This class will be dedicated to drawing the portrait, but not in a traditional way. Though we will address the “how-to” of portraiture, we will focus primarily on learning to see and to let ourselves draw freely, attempting to undo some of the learned ideas we have about portraits.
We will work a lot drawing ourselves in the mirror in all different ways. It will be important to work directly from observation as much as possible in order to closely study our own faces or those of a willing model you may have at your disposal. We will also work from photographs after having spent time studying from life.
Who is this class for?
This class is truly for all levels of drawing, from just beginning and being curious about drawing to experienced artists. This class if for anyone who is curious about drawing portraits, who would like a more fun, free and expressive approach without getting too caught up in the academic side of portraiture.
What will we be covering in the class?
In the first week, we will approach drawing ourselves in a series of blind and modified blind drawings. We will let ourselves make good and bad drawings, really start looking and noticing all the aspects of the head and features, drawing in pen and pencil.
In the second week, we will address proportion and features, how they work and what to look for. We will work in pencil, pen, and marker.
In the third week, we will talk about placing the figure in a setting and looking more closely at lighting. We will work in charcoal and think about the head as volumes and shapes rather than line.
In the fourth and final week, we will be putting everything we have learned and experimented with together to make some more final finished drawings. We will explore different kinds of marks and also look at composites. The final class will work towards a final and finished expressive portrait.