Portrait Painting Short Course
Course description
Course overview
This short course works directly from a model developing your portrait painting techniques. You will also develop a greater knowledge of oil painting materials and techniques in relation to portrait painting.
You will learn to understand the structure and anatomy of the skull and through an initial day dedicated to drawing, begin to observe shape, form, light and contrast in relation to the head. These ideas will then be carried into a sustained painting, which you will create over the remaining days.
Informative lectures will complement your studio work, where you will look at specific examples of portrait paintings, relating to the topics covered in the practical sessions. You will explore a range of painting aspects including observational drawing, composition, choosing a palette, colour mixing and colour relationships, proportion, making light and form with colour, mark and touch.
Read more about the course in our Course Feature: Portrait Painting.
Who this course is for
This course is suitable for students, aged 18 and older, with previous experience in painting who wish to develop painting skills further as well as beginners looking for guidance on painting a head.
Key information
Topics covered
- History
- Anatomy
- Observational drawing
- Eyes, mouth, nose, ears
- Backgrounds
- Colour mixing
- Proportions
- Light
- Expressions
- Poses
Learning outcomes
- Develop a greater knowledge of oil painting materials and techniques in relation to portrait painting
- Gain confidence in their painting techniques, which can apply to their future practice
- Digital badge and certificate of attendance
Materials
- Drawing materials (pencils, charcoal, erasers, masking tape, clips etc.)
- A3 or A4 sketchbook
- Painting equipment (as a guide, we recommend the following if working in oils: 7ml oil paint tubes including Titanium White, Yellow Ochre, Cadmium Yellow and Cadmium Lemon Yellow, Cadmium Red, Alizarin Crimson, Dioxine Violet, Ultramarine Blue, Cobalt Blue, Cerulean Blue and Viridian Green)
- A selection of hog hairbrushes
- 2 jam jars with lids
- Small canvases or canvas boards
- Palette
- Palette knife
- Rags to clean your brushes with
Please note that studio safe solvent and medium is provided by the college. Students are advised not to bring their own products for health and safety purposes.
Tutor
Atul Vohora
Atul Vohora is a painter who lives and works in London. He is deeply committed to Drawing and his paintings, both joyful and questioning, demonstrate a deep and passionate understating of image making. He teaches alongside his practice and his work is held in collections nationally and internationally. He has written for the Guardian and the observer and his book on painting was published in 2012.
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