Learn how to draw and paint portraits from life.
Starting the course with drawing in charcoal, students will learn the essentials when it comes to portraiture, from understanding tonal values to getting to grips with the basics of anatomy, including the construction and proportions of the head. We’ll then introduce painting in acrylic and oils, experimenting with the way in which we apply paint to a surface and how different colour palettes can affect the atmosphere of a portrait.
We’ll be working from a model each week, and there will also be the opportunity to make self-portraits. For inspiration, we’ll be looking to artists including Alice Neel, Frank Auerbach, Arcmanoro Niles, David Hockney and Maria Lassnig.
Each session of this five-week course will include a short lecture and demonstration, with the tutor giving one-to-one critiques with encouraging advice throughout.