MANU SALUJA: THE SOUL OF PORTRAITURE: Symbolism, Composition & Complexion in Oil Paint

Manu Saluja is a contemporary figurative and portrait painter. After receiving her B.A. in Psychology from Barnard College, Columbia University, Manu went on to study with John Frederick Murray privately and at the School of Visual Arts, graduatingwith a BFA in Illustration in 1997. For over 10 years Manu has been on the Painting Faculty at the New York Academy of Art,

where she received her MFA in 2013. She has also taught at Montclair State University and SUNY’s Fashion Institute of Technology.

Her current work shares narratives of women in her life, diverse in age and lived experiences reflecting on themes of femininity, familial bonds, cultural identity, and social perception. The figures are often shown in ethereal environments basedon Saluja’s lived experiences - inspired by childhood memories and spaces in and around her native city of New York. These environments also become the subject of her work. Saluja’s paintings have been exhibited at the National Portrait Gallery in London, the Royal Ontario Museum in Toronto, and the Wausau Museum of Contemporary Art in Wisconsin. Winner of the 2019 BP Portrait Travel Award, her resulting paintings celebrating volunteers at Amritsar’s Golden Temple in India were exhibited at the Aberdeen Art Gallery in Scotland in 2020.

In 2023 Saluja was unanimously selected by Worcester County Mechanics Association to paint a full-length portrait of Sojourner Truth who rose from slavery to freedom - a celebrated orator and civil rights activist. Unveiled in 2024, the painting is in the permanent collection of the Hall’s Grand Portrait Gallery.Her paintings have been featured in American Art Collector, Fine Art Connoisseur, Artists & Illustrators, the Huffington Post, and Fast Company Design. Saluja has participated in numerous group shows, and has work in public and private collections in the U.S., Canada, U.K. and India.

WORKSHOP DETAILS

This workshop is designed to help you solve one of the most elusive problems in portrait painting: achieving believable, dimensional, and emotionally resonant skin tones in oil paint within a well thought out composition. Working primarily indoors, students will work from a live model focusing on one continued pose over 5 days. You will have the opportunity to weave rich cultural symbolism into your work, gleaning inspiration from Sicilian objects and clothing included in the pose.

Each day includes structured lessons, demonstrations, and individual feedback tailored to each student’s needs. You will be guided through exercises to compose your portrait with greater visual intention considering cropping, scale, value and color choices. Using the compositional study as a “blue print” for your portrait, students will progress from an underpainting to the full color palette. Manu will share drawing strategies for achieving likeness and a system for mixing and modulating skin tones without muddy results or major guesswork - a method developed from decades of working with diverse subjects and lighting environments around the world. Whether you’re a beginner or professional painter, you will come away with knowledge of what goes into creating artwork that doesn't just resemble your subject—but reveals their spirit and narrative.

A Glimpse of Your Studio Week with Manu

Day 1 (June 12):

● Welcome and Introductions

● Demonstration on Key Principles of Composition - how to “lead the viewer's eye”

● Exercises: Linear Studies, Tonal Studies

● Demonstration on Underpainting - Materials, Structure Lines, Light and Shade, Edges

● Students work on Underpainting

Day 2 (June 13):

● Demonstration of Color Theory, Mixing Complexion and Elements in Portrait

● Students Mix Out Palette

● Exercise: Small Color Study

● Demonstration of the “Lay-In” with Tips on Mediums/Drying Time of Oil, Handling Oil Paint, Transparency vs. Opacity, Brush

Choice, Edge Handling

● Students Begin on Canvas

Day 3 (June 14):

● Demonstration on Painting Various Textures (Clothing, Objects)

● Students Continue Working on Lay-In Stage, building up value, color and temperature changes, Edge Handling

● Demonstration of Details in the Portrait: Eyes, Nose

● Students build up portrait to incorporate further detail

● Group Reflection

Day 4 (June 15):

● Demonstration of Details in the Portrait: Lips and Ears

● Students build up portrait to incorporate further detail

● Individual Feedback Throughout the Day

● Afternoon Excursion

Day 5 (June 16):

● Students build up portrait to completion

● Individual Feedback Demonstrations as needed

● Final Group Reflection

MANU SALUJA'S MATERIALS LIST:

Canvas

● Frederick’s Canvas Pad 18x24 inches (10 Sheets of Acrylic Primed Cotton Canvas) -OR-

● Centurion Professional Linen Canvas Pad 16x20 inches (10 Sheets of Acrylic Primed Linen)

Other Essentials:

● Recommended Value Scale: https://ebay.to/3nMGION

● 2 Palette Knives (triangular metal shaped, 2-3 inches long - more flexible, or bendable the better)

