Painting the Portrait From Life

Painting from the live model was the cornerstone of the historical art training that birthed every old master we still revere today.  In a world saturated with photography, learning to paint from life is more important than ever and this workshop will teach you all the skills and techniques you need to make a beautiful portrait from direct observation.  We’ll cover drawing basics, comparative measuring, transferring a drawing to canvas, values and value compression, color mixing, direct painting/window shading, and how to use oil painting materials.

Each day will begin with a lecture and demonstration, after which Aidan will work alongside the students for the remainder of the morning.  During the afternoon session there will be in-depth one on one feedback with each student.

Day 1: Drawing

We will cover head structure, linear drawing, comparative measuring techniques, and how to transfer a drawing to canvas.

Day 2:  Value

We will spend the day on an alla prima value study using only black and white paints.  The lecture will cover light mass vs shadow mass, value compression, false accents, simultaneous contrast, and light logic.

Day 3:  Color and Rendering the Eyes/Forehead

We will discuss the Munsell color system and how to window shade a painting, working through the head slowly in individual parts.  We’ll also cover some common issues with painting eyes and how to fix them. 

Day 4:  Rendering the Nose and Mouth

The rendering process continues with the nose and mouth, discussing common mistakes and what to focus on. 

Day 5:  Finishing the Painting

We will complete the larger forms of the face like the chin, neck, and cheeks, and how to treat the hair and background differently from the face.

To confirm your attendance, please contact us at info@underpainting.org