Portrait Painting (five-session workshop)

This beginner to intermediate course in oils (or acrylic) will approach portraiture from a sculptural standpoint, highlighting the basic bony landmarks of the face and skull and using color/value to define major planes and movements of each feature. Moving from large, simple shapes of the face under light, students will transition their thinking from flat abstraction into three-dimensional form.

Special Notes

This is an in-person class which will take place onsite at Fleisher. Please review our COVID-19 community safety policies for current guidelines.

Tuition Assistance is Available

To make our classes and workshops accessible to everyone, Fleisher offers tuition assistance every term so that everyone can join our creative community. Tuition assistance applications can be completed once registration is open by clicking here. The deadline to apply for spring term assistance is Friday, March 10; Notifications will be sent by Monday, March 13.

What you will learn:

  • The basic structure and anatomy of the head/face

  • Simplifying form to planes

  • Alla prima techniques for portrait painting

  • Drawing the features as homework assignments

Required supplies:

  • Palette with enough surface to mix colors (can be disposable)

  • (2) #4 filbert bristle brushes (Silver Grand Prix Extra Long preferred or Blick Masterstroke)

  • (2) #6 filbert bristle brushes (Silver Grand Prix Extra Long preferred or Blick Masterstroke)

  • Gamsol and container with lid

  • Viva paper towels (smooth not waffle)

  • 12 x 16 stretched canvas (1 for each session)

  • Palette knife

  • Suggested palette:

    • Ultramarine Blue
    • Cerulean Blue (can be Hue)
    • Viridian
    • Sap Green
    • Titanium White
    • Cadmium Yellow Light
    • Yellow Ochre
    • Raw Sienna
    • Cadmium Orange or Cadmium Orange Hue
    • Cadmium Red Light
    • Permanent Rose
    • Cobalt Violet
    • Burnt Sienna
    • Raw Umber