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Learn how to paint confident, expressive portraits in this comprehensive course. Designed for both beginners and developing artists, the course takes you step by step through the essential principles of portrait painting.You will be working with live models and will be learning proportion, anatomy, composition, colour theory, skin tones, light and shadow, brushwork, and capturing a likeness. Along the way you'll gain an understanding of historical and contemporary portrait painters, while developing your own personal approach to portraiture.This is a mixed course some experience drawing is ideal. Having previously done the drawing for absolute beginners will put you in good stead for this course.Each weekly session combines demonstrations, practical exercises, and plenty of studio painting.
The course will be divided into 3 sets of 4 week poses. The First class of each set will focus on drawing. Observing the models from different angles and studying the anatomy of the head.Then the class will settle into the main pose lasting 3 weeks. Giving students time to really develop a painting. Having already gained a greater understanding of the specific form of the model. Each setup will have a different focus and will lend itself to a different approach, with references to relevant contemporary and historical portraits.The students draw and paint the model from easels and the tutor discusses the progress of the piece with students individually as well as demonstrations, group and individual tuition. At several points there will be show and tell group discussions for positive constructive feedback from the tutor and fellow students.
There will be basic art materials and paper provided by the college, however you are encouraged to bring a variety of canvases of different sizes to paint on.As the course progresses you are encouraged to buy some artist quality water soluble oil paints alongside a pallet, pallet knife and there own set of hog hair brushes.Some recommended colours pallets: Titanium white, Ivory Black, Yellow Ochre, Cadmium Red. This alone will make an excellent and affordable limited pallet for portraiture. And you are recommended to stick with this pallet to begin with. As you progress and wish to expand other colours to add to this basic pallet would be:Burnt Sienna, Raw Umber, Pains Gray, Alisirin crimson, Cadmium Yellow, Cadmium Lemon yellow, French Ultramarine, Phthalo BlueThis is just a guide, Students may work in the materials of their choice. Watercolour gouache Acrylic!
This course is useful for continued development and there will be variety from term to term. Painting a self portrait or a portrait of your friends and family will be and excellent project to set yourself outside of class. You could also develop skills through other courses at The Mary Ward Centre.
See how long it will take you to get to college. Please select the campus of the course you wish to study.