Colour is not simply a matter of choosing pigments: above all, it is a way of seeing, perceiving, and interpreting the world.
Throughout this workshop, we will work from still life to explore the relationships between colours, values, light, and textures, and understand how they contribute to the construction of form and volume.
You will be guided by Jean-Marc Alesi, a painter whose mastery of coloured pencils and artistic sensitivity will enrich your exploration of this medium and its expressive possibilities.
This workshop reflects our studio’s commitment to artistic excellence and the transmission of knowledge, where observation, practice, and teaching play an essential role.
Open to all levels, it is particularly suited to those who already have a drawing practice and wish to expand their artistic expression by discovering the possibilities of colour.
| Sunday 17 January 2027 | 10:00–16:00 Break — Lunch : 12:30–13:30 |
|---|---|
| Total duration | 5 h |
| Maximum participants | 8 |
| Location | Lux Aeterna – 15 Rue de Lappe 75011 Paris |
| Instructor |  Jean-Marc Alesi |
| Level | All levels |
| Student price | 100,00 € |
| Annual members | Annual members: 10% off all workshop options. Cannot be combined with the student rate. Materials excluded. |
What you will learn
The aim is to develop a more sensitive and accurate eye, and to discover how colour can give forms their volume, depth, and presence.
A time for study and experimentation, guided by the principles of classical painting, to deepen our understanding of colour and enrich our painting practice.
You will learn to capture forms, light, and subtle variations in colour directly on paper, developing a free and expressive brushwork in the spirit of the Old Masters.
Detailed programme
Morning — Learning to See and Understand Colour
10:00 – 10:30 am | Introduction to Colour
Working from a still-life arrangement, we will explore the fundamental principles of colour: tonal values, colour temperatures, contrasts, and the influence of light on our perception.
How do colours interact with one another? How can they reveal form, volume, and texture?
10:30 – 11:15 am | First Colour Studies
Through a series of short coloured-pencil studies, we will learn to simplify forms, identify the main areas of colour, and explore essential colour harmonies.
We will experiment with layering, optical mixing, and the expressive possibilities of coloured pencils.
11:15 am – 12:30 pm | Observational Drawing from Still Life
Our first practical drawing session will focus on a composition of objects. We will explore accurate proportions, the relationships between light and shadow, and the construction of volume through colour.
Jean-Marc Alesi will guide each participant individually, encouraging careful observation and personal exploration.
12:30 – 1:30 pm | Lunch Break
Afternoon — Developing and Refining a Colour Drawing
1:30 – 2:00 pm | Composition and Colour Choices
Working from the still-life arrangement, we will explore framing, the organisation of forms, and overall colour harmony in preparation for a more developed drawing.
2:00 – 3:30 pm | In-Depth Drawing with Coloured Pencils
Each participant will develop a personal drawing from still life, paying particular attention to the relationships between colour, light, volume, and texture.
We will explore the subtleties of coloured pencils: layering, transparency, tonal variations, textures, and delicate transitions between colours.
Beyond technical accuracy, we will encourage a sensitive and expressive approach, allowing freedom of gesture to complement the precision of observation.
3:30 – 4:00 pm | Group Discussion and Review
The day will conclude with a collective discussion of the drawings produced. Jean-Marc Alesi will offer individual feedback and suggestions for continuing to explore colour in each participant’s artistic practice.
Instructor
Jean-Marc Alesi graduated from the École des Beaux-Arts in Marseille. He lives and works in Paris, where he teaches drawing and painting alongside his own artistic practice.
The human body occupies a central place in his work, and his ongoing exploration of new techniques allows him to pursue different approaches to this subject.
In an era marked by an increasingly uncertain and threatening future, questions surrounding living beings, their representation, the traces they leave behind, and what remains of them continue to resonate deeply with him—not only from an artistic perspective, but also from historical, social, and relational standpoints.
His extensive reading informs and accompanies these ongoing reflections.
Packages and prices
Registration terms
Registration is confirmed upon receipt of the deposit.
If a participant cancels, the deposit is non-refundable, but may be transferred to another workshop at Lux Aeterna, subject to availability.
If the workshop is cancelled by Lux Aeterna, all payments will be refunded in full.
Materials needed
Materials Required
Easels will be provided by the studio. Drawing materials are not included in the workshop fee.
Recommended materials:
- A set of medium to high quality coloured pencils (at least primary colours).
- A sketchbook or A4 drawing paper suitable for coloured pencils.
- colored paper (mi-teintes), possibly
- An HB or 2B graphite pencil.
- An eraser and a pencil sharpener.
Still-life arrangements and lighting will be prepared in the studio.
