Portrait and Self-portrait Workshop

This course is mainly an intensive study of the physiognomy. Through making rapid strokes in pencil (or charcoal) students will learn how to portray the essential features of a human face, and through more elaborate drawings they will focus on details, on the effect of light and shade (“the chiaroscuro”), as well as on the psychological value of facial expression.

Colour techniques will be then taught by using either pastel or oil or also acrylic. Students will acquire good skills and abilities for painting the shades of complexion, the position of hands and the glittering of the eyes, which most of the great artists used to consider the “soul’s mirror”.

Part of the workshop is dedicated to the self-portrait.

The workshop is meant not only for capable students who wish to improve their style and their creativeness, but also for those people whose aim is to discover the fundamentals of the portrait and its secrets. That is why most of the time during classes every student will be tutored individually.

The course has a duration of 5 days, from Monday to Friday, for a total amount of 30 hours of tuition. Life models and copies of classical portraits will be available throughout the workshop

Recommended Art material

3 o 4 canvas for oil (size 6, 8 o 10)
4 o 5 brushes for oil painting of different sizes
1 little bottle of linen oil
1 little bottle of turpentine
1 palette
Oil colours: 2 white, 1 lemon yellow, 1 deep cadmium yellow, 1 ochre, 1 natural Sienna earth, 1 burnt Sienna earth, 1 vermilion red, 1 carmine red, 1 emerald green, 1 deep green, 1 cobalt blue, 1 light blue, 1 black

For pastel painting
Paper sheets
24-colour pastel set
A fixative spray

Art material is not included in the price. Approximate cost: 50 Euro