● Paper Towels

● Soft Cotton T-Shirts or Rags

Oil Paints: recommended brands Williamsburg, Old Holland and Gamblin

(37 ml tubes are fine)

● Titanium White (37 or 150 ml)

● Raw Umber

● Ivory Black

● Burnt Umber

● Yellow Ochre Domestic (Williamsburg)

● Naples Yellow

● Cadmium Red Medium (Terra Rosa also perfectly acceptable)

● Quinacridone Magenta or Alizarin Crimson

● Ultramarine Blue

● Viridian Green

● Cerulean Blue (Cerulean Blue Hue is fine too)

● Cadmium Yellow light or Lemon Yellow

● Cadmium Orange

● Cadmium Green or Permanent Green

● Dioxazine Purple

Palette:

1. Richeson Grey Matters disposable paper palette pad: https://www.dickblick.com/items/03092-2506/

2. New Wave Posh Glass Tabletop Palette - 12x16 inch

https://www.dickblick.com/items/new-wave-posh-glass-tabletop-palette-12-x-16-clear/?

clicktracking=true&wmcp=pla&wmcid=items&wmckw=03481-1026&country=us&currency=usd&srsltid=AfmBOoqUcOz5MnxLOoPvmxy3Vzxy_69MNVLBFRIJhCzzeCDruRgbqQGXr-

s

3. Masterson Sta-Wet Palette Seal Box 12x16 inches

https://www.dickblick.com/products/masterson-sta-wet-palette-seal/

Brushes:

● Soft synthetic brushes: 2-4 round brushes (size 1, 2, 4), 6 flat brushes (2 in each size: 4, 6, 8). Recommended

brand: Winsor & Newton Monarch or Blick Scholastic Wonder White

● Bristle brushes: 4-6 flat brushes (1 in each size: 6, 8, 10, 12), long handle for oil painting Recommended brands:

Isabey specials, and Silverbrush Grand Prix

*If you already have a variety of sizes and shapes of 4-6 brushes, and they are in good condition (not stiff or frayed too

badly) then you can use them of course!

What to Expect From Your Week with Manu Saluja

An itinerary with dates and times and site visits will be sent to you prior to the event. Here is what you can expects overall.

• On arrival day, there will be a late afternoon Orientation and Welcome Dinner.

• We will paint daily, in the studio. Excursions to explore Sicily's magnificent Mediterranean landscapes and storied archeological sites are included.

• A farewell and "thank you" event at a local winery on final day.

• Most meals are included --breakfast, lunch & dinner (except on Wednesdays when the hotel's restaurant is closed).

• Transporation to and from Palermo (PMO) airport See our pickup policy

• Materials needed for the workshop: See Manu's material list above.   

• What we provide: solvent, medium, rags, brush soap, studio easels, support boards, sandpaper, pencil sharpener, kneaded eraser, chalk, palette knives, and medium jars at no additional cost.  Please see these provided items.

• Rentals: Sicily Artist Retreats "Paint Pass", a flat fee for unlimited use of paint is available for purchase for your convenience.  You are welcome to bring your own materials or purchase ours.   

• Purchases: In addition, paper and canvas selections are available onsite to purchase.

•  Car rental is not necessary but recommended if you'd like to explore the area after class.

Included in the Workshop

Hotel Baglio Custera, a boutique hotel in the heart of Marsala's countryside, renowned for its gardens, incredible views, and luxurious atmosphere. All rooms are private with en-suite bathrooms.

Cuisine

Sicily's culinary scene is a feast for the senses! Our cooks source the freshest, locally grown produce to create mouth-watering dishes that will tantalize your taste buds. Indulge in the rich flavors of the region, and savor the taste of true Sicilian cuisine.

Transportation

Shuttle service to and from the airport and to plein air painting sites and hidden-gem painting spots are included as well.

How to Register

EARLY BIRD DISCOUNTS EXTENDED!

The cost of this workshop os $3800. Our Earlybird pricing takes $400 off the cost, making your total price $3400. Earlybird pricing has been extended until September 7, 2025.

Make your initial deposit of $500, saving your seat and securing your Earlybird price. Second and third deposits will be sent within the first and second months of your initial deposit. Total payment will be complete within three months.

We welcome your non-painting travel partners for an additional fee of $1250. Non-painting guests share your room, are included in meals, and are welcome to site visits where space allows. Special itineraries can be arranged for them through the hotel.

Early bird discounted ticket cost $3400

• Initial Deposit: $500 [by 9/7/25]

• Second Deposit: $1450 [by 10/1/25 ]

• Third Deposit: $1450 [by 11/1/25]

• Non-Painting Partners are welcome: $1250