Robert Karlsson Weekend Masterclass on Lighting, Focal Points and Colour Harmony

An intensive two-day masterclass by Robert Karlsson of Rogland Studio is running at Black Sun Miniatures Painting Studio in association with Figurementors, focusing on planning light, establishing focal points and colour harmony for miniature figures. The course, billed as a practical, advanced workshop, runs January 24-25 and carries a fee of £190.

Karlsson built the programme around three core skills that directly affect how a figure reads on a display base and under competition lights: how to plan light, how to create and control focal points, and how to build colour harmony that holds at miniature scale. Attendees worked through structured sessions on composition and lighting choices, then applied those decisions to individual figures so colour decisions and highlights reinforced the intended focal hierarchy.

The setting at Black Sun Miniatures Painting Studio provided a studio environment for close, hands-on demonstration and immediate feedback. Figurementors’ involvement helped position the weekend as an intensive learning opportunity rather than a casual demo, and the two-day format allowed stepwise progression from conceptual planning to practical application. The £190 fee reflected that depth of instruction and the limited-duration, cohort-based format.

Practical value for painters is immediate. Learning to plan where light will fall before committing to base coats reduces rework and speeds decision making. Establishing a clear focal point prevents competing colour choices from flattening a miniature’s silhouette under tabletop lighting. Colour harmony instruction helps painters choose palettes that maintain contrast and mood without muddying fine detail when viewed up close or from across a game table.

This kind of masterclass also impacts community standards for show tables and commission work. Painters who tighten composition and lighting planning can produce pieces that read more clearly in photographs and on display boards, improving competition entries and client satisfaction. The weekend format encourages portfolio development; participants can leave with at least one figure reworked to reflect the course principles.

For those who missed the sessions, tracking Figurementors and Black Sun Miniatures Painting Studio for future offerings will be the quickest route to similar instruction. Robert Karlsson’s focus on planning and colour balance highlights a trend toward courses that teach decision frameworks rather than single techniques, and that emphasis is likely to shape how painters approach commissions, display pieces, and tournament entries in the months ahead.