For the Sketch you will need: sketch pad and a couple of pencils, we recommend 2B and 3B pencils.

If possible try and take a photograph of the scene as well as sketching it, that way when you come to painting in the studio you can refer to both. Use a soft pencil (3B) to cover shaded areas quickly.

Don’t be afraid to take your sketch pad out and record what you can see. You will find that some sketches are a piece of artwork in their own right. Sketches are a great reference source to complete work at home or in the studio

If turning your sketch into a watercolour then we would recommend watercolour paper, brushes and a selection of colours. Top tip – use plenty of water when mixing watercolour washes

If turning your sketch into an oil version then we recommend canvas, brushes and oil paints in a selection of colours.
Top tip – use both thick and thing paint when oil painting

Each course that we run at Art In The Algarve students get ample opportunity to sketch outside and then transform their sketches into paintings in our large studios
we also hold an exhibition at the end of each course to showcase the work that students have done throughout the week.
For a list of dates and prices or courses please see our website

Essential items for Plein Air include portable easels, a portable chair, a bottle or container of water for cleaning brushes, paints and brushes and of course plenty of sun protection.

Olhao is the perfect place for some plein air painting, the weather is warm, the sun is out, the light is fantastic and above all there is plenty of things to paint. The beautiful old church, the marina, the array of fishing boats, the cobbled streets or the markets all offer the painter a perfect opportunity to capture something that they might not see at home.

For a range of our dates and price and teachers please click through, alternatively contact us to discuss further.