Acrylic Landscape Painting Workshop For Beginners

A landscape painting workshop is a good way to spend a few hours in Singapore doing something more hands-on than sightseeing. At Dhoby Ghaut Visual Arts Centre, you choose a reference image, sketch your composition, and try acrylic paints on a canvas you can take home.

I like two things here: all the materials are included, so you can turn up without an art kit, and the session covers useful basics such as colour mixing, brushwork and composition. The central Dhoby Ghaut location is another plus, just a short walk from the MRT station.

The main catch is the clock. Two hours and 15 minutes is a short time to sketch and finish a painting, and instructor attention is shared among the class. Treat this as a creative introduction, not a full course in acrylic painting.

At a glance: what you need to know

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• The session lasts 2 hours and 15 minutes: You’ll move from materials and reference selection to sketching and painting, so there’s little time to linger over each stage.
• You choose a landscape reference: A simple image is easier to complete than one packed with tiny details or complicated colour changes.
• Guidance is available, but not constant: Ask questions as they occur to you. You may spend much of the session painting on your own.
• Materials and refreshments are included: You don’t need to bring paints or brushes, and you can take your artwork home.
• The venue is near Dhoby Ghaut MRT: Find the Visual Arts Centre on the first level above the station, at 10 Penang Road.
• It suits a first try, not a full course: You’ll get a taste of acrylic painting, but lasting technique takes more practice than one workshop allows.

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From brush basics to your first canvas

The session begins with an introduction to acrylic painting and the tools on the table. You’ll learn to recognise brushes and other materials, then get a basic sense of how they are used. That practical start matters if you’re new to painting: a brush is not just a brush, and different strokes can change the feel of a scene.

Next comes choosing a landscape image to study. This choice has a real effect on how the workshop goes. A reference with broad shapes and a few main colours gives you room to practise blending and brushwork. A detailed scene, with many small objects or subtle colour shifts, can eat up the time before you’ve laid down much paint.

You’ll observe the image, think about composition and framing, and make a draft sketch before painting. That planning stage is useful, but it can also take longer than expected. Keep your sketch simple. The goal is to map out the main shapes and placement, not to draw every detail before you start painting.

The instructor then introduces basic colour theory and common acrylic strokes and techniques for painting scenery. From there, you work on your own canvas. This is where expectations matter: the session provides an introduction and individual guidance, but it is not described as a step-by-step class in which everyone follows the same demonstration from start to finish.

Choosing a reference that fits the clock

You’ll have some choice over what to paint, which is a welcome chance to make the finished work feel like yours. But choice is not always an advantage for a beginner under a time limit. A complicated reference may look exciting on a phone screen and turn into a lot of small decisions once you start painting.

I’d choose an image with a clear foreground, middle distance and background, plus a limited number of large colour areas. That gives you a chance to practise composition and transitions without getting bogged down in tiny marks. If you’re unsure, ask the instructor to help you judge whether your image is manageable before you begin sketching.

Some participants have found suitable beginner references provided at the studio, while others selected their own. The available information does not promise a particular set of images, so don’t count on a specific reference being supplied. If you want to bring an image, choose one you can explain at a glance and keep a simpler backup in mind.

How much instruction should you expect?

The workshop promises individual guidance and tips from an experienced art instructor. In practice, the amount of help you receive can depend on how many people need attention at once and how actively you ask for it. Some sessions have felt attentive and encouraging; in others, beginners have found themselves working independently for long stretches.

That range is worth taking seriously if your main goal is instruction. This format is better suited to trying materials, learning a few basics and enjoying the process than to mastering acrylic technique. If you want structured teaching, progressive lessons and close correction throughout, a longer course is a better fit. The Visual Arts Centre offers longer art courses, but their length and price are separate from this workshop.

A useful tactic is to ask your questions early, especially before you commit to a complex sketch. You might ask which brush suits a particular area, how to mix a colour, or how to simplify a shape. One instructor named in positive comments is Mikael, who has been associated with patient tips on colour mixing, blending and brush strokes. Instructor assignments can vary, so don’t book on the assumption he will lead your session.

The time limit and what you take home

Two hours and 15 minutes sounds generous until you divide it among an introduction, reference selection, sketching and painting. The sketch can consume a surprising share, leaving less time for the paint itself. Some people finish a canvas in the allotted time; others have had to leave parts incomplete or fill remaining space quickly near the end.

You can improve your odds by keeping the drawing broad and beginning to paint without trying to perfect every line. Ask for help if you’re unsure whether to spend more time on a detail. A finished beginner painting need not copy every feature in its reference. Simplifying is part of the learning.

The included canvas size depends on the package. The stated options are one session with a 30 by 40 centimetre or 40 by 40 centimetre canvas, and two sessions with a 50 by 50 centimetre canvas. Check the exact option you select before booking, since the package wording distinguishes the canvas sizes but does not explain how the two-session option is scheduled.

A completed or unfinished painting is yours to take home. That makes the activity more tangible than a demonstration alone: you leave with a record of your first attempt, even if it still needs work.

Is the price good value?

The advertised starting prices are not consistent: one price is shown as US$54.79, while another is listed as US$60.25. Treat these as starting figures, not a guaranteed final total, and check the amount for your date and selected package before paying.

The value depends on what you want. The price includes admission, an English- or Chinese-speaking guide, refreshments, the canvas associated with your package and the necessary painting materials. You’re also paying for a studio setting and a chance to try acrylics without buying supplies first. For a relaxed creative outing, that can be worthwhile.

If you’re paying mainly to receive close, sustained teaching, the value is less certain. Instructor attention is shared, and the short format limits how much technique can be covered. The workshop is also eligible for the SG Culture Pass, which may make it a more appealing use of that benefit. The pass does not change the time limit or turn the session into a full course.

Finding the studio at Dhoby Ghaut

The meeting point is the Exhibition Gallery at the Visual Arts Centre, 10 Penang Road, #01-02 Dhoby Ghaut Green, Singapore 238469. From Dhoby Ghaut MRT, use Exit B to reach ground level, turn left, and follow the signs and posters for the centre. The venue is on level one above the station, about a one-minute walk away.

That easy access is helpful when you’re carrying a painting home, though the session’s specific start times are not provided here. The centre’s general opening hours are Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday from 10:00 to 20:00; Tuesday from 15:00 to 18:30; Saturday from 10:00 to 21:00; and Sunday from 10:00 to 18:00. Check your booked time rather than treating those hours as workshop start times.

Bring your mobile voucher. Confirmation is expected within minutes; if it does not arrive, contact customer support. The voucher is valid only for the date and time specified, and cancellations or refunds are not available. Participants must be at least 12 years old. Pets are prohibited, and anyone who appears intoxicated may be refused service without a refund.

Who will enjoy this workshop most?

I’d recommend it to a curious beginner who wants to try acrylics without buying supplies, enjoys making things with their hands, and is comfortable asking for help. It can also work well as a creative outing with a friend or family member aged 12 or older. The relaxed, social side is part of the appeal, and refreshments are included.

It is less suitable if you expect a teacher to demonstrate every step and stay beside you throughout. It may also frustrate you if you want plenty of time for a detailed painting or a polished result. For that, consider a longer course with a more progressive structure.

Before you go, pick a simple reference, think of two or three questions you want answered, and give yourself permission to leave some details out. Those small choices can make the difference between a rushed canvas and a useful first encounter with acrylic painting.

Should you book it?

Book this workshop if you want a convenient, low-commitment introduction to acrylics and value having the materials and canvas supplied. Go in expecting a short art session with some instruction, not an intensive lesson. If learning technique is your priority, choose a longer course instead; if you mainly want a few hours of creative time and a painting to take home, this can be a pleasant way to spend an afternoon.

FAQ

How long is the workshop?

The workshop lasts 2 hours and 15 minutes.

Where does the workshop take place?

It meets at the Exhibition Gallery at Visual Arts Centre, 10 Penang Road, #01-02 Dhoby Ghaut Green, Singapore 238469.

How do I get to the Visual Arts Centre by train?

Take the MRT to Dhoby Ghaut, use Exit B to ground level, turn left, and follow the signs for Visual Arts Centre. The centre is about a one-minute walk away.

Do I need to bring painting materials?

No. All necessary materials are included.

Can I take my painting home?

Yes. You can take your artwork home after the workshop.

What canvas size is included?

The stated options include a 30 by 40 centimetre or 40 by 40 centimetre canvas for one session, and a 50 by 50 centimetre canvas for two sessions. Check the selected package for its exact details.

What languages are available?

The guide speaks English or Chinese.

Is there a minimum age?

Yes. Participants must be at least 12 years old.