In this 5 day workshop, students will learn the step by step process of how to render a realistic portrait using charcoal and chalk on toned paper. Each day, Xavi will be working along side the students, demonstrating each day of the process and providing one to one instruction. Working from life, students will first learn how to synthesise the head into its constructive planes as it pertains to the underlying anatomy of the skull and its proportions. Students will learn to interpret the fall of light into an appropriate value range, in order to render form and create the illusion of 3 dimensionality.

In this five day portrait workshop, Sam will guide the students in learning to sketch the portrait, directly with paint, using a monochrome approach known as the “imprimatura”. The focus will be on creating a simple value design, using proportion, shape simplification light and shadow. Students will then learn to mix the basic, zorn palette, into flesh tones, in order to create an “alla prima” one day portrait. The mechanics of light and form will be explored, both visually and conceptually. From these basic exercises, the students will progress to a more complex portrait, with a greater focus on compositional design, solid drawing and colour harmony.

Over the course of this five-day workshop, students will learn to draw the figure from life, with an emphasis on correct proportion and gesture, and an understanding of the basic underlying structures of anatomy. The focus will be on the long pose, taking the drawing from its initial sketch to a full form figure with 3 dimensional qualities. Students will begin with the foundation of a solid “block-in” in graphite. They will then progress to interpreting the fall of light into a cohesive value range to give form to the figure. At this stage, students may opt to continue working with graphite to render form or learn to create a grisaille painting. Value ranges will be explored using a limited palette of titanium white, raw umber and ivory black. Each day Thomas will guide artists with daily demonstrations and in-depth personal critiques through each stage of the process – from understanding proportions visually and schematically to working with materials, paint handling, brushwork and edges. Beginning to advanced students are welcome and the instruction is customised to the level of skill of each individual.

In this five day portrait workshop, Tony will demonstrate his personal process of “sculpting with paint.”  Beginning with a simple sketch, students will then progress to colour mixing with a full palette, using a wide range of colours that Tony personally uses, and learn to create form with value and colour. 

The focus will be especially on design, colour harmony,  and how the quality of the brushstroke and edges influence form. Over the course of these five days, Tony will demonstrate his personal approach for achieving the objective of the day. Participants will receive daily individual guidance and feedback  on their progress. This workshop is intended for all those who interested in oil painting, especially, the human figure and portraiture.

In this three-day workshop artists will create a portrait drawing from the live model using the technique of trois crayons: red, black, and white dry media on paper. Dating to the Renaissance and continuing in popularity today, trois crayons has been exploited to masterful effect by artists such as Parmigianino, Rubens, Boucher, Watteau, and more recently Anthony Ryder and Robert Liberace. Typically, black is used for the construction lines, shadows, and cold tones, red for the warm tones, and white for the highlights. Instruction will include a comprehensive demonstration from start to finish, as well as in-depth personal critiques with a particular focus on cultivating an organized, rational process. Two distinct steps will be emphasized throughout: building an accurate linear block-in, then interpreting values, hues, and chromas to effectively to create a sense of sculptural form and a strong aesthetic point of view. Cranial anatomy, colour theory, materials, line quality, resolution/abbreviation, edges, and the physics of light will also be discussed throughout the course. Beginning to advanced artists are welcome; instruction will be customized to all levels of experience.