Colour in Nature Masterclass
with Eamon Colman

Experience a day of immersive, process-driven painting in this masterclass led by acclaimed artist Eamon Colman, inspired by the luminous colours found in nature. Through painting demonstrations and guided outdoor sessions, participants will delve into colour theory, paint layering, and the alchemy of handmade pigments.

Eamon will share his technique for making paint from raw organic pigment and milk, offering insight into the artist’s process. Participants will explore the principles of Josef Albers’ colour theory, applying these ideas directly to plein air painting sessions in the grounds of Butler Gallery.

This full-day workshop offers participants an opportunity to expand their understanding of colour, deepen their painting practice, and connect with the natural world through an experimental, hands-on process.

Materials provided. All levels welcome.
 

About the Artist

Eamon Colman was born in Dublin in 1957 and has lived and worked in County Kilkenny since 2003. He is an elected member of Aosdána since 2007 in recognition of his major contribution to Irish culture. His professional career spans from 1979, having created forty- four solo exhibitions presented nationally and internationally. In 1997, he was invited to host a major mid-term retrospective exhibition of his work entitled ‘Post Cards Home’ at the Royal Hibernian Academy, Dublin at the age of 39 years. This was accompanied by a monograph on his work by writer and art critic Brian Mc Avera entitled 'Dreams from The Lion’s Head, The Work of Eamon Colman’ published by Four Fields Press. A 25-year retrospective of his work is featured in a substantial publication by Gandon Editions, Kinsale: ‘Profile 25 – Eamon Colman’ (2006). In 1989, he won the First Prize Painting Award in EVA International; in 2001 First Prize Painting Award in Eigse, Carlow Arts Festival; in 2002, he was the first Irish artist to be awarded Full Fellowship Award from the Vermont Studio Centre, USA; in 2005, he won a CCAT Interreg Major Award for touring an exhibition in Wales, UK and in 2018 he was awarded a Culture Ireland GB18 Award. His work has been included in many international exhibitions representing contemporary Irish art, including Woven Fine Grain at Sasse Museum, Los Angeles, USA curated by Ciara Hambly, and in Ground Zero 360, BUH Museum, Texas, USA. Previous exhibitions were in Brussels, Denmark, France, Spain, the UK, Hong Kong, Canada and the USA. 

Recent exhibitions include Twenty Eight Acres, Butler Gallery (Kilkenny) in June 2023, ONE, as part of the Slow Looking movement at Tea Houses (Kilkenny), April 2026. Upcoming Solo exhibitions include a solo show in Solomon Fine Art (Dublin) and a two person show with Dougal McKenzie in Hambly and Hambly (UK) April / May 2026. Recent Residencies include Baptist University of Houston 2024 and Mount Congreve Gardens (Waterford) award in a Lifetime Fellowship. Eamon Colman was named UK Artist of the Year 2024-2025 by Art & Museum Magazine. 

Eamon Colman is represented by Solomon Fine Art, Dublin, Ireland, Hambly & Hambly, UK and Stern Studio Gallery, Vienna, Austria.