. You can find cheaper synthetic mini rounds, though know that they will not hold up as long and will be more challenging to paint with.
•Acrylic Varnish: I love Liquitex acrylic gloss varnish for adding gloss to eyes and hooves.
Select and prep your model
Last, but not least, you will need a model to work on! You may choose any model, at any scale, or even paint more than one!
You should prep and prime your model prior to February 1. You can find many prepping tutorials here: https://modelhorsetutorials.weebly.com
You may choose any primer, but I recommend a red/rust colored primer. My favorite is Duplicolor Sandable primer in Red Oxide. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001DKPL3C/ref=twister_B07K3JN443?_encoding=UTF8&th=1
You should prime your model at least 24-48 hours prior to putting down your first coat of oils. If you can give it a week, even better!
Questions?
If your question was not answered anywhere above, please feel free to email me at equineartbyheatherbullach@gmail.com
I can’t wait to paint with you all!
Cost for 6 session course: $75 (or just $30 if you’ve already completed one of my courses!)