🎨 New Year, New Moves at The Martin Kinnear Studio!Fresh Courses, A Contemporary Focus, and Your Own Painting Advice Bot (Yes, Really)

Martin Kinnear Studio
Jul 11
3 min read

Introducing e- Martin your new technical help bot (no seriously...)

As we head towards a new painting school year in September at The Martin Kinnear Studio, we’re thrilled to share some big, bold changes designed to help you paint better, think deeper, and find your place in the vibrant world of contemporary painting.

Whether you're just starting out or developing a serious studio practice, this year is about giving you the tools and confidence to move forward—wherever your artistic journey takes you.

🎓 Introducing Our All-New Online Diploma

Let’s start with the big news: registration is now officially open for our brand-new Online Diploma in Contemporary Painting Practice.

This flexible, mentor-led program brings you the depth and structure of a traditional art school education—with none of the gatekeeping. Designed to fit your life, this course is delivered through a blend of live sessions, on-demand resources, and personal mentoring. You'll learn not just how to paint, but why you paint—and how to create work that matters to you.

This isn't a course to follow someone else’s style. It's a course to develop your own.

🔄 A Year at the RCA: Why We’re Reorienting

Founder Martin Kinnear has just spent an incredible year immersed in the Royal College of Art—the #1 art school in the world. That time has inspired a fresh perspective on what painting education can be: contemporary, rigorous, and grounded in real-world practice.

This experience has helped us rethink and refine our programs, placing more emphasis on:

Developing original studio practice
Understanding the context of your work in today's art world
Building meaningful, individual creative strategies
Honing the technical excellence to bring your ideas to life

We're still the same warm, accessible community—but with a sharper, smarter approach to the way we teach painting for the 21st century.

🚪Access for All: Painting Without Barriers

We’re doubling down on our belief that everyone deserves the chance to make great art.

That means:

No house style: Your journey, your ideas, your vision.
Flexible learning: On-demand, live, and hybrid options to fit your life.
Foundational programs for all levels: Including our new under and post grad program Primer, a unique short course being co-developed with the RCA, perfect for both graduates and those returning to painting with new ambition.
Financial accessibility: We're keeping our fees as low as possible and will be announcing some exciting member extras for September.

Wherever you're starting from, there's a way in.

🤖 Meet Martin (The Bot, Not the Man)

We promised something fun—and here it is.

Introducing e-Martin, our brand-new technical painting advice bot, trained exclusively for The Martin Kinnear Studio community. Need the recipe for short grounds? Wondering what those three ebauche stages are? Ask e-Martin the bot in the Members’ Area and get instant, practical answers based on decades of professional know-how. just be aware that like the original Martin he doesnt do customer service - just painting !

(We’re told he’s a bit less sarcastic than the real one. But just as clever.)