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The Art of Acrylic Bird Painting: a two-day master class
Date: Sat 21st & Sun 22nd November 2026, 10am-4pm daily
Discover the art of acrylic bird painting in this engaging two‑day workshop with acclaimed artist and teacher Leigh D Walker. Over the weekend, participants will take a painting from initial drawing through to a fully resolved artwork, exploring essential acrylic techniques including blocking‑in, layering, glazing, and scumbling.
This workshop offers a welcoming, skill‑building environment ideal for all levels of experience. With Leigh’s clear guidance and fun and supportive teaching style, you’ll deepen your technical confidence, expand your creative approach, and complete a richly layered bird painting to take home.
Materials list:
Acrylic Paints
Titanium white
Pthalo Blue (red shade)
Pthalo Green (yellow shade)
Ultramarine Blue
Alizarin Crimson
Raw Umber
Burnt Sienna
Cadmium Yellow
Yellow Ochre
I would advise using student grade paints - this will stop you feeling too precious about your paint use. Liquitex Basics (118ml) are very good (available in Officeworks). Please do not buy Reeves pthalo blue or pthalo green
If you want to use artist quality acrylic colours, I can really recommend Liquitex, Windsor and Newton & Matisse.
*Please buy at least a 59ml tube of each colour and a larger tube of Titanium White
Mediums
Acrylic Glaze medium (small bottle 237ml) – I personally use Liquitex Glazing Medium, but for those who want to spend a little less, Jo Sonjas or Atelier is just fine.
Acrylic Slow dry/retarder fluid (small bottle) – yet again, I use Liquitex, but Jo Sonjas or Atelier are good too
Synthetic Brushes
The easiest and cheapest option for brushes is to buy a brush set such as:
Jasart Gold Synthetic Short Flat Brushes Set 5 (available from Eckersleys)
Born Flat Taklon Paintbrush Set 5 Pack (available from Officeworks)
These are sets which give a selection of sizes of synthetic flat brushes. Acrylics are very hard on brushes, so please don’t bring sable.
Size 2 round synthetic brush
If you can afford it, I use a size 20 or 13/16” or 1” synthetic flat as well – available for around the $21 mark from Eckersleys. Similar options available at Officeworks
Hog Hair Brushes
Size 3, 8 & 10 Round
Size 10 Flat
These are available very inexpensively from Officeworks
Canvases
1 x primed 16” x 24” canvases (or similar size)
Decent quality canvases are available from $$$ Shops. I find Smart Dollar in Woden Plaza very good for picking up canvases. If you want a more quality canvas, Officeworks and Eckersley's stock these – they can cost quite a bit though!
Palette
Disposable/tear off palette available from both Officeworks and Eckersleys
Miscellaneous
Water tub – please bring something of decent weight and size such as a large Jalna yoghurt pot
Rags – pieces of old sheet/clothing etc. to wipe brushes on
Camera or phone
The Art of Acrylic Bird Painting: a two-day master class
Date: Sat 21st & Sun 22nd November 2026, 10am-4pm daily
Discover the art of acrylic bird painting in this engaging two‑day workshop with acclaimed artist and teacher Leigh D Walker. Over the weekend, participants will take a painting from initial drawing through to a fully resolved artwork, exploring essential acrylic techniques including blocking‑in, layering, glazing, and scumbling.
This workshop offers a welcoming, skill‑building environment ideal for all levels of experience. With Leigh’s clear guidance and fun and supportive teaching style, you’ll deepen your technical confidence, expand your creative approach, and complete a richly layered bird painting to take home.
Materials list:
Acrylic Paints
Titanium white
Pthalo Blue (red shade)
Pthalo Green (yellow shade)
Ultramarine Blue
Alizarin Crimson
Raw Umber
Burnt Sienna
Cadmium Yellow
Yellow Ochre
I would advise using student grade paints - this will stop you feeling too precious about your paint use. Liquitex Basics (118ml) are very good (available in Officeworks). Please do not buy Reeves pthalo blue or pthalo green
If you want to use artist quality acrylic colours, I can really recommend Liquitex, Windsor and Newton & Matisse.
*Please buy at least a 59ml tube of each colour and a larger tube of Titanium White
Mediums
Acrylic Glaze medium (small bottle 237ml) – I personally use Liquitex Glazing Medium, but for those who want to spend a little less, Jo Sonjas or Atelier is just fine.
Acrylic Slow dry/retarder fluid (small bottle) – yet again, I use Liquitex, but Jo Sonjas or Atelier are good too
Synthetic Brushes
The easiest and cheapest option for brushes is to buy a brush set such as:
Jasart Gold Synthetic Short Flat Brushes Set 5 (available from Eckersleys)
Born Flat Taklon Paintbrush Set 5 Pack (available from Officeworks)
These are sets which give a selection of sizes of synthetic flat brushes. Acrylics are very hard on brushes, so please don’t bring sable.
Size 2 round synthetic brush
If you can afford it, I use a size 20 or 13/16” or 1” synthetic flat as well – available for around the $21 mark from Eckersleys. Similar options available at Officeworks
Hog Hair Brushes
Size 3, 8 & 10 Round
Size 10 Flat
These are available very inexpensively from Officeworks
Canvases
1 x primed 16” x 24” canvases (or similar size)
Decent quality canvases are available from $$$ Shops. I find Smart Dollar in Woden Plaza very good for picking up canvases. If you want a more quality canvas, Officeworks and Eckersley's stock these – they can cost quite a bit though!
Palette
Disposable/tear off palette available from both Officeworks and Eckersleys
Miscellaneous
Water tub – please bring something of decent weight and size such as a large Jalna yoghurt pot
Rags – pieces of old sheet/clothing etc. to wipe brushes on
Camera or phone
