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Figure and Portrait Painting

  • Introduction-Intermediate
  • Painting

Students will explore observational Figure and Portrait Painting in poses that last one to two weeks. The focus is on alla prima gestural painting that captures character after preparing a solid foundation of good proportion and body structure. Using oil or acrylic, this painting course promotes the ability to capture drama wherever it is expressed in the body. This is a no-solvents class and assistance will be provided for oil painters needing to adapt to a toxin-free technique. The instructor offers a clearly structured technique broken down into stages that are learned at your pace and in your style.

Winter 2020:   12 Weeks:  Base Tuition $495 + Model Fee $103 = $598

Notes: Students should have had recent instruction in introductory painting as well as a recent figure drawing course. This course puts the two together in a dynamic atmosphere. No Class Feb. 17, 2020 -(Family Day)
* This course is not currently open for registration

What you will learn

  • Paint mixing, palette layout, brush handling for oil and acrylic
  • Tone and colour mixing with charts & scales
  • Alla prima or direct Paintings w/ 3 hour poses (no glazing)
  • Solvent-free painting class
  • Anatomy and composition strategies
  • Goal is control of values and colours to create the 3D illusion of a figure in space
  • Mixed media painters welcome (ink, watercolour, drawing media, Mylar...)

Materials to Bring

Note:  NO SOLVENTS OF ANY KIND TO BE USED IN CLASS.  NON-TOXIC TECHNIQUES USED ONLY.

Materials for Quick Studies

(bring these to the first few classes)

  • Paints : white (large), black, burnt sienna, ultramarine blue.
  • Painting surfaces : 1 per class – 12” x 14” or bigger. Start with a canvas board for the first class. 
  • Brushes : 2 flat brushes 1 cm in width, and 2 flat brushes 1.5 cm in width. Synthetic bristle. 
  • For acrylic painters: Golden acrylic glazing liquid SATIN (not Gloss) and a Masterson or Sta-Wet palette. Please stick to these brand names.
  • For oil painters: If this is your first time painting and you are interested in oils, consider water based oils. All the properties of oil paint with easier solvent free clean up. If you are using traditional oil paints, purchase a small bottle of linseed oil. 
  • Oil painters will need a pad of paper disposable palettes OR a roll of wax paper and masking tape OR your personal palette if you own one. 
  • Please no turpentine, odorless turps, mineral spirits or petroleum distillates of any kind.

Materials for sustained painting

(for later in the term)

  • Paints: Your list in total should include titanium white, black, burnt sienna, raw sienna, burnt umber, raw umber, ultramarine blue, cerulean blue, cadmium red medium, cadmium yellow medium, alizarin crimson or other cool red (Napthol or Quinocridone). Please do not buy any colours that say HUE on the label - these are blends of other pigments that pretend to be the better single pigment colours above. 
  • Please wait until we have a discussion in class about purchasing these more expensive paints to understand your options.