Friday evenings - 5-7pm - Starting 07/03/2025
In this traditional portrait painting course, students will be guided through the process of developing a preparatory sketch into a fully realized oil portrait, working directly from a life model. The course covers fundamental aspects of portraiture, inlcuding proportion, head anatomy, skin tone creation, and painting techniques to convey depth and realism.
Designed for beginners to intermediate students, this course provides a supportive environment to build confindence and refine portrait painting skills.
Class 1
Introduction & housekeeping.
We start a pencil sketch of our model in preparation for the oil painting. Students will be given 3 weeks to complete this sketch.
Following an outline of the course content, I will perform a demonstration sketch of the model. During the demo, the process will be explained & students will be encouraged to ask questions.
After the demo, students will have the opportunity to begin a sketch of the model.
Class 2
Continue sketching our model.
Discussion topic: Proportions of the head, observing broad shapes.
Students will continue working on their preparatory sketch of the model. I will explain methods used to gauge proportions of the head, as well as how to observe the face in terms of broader shapes.
Class 3
We finalise the sketch our model, then
transcribe sketch onto canvas, or board, if time permits.
Students will be assisted with finalising their sketch of the model. Once they have finished, they will be shown how to transcribe the sketch onto the prepared board, or canvas, using carbon transference method.
Class 4
We will continue transferring the pencil sketches if necessary.
We will begin the initial layer of the painting.
Discussion topic: Understanding oil paint (texture, application of paint, and tool use).
Q&A session
Students will continue transferring the pencil sketch onto their primed canvas or board via the carbon transfer method. Once completed, we will begin blocking in the thin, monochromatic paint layer to determine tonal values.
For those who may be new to oil painting, I’ll explain the fundamentals of using this medium.
Students who are experienced in oil painting may begin a tonal underpainting of the model.
Class5
Continue the portrait painting.
Discussion topic: determining facial structure in paint, and tonal qualities of the model’s face.
Students will complete their monochromatic, tonal layer. We will consider how to perceive the broad planes of the face first before seeking more detailed relationships between tonal values. By the end of the class, students will have a good understanding of the tonal values of the model.
Class6
Continue painting, focussing on colour mixing for skin tone. Students will complete a colour chart.
We will now begin blocking in colour using a limited palette of 6 to 8 colours. Prior to working on their portraits, students will be guided to create a colour chart identifying flesh tones derived from these 8 colours. This process will allow students to see the many possibilities to be derived from a limited palette.
Class7
Continue painting, focussing on identifying colour and tonal relationships.
Based upon the previous lesson, students will continue identifying colour relationships as well as tone. Having completed the broad planes of the face, we will seek out more detailed areas.
Class8
Final day. Students will be guided to complete their portrait. Q&A session.
Clean up. Congratulate yourselves on completing a beautiful portrait!
In this final session, we will cover the final details to bring the portrait to completion. Students will have the opportunity to discuss their experience and how they may continue practising outside the class in their own studio.
Course fee: $250
PLEASE NOTE - We will be in contact with you before the start date to inform you of a required materials list - it is the attendee's responsibility to purchase these materials & bring them to class.