Painting – expressive mark-making – portraits 26 Sep 2025 with Suzanne Caines

Portrait & Life Painting

Ref: D1D36743

Location: London

£170

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About this course

This course aims to extend your ability to make the most of the properties of traditional materials of acrylic paint and charcoal, and practise mixing them effectively to create more expressive and exciting portrait paintings.

Course Description

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.

Course Materials

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).

Timetable

Daily Timetable

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

General Information

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.