Painting Course for Beginners

What you'll learn

Unleash your inner artist with our painting short courses in Sydney!

Ready to tap into your creativity and learn how to paint? This fun and practical Painting for Beginners course at Sydney Community College is the perfect place to start your artistic journey.

In this course, you’ll choose to work in either acrylics or oil paints – whichever medium you’re most curious about or comfortable using. With guidance from professional artists, you’ll learn step-by-step how to use your chosen materials confidently, from the very first brushstroke to your final artwork.

Whether you're completely new to painting or returning after a break, you’ll enjoy a supportive environment where you can build your skills, experiment with techniques, and discover your own painting style.

Learning outcomes

By the end of this painting for beginners course, you should have:

Acquired a basic painting ability
Practised recognising and organising a good composition
An understanding of tone
Experience with colour mixing and ability to perceive and name warm/cool, transparent/opaque colours

Course content

What will be covered in this painting course?

Observation of still life to make representational imagery
Composition and formatting
Colour theory
Palette layout
Types of paints, mediums and brushes
Types of application and support
Setting a painting out from start to finish

Intended audience

Who is this painting course for?

These art classes are ideal for absolute beginners who want to learn to paint in a fun and relaxed environment or experienced students who want to brush up on their skills.

Course venue

Rozelle Campus

2A Gordon Street, Rozelle NSW 2039 (corner of Gordon St & Victoria Rd in the grounds of St. Joseph's Church)

Course materials

What to bring to class

Option 1: Purchase a full materials kit at enrolment checkout (select oil or acrylic paints). This will be supplied at your first class.

Option 2: Uncheck the materials kits at enrolment checkout and bring your own - consult the Painting Course for Beginners Materials List.

Additional information

Please note the following:

Closed-in shoes required
Please wear old clothes
Long hair must be tied back

Course testimonials

Sue said: Great tutor and course. I feel I learnt a lot in a very encouraging environment.
Drew said: Elinor Pickard showed me the fundamental techniques of oil painting.
Lorraine said: Our tutor, Elinor provided individual guidance to suit our needs and styles, since we were a small group. Great learning environment, relaxed and friendly. Very enjoyable!
Sahba said: The instructor was very patient, encouraging and attentive at all times, which made the whole experience very enjoyable and relaxing.
Jessica said: Knowledgeable and helpful teacher. Relaxed vibe

Course tutors

Elinor Pickard

Elinor Pickard is a practising artist and a painter with drawing at the centre of her practice. She has a BA Visual Arts and Grad Dip from Sydney College of the Arts. Elinor also went on to...

View Elinor Pickard's profile

Classes Online Courses

Painting Course for Beginners

Mon 3 Nov 2025 - Mon 24 Nov 2025

4 sessions, 10 hours total

6:30pm - 9pm (UTC+11:00) (first session)

2A Gordon St, Rozelle

Elinor Pickard

Materials kit can be purchased at checkout - or uncheck it to bring your own.

When	Time	Where
Mon 3 Nov 2025	6:30pm - 9pm	A1-3: Visual Arts - 2A Gordon St, Rozelle
Mon 10 Nov 2025	6:30pm - 9pm	A1-3: Visual Arts - 2A Gordon St, Rozelle
Mon 17 Nov 2025	6:30pm - 9pm	A1-3: Visual Arts - 2A Gordon St, Rozelle
Mon 24 Nov 2025	6:30pm - 9pm	A1-3: Visual Arts - 2A Gordon St, Rozelle

If there isn't a class to suit you, please join our waitlist and we will notify you when we have places available. Join waitlist for Painting Course for Beginners