Dru Blair: William Bouguereau Workshop - April 2025
BOUGUEREAU
WORKSHOP
WITH DRU BLAIR
Simple Step By Step Instructions
Dru Blair shows you how to paint a Masterpiece from start to finish.
Color Theory
Comprehensive and easy to understand. Learn all you need to know about color in one day.
Love the beauty of
Classical painting?
In just 5 days you will learn how to create a
monumental painting using brushes and airbrush.
About William Bouguereau!
(1825 – 1905) was a French academic painter. In his realistic genre paintings, he used mythological themes, making modern interpretations of classical subjects, with an emphasis on the female human body. He was the quintessential salon painter of his generation, and as such he was reviled by the Impressionist avant-garde.
New to airbrush? New to traditional brushwork?
No problem. Dru and his staff will teach you all you need to know step by step. You will be amazed at his clear and simple methods.
Supplies included
We take care of everything in the classroom, from paint, to paper to airbrushes. All you need to bring is your desire to learn. You are also welcome to create this project on your own panel or canvas.
Creating a Masterpiece is easier than you think
If you are a beginner, don't worry. We've got your back. We will show you techniques that make it easy for anyone to paint like this. You might not believe that you can do this, but we'll guarantee your success.
Paint something monumental
We will give you the tools and knowledge to make a statement with your art that's worthy of a gallery. Making great paintings is good for your art career, because great works sell themselves.
Designed for Beginners and Pros
This class is full of techniques and tricks that are not taught anywhere else in the world. Its a wonderful marriage between the airbrush and the traditional brush. You will surprise yourself with the results.
Color theory that solves all your color matching challenges
Fear of color will be a thing of the past. Learn all about recreating brushstrokes similar to the old Masters, and how to take your painting to the next level!
The tools you need
We aren't just limited to teaching you all about the brush and the airbrush. We include a variety of other art tools to help you make your present and future artwork the best possible.
Over 44 Hours of instruction
You've probably heard that our classes run late. That's because there is so much content that we want to share with you. There are no distractions in Blair, and it's easy to focus on your painting. Many students would paint all night if they could.
What you will learn
01
Where to begin
When faced with a new painting, its often difficult to know where to start. We will take you step by step through the painting from beginning all the way to the end.
02
Layout and composition of the Masters
Solid composition is a common quality to all of the great master's paintings, yet it is the most overlooked. Here you will learn how William Bouguereau assembled his compositions.
03
The 8 differences between Opaque and Transparent paint
When should you use transparent paint or glaze, and when should you use opaque paint? Each has unique characteristics which need to be considered first. You will learn all the differences, and when and why to use each.
04
Surfaces
We will show you how to render, clothing, skin, and background objects.
05
Two styles
Classic painters created realistic figures, but often their backgrounds resembled impressionism. You will learn both styles.
06
Color Theory
Our original theory was initially conceived in the eighties, and is now practiced in some form all over the airbrush world. This is a practical approach to color and color mixing that actually corresponds to the way paint behaves. It is simple, yet comprehensive in scope.
07
How to use the Color Wheel
The color wheel is a compass. We will show you how to choose the right color wheel and how to use it correctly. It can be your best aid when mixing and matching colors.
08
How to match color....perfectly
Color can be intimidating, but fear of color will be a thing of the past after we show you how to match a color dead-on every time. You will love this process, especially if you are tired of painting in shades of grey.
09
Blending techniques
The airbrush and the traditional brush require different approaches when blending. We will show you how to use both.
10
Choosing the right brush and the right paint
There are so many choices out there, and it can be quite confusing. We will help take the mystery out of paint, brush and airbrush selection, so that you use the best products for your paintings.
11
Transferring your image to the painting
There are 5 different ways to draw your source image onto the canvas. We will show you all of them.
12
Creating drama with light
Classic painters were masters at lighting figures. We will show you how and why they used light to tell their story.
13
the 6 rules for hair
If you want your hair to look more like the masters', then follow these simple rules. We will show them all to you, as well as some extra hair tips for greater realism.
14
Brush vs Airbrush
Each has its advantages and disadvantages. We will go over all of them, and show you when to use each in your painting.
15
Tool introduction
We don’t limit your training to just the brush and airbrush. There are many tools that can enhance your painting, and we want you to be able to enjoy having the best of them in your arsenal. You will also learn the results for each tool, so you will know which tool is best for each situation.
16
Negotiating techniques that work
Negotiating a price for your work is probably the most stressful part of being an artist. We will show you negotiating methods that will help remove the stress when working with a client.
17
Selling your work
Learning about the business of art and marketing allows you, as an artist, to earn money for your creations. You will learn about pricing, galleries, copyright, prints, giclées, originals, and artist representatives.
State of the Art Classroom
unlike any other on the planet
Color corrected lighting. Central Ventilation
On-site lodging on a 120-acre campus
nestled in a National Forest
What students are saying
I attended Dru's workshop with the hope of learning to paint, I left with the ability to "see" and a system that allowed me to develop my own understanding of painting and colours. Your system has given me the freedom to explore my own creativity.
Paul MacDonald
(Air Art Studios) Australia
Dru's teachings showed me how to create great detail and gave me the ability to achieve PHOTOREALISM in my artworks. Thank you for pioneering the world of photorealism in airbrushing, I doubt I would have got here without your long nights and many experiments .
David Naylor
Spain
Dru's workshop influenced the way I paint and gave me some new concepts, knowledge and skills to implement into the way I worked today. I recommend it!
Mitch Lowther
(Airbrush tutor) Australia
Our
Guarantee
We are so sure that we offer the best airbrush course in the world that we are willing to offer you tuition money back if you don’t notice an immediate improvement in your art, and in the way you see the world after taking this course.
About painting in the style of Bouguereau
William Bouguereau's paintings were often inspired by the world around him. Unlike modernism, which was becoming popular at the time, his goal was a celebration of monumental beauty and quality set forth by predecessors. In this workshop, we will uphold that tradition of beauty and quality, while adding modern tools, techniques, and materials.
Getting here
The school address is 4935 Buckhead Road, Blair, SC, 29015, which is 90 minutes from the Charlotte airport. We provide a free shuttle to and from the airport. The shuttle departs from Charlotte airport at 6:00 pm on Tuesday evening March 12th, so plan your flights and allow for any delays. If you miss the shuttle, you are responsible for your own transportation to Blair, and we recommend Uber or Lyft. We will provide a free shuttle to the airport on the last day of class (Sunday) which will arrive at the airport at 4 pm, so be sure to schedule your outgoing flight after 5 pm to allow travel time to the airport.
Plan on arriving the evening before classes. Try to arrive at the school between 5 pm and 7 pm if possible, at the Charlotte, NC airport.
Food and Lodging
Private rooms with baths are available as an add-on for students who wish to reside at the school during classes. You will want to arrive the evening before the classes and depart on the last day of class.
Breakfast is at 8:30 am, Lunch is at 1:00 pm, and Dinner is served at 7:30 pm. If you have special dietary requirements, you must notify us when you enroll to ensure we can prepare properly for your attendance.
Virtual Option
We offer this workshop as a virtual workshop too. Materials and supplies are sent directly to your door and the class is broadcast to you via Zoom. Click here for more information about our virtual workshops.
Excl. postage