Develop your portrait painting skills in demonstrating the personality and likeness of the model.  You will explore different approaches to paint application to develop an awareness of mediums, materials and techniques used in painting contemporary portraits. Projects will include both individual portraiture and composite portraits. You will also have the option to produce portraits using a more imaginative approach within the composition of the painting, using elements of fantasy to add an additional layer to your paintings. 

You will be introduced to the art historical relevance of portraiture painting by engaging with both contemporary and historical artist’s works for reference. You will use formal elements, such as tone, composition and colour effectively, be aware of the effects of surface quality and texture in an image, learn basic skills in appraising your own work and understanding the medium of acrylic paint. 

You will develop your paintings in a series of controlled steps, learn to select and prepare surfaces and materials, build a composition and make supplementary studies to guide your colour application and evaluate your progress and results. This is a course, which will take you through the making of an acrylic portrait painting from beginning studies to a final piece, considering the different stages involved. You will develop handling of the medium and build confidence in image making with paint. You will also follow set painting projects and /or develop your own ideas in painting building upon the momentum in the studio. On this course, you will learn how to use acrylic paint techniques.

Objectives:

• You will be aware of the effects of surface quality and texture in a painting
• You will gain an understanding of the medium of acrylic paint
• You will demonstrate an understanding of value and the use of tonal range in your paintings and gain an understanding of the differences between washes and thick paint

By the end of the course, you will have gained confidence in your materials to make a portrait using expressive marks with acrylic paint

Included

The course fee includes the cost of providing some paper, shared amongst the group, and some acrylic paint, gloss medium and masking tape. A portrait model for the duration of the course

What students need to bring

• Rags
• A variety of brushes
• Empty window cleaner sprayer (for spraying water on artwork)
• A portable music device with headphones and music (optional)
• You may bring oils if you wish, but please consider the drying time and transportation of work.

Additional information

Please wear appropriate clothing/aprons for the workshop or studio, this includes stout covered footwear (no sandals or open toes).

Student registration: 10.30am - 11am
Course teaching: 11am – 5.15pm 
Morning session: 11am - 1pm
Lunch break: 1pm - 2pm (lunch is not included)
Afternoon session: 2pm - 5.15pm (15 minute break, 3.30pm–3.45pm)
Teaching finishes: 5.15pm  
 

Short courses are open to anyone aged 18 and over. The course fee covers tuition and materials where stated. You will need to bring all other items listed under the ‘Materials to bring’ section.

Refreshments

Coffee and tea are included in the course fee, but you will need to bring lunch with you to eat in the refreshments room. There are also plenty of other local venues to purchase food.

Access

If you have any specific access needs, we will need to know about your access requirements in advance. Please tell us about your needs in confidence by emailing: [email protected] This venue has steps to the front reception, with limited access via a side gate to the ground floor. There is a small lift to higher floors or stairs.

Safety

Short course students are required to sign a safety compliance form as part of West Dean Health and Safety regulations.

Refunds and cancellations

Please refer to our terms & conditions below.

Disclaimer

The information given is accurate at the time of publication. However, West Dean College reserves the right to cancel or amend courses if circumstances require.

Terms & Conditions