Hello, my creative friends! I’m so excited to bring you this portrait class! Over the years, I’ve had the pleasure of creating many lessons for collaborative classes. Now, I’m bringing you a collection of these exciting projects!
Why? Well, let me tell you...
I have created hundreds of different portraits! Ranging from realistic to expressive to abstracted. I have collaged portraits, painted portraits and drawn portraits. Some creations were inspired by the Masters, others I used photo reference and some came straight from my imagination! I’ve used acrylics, mixed media, collage, graphite, charcoal, oils and more and guess what? I found beauty and joy in all of these processes!
What can I say, I adore faces! If you do too and want to explore many different ways of creating them, I invite you to join me in this workshop!
“I do not paint a portrait to look like the subject, rather does the subject grow to look like his portrait.
”
Class is Open!
Only $77.00
{ LIFETIME ACCESS & DOWNLOADABLE VIDEOS }
Let me walk you through our journey...
*(some lessons in this class will be done using oils but acrylics may be used instead)
1 Portrait in Black and WhiTe
Let us begin our journey with a focus on drawing and value in this black and white portrait. I will guide you to create this feminine portrait using photo reference. We will hone our observation and drawing skills and explore a wonderful mixed media approach -
Working first in black and white with charcoal is such a great study in value and of course constructing a face and observing the light and dark is always a joy and wonderful practice! The soft addition of acrylic glazes of color was the finishing touch.
2 portrait painting with marc Chagall
Next, let’s dive into a more playful approach to a portrait with the wonderful Marc Chagall as our guide! I’ll lead through this beautiful process using primary colors, composition and storytelling.
Chagall spoke in a language of color and symbolism and his methods are nothing short of magical. In this expressive portrait we won’t be constrained by realism and our imaginations are given full license to create fantastical imagery!
You will get a dose of Art History and create your very own Chagall inspired portrait! You are going to love this combination!
3 Profile study in Oils
Next, let me guide you on a journey into the beauty of the human profile! Oh my! One of my favorites and in this project we will be focusing on building up our layers and creating skin tones and values. The result is a beautiful and elegant painting that will inspire your process and continue to heighten your portrait painting confidence!
This way of painting is truly about pure observation. We’ll put our thinking caps aside and harness into the power of sight and touch. Touch, in relation to the way you interact with the brushes and paint. Learning to control your touch is just as important as honing your eye.
4 Portrait painting with Gwen John
Finally let us jump back into a bit of Art History and create with Welsh artist, Gwendolyn John. We will use vintage imagery to create a soft, feminine portrait. Gwen John often painted women reading or opening letters. I love the symbolism of this. It always makes you wonder what message she may have just received…
I will show you my entire process here from underpainting to finishing touches. The result is a poignant and sensitive portrait with a wonderful sense of history.
Bonus Lessons Included...
BONUS LESSON 1 - FIGURATIVE SKETCHING
This little bonus lesson packs a punch with great tips on how to get the WHOLE figure on the page by using a bit of scale gridding and mapping. This can be incredibly useful and I promise it’s not full of rulers and measuring like the typical grid system - which is a bit too mathematical for this artsy girl.
BONUS LESSON 2 - TWO HANDS, ONE HEART
I couldn’t resist throwing in another lesson that was just too much fun to create! This mixed media self portrait collage is a great exploration of self and symbolism. A true opportunity to express yourself and create a self portrait in a really unique way! Get ready to play!
BONUS LESSON 3 - INTRO TO OILS
Since you do see me use Oils in this class I have included an overview of this fantastic medium! You are welcome to use acrylics or other mediums for our projects but I highly recommend giving oils a try at some point! They seem intimidating but are actually very forgiving and incredibly luminous and rich!
It was the medium I originally used in Art School and almost all the Masters used it too! It’s time to embrace it and put all those fears aside!
BONUS LESSON 4 - COLOR THEORY & MIXING
To further assist you on your artistic path, I’ve included a bonus lesson on color theory and mixing too! Color Theory...love it or hate it...it’s an integral part of painting and it’s best to just get on with it, practice like crazy and become accustomed to mixing color and understanding the components involved!
Class is Open!
Only $77.00
{ LIFETIME ACCESS & DOWNLOADABLE VIDEOS }
Who is this class for?
This class is for those who love to explore creating portraits in many different ways! If you are still searching for you style or your favorite medium this a great workshop to really stretch yourself and try on new ways of making art! If you love finding new inspiration and learning from the Masters, this is definitely a class for you! Or, if you are like me and you just LOVE using lots of different media to create faces then you will absolutely adore this experience!
You don’t need to have a ton of experience to join us, just be willing to be brave, take some risks and try new things! Having an open heart and mind will keep you a forever student of Art! I’m proud to be one myself!
“A good portrait ought to tell something of the subject’s past and suggest something of his future.
”
Here are some of the things I will cover within the class:
Learn about seeing value in black and white
Sketching the face/figures
Getting inspired from the masters
Mixed media techniques
Learning how to draw and paint in profile
Mixing skin tones
Charcoal techniques
Into to oil painting including how to use mediums
Mixing paint from the primary colors
Learn more about artist, Marc Chagall
Using your brushes in different ways
Learn more about artist, Gwen John
Creating an expressive portrait with symbolism
Collage and self portraits
Creating a figurative piece using historical imagery
And MUCH more...
“The person portrayed and the portrait are two entirely different things.
”
SUPPLY LIST
I use wood boards in this class ranging from 8" x 10" to 11" x 14". Use sizes you are comfortable with.
Acrylic or Oil Paints
Stabilo Marks-all pencil black or General’s
Layout Pencil in Extra Black
Fine Line Applicator
Watercolor Pencils
Matte Medium
Oil Pastels
Oil Medium used : Gamblin Galkyd
Oil Solvent Used:Gamblin Gamsol
Glass Coil Jar (optional)
Paint palette - I recommend a glass palette
Paint scraper to clean palette
Various size brushes (I recommend a separate set from your acrylics if you choose to paint in oils)
Rags/paper towels
Sketch book for studies and planning out paintings
Mixed media paper or watercolor paper
Class is Open!
Only $77.00
{ LIFETIME ACCESS & DOWNLOADABLE VIDEOS }
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