Contemporary Portrait Drawing

About

Supported with one-to-one demonstrations, you will then be introduced to the skills required to produce realistic, detailed portraits.

Age group and abilities to be taught        

• 18 years and above.
• Suitable for all abilities

Course aims and skills/knowledge to be taught

• Developing key observational skills
• Learning patience and problem-solving
• Free-hand sketching and planning a portrait
• Learning techniques for fundamental proportions
• Breathe life into a portrait with shading, contrast and light

Course outline for Contemporary Portrait Drawing Workshop

Morning activity

• 20-minute warm-up challenge
• Show and Tell based on warm-up and detailed one-to-one and group feedback as a starting point for students to develop practice
• Studies to develop observation and proportion, the key skills to