Loosen your painting without losing structure.

This two-day intensive with Aly Harte is designed for artists who want to paint with more freedom, confidence, and energy—without their work becoming messy or overworked.

Across two focused days, she will guide you through a fast, intuitive approach to painting, grounded in strong fundamentals like gesture, tonal value, and colour. Aly shows how to simplify what you see, trust your instincts, and make stronger decisions on the canvas.

Working across semi-abstract landscapes, still life, and abstract painting, you’ll learn how to let go of over-control while still creating work that feels balanced and intentional.

What You’ll Learn

• How to stop overworking your paintings
• How to simplify using shape and tonal value
• How to use colour with more confidence
• How speed can improve your painting
• How to know when a painting is finished

Course Format

• Morning: Demonstration and guided exercises
• Afternoon: Practical painting with feedback

This is about painting with freedom—without losing what matters.

Please note materials are not included in the price.

A list of the essential and recommended materials will become available ahead of the course commencing.

About the tutor

Aly Harte is a Belfast based artist who sells and exhibits her paintings internationally. She teaches semi abstract painting on and offline with over 1.3 million hits on her Youtube channel. Aly  graduated from Belfast school of art with a degree in Fine art 2005 and MFA in 2007.

She has built her creative career around her three children and is passionate about sharing the healing joy of art having started drawing as a 7 year old the week after her Father died.

Aly’s most recent residency was to Arrialos in Portugal. She is also a live painter at events and artist in residence for Cricket Ireland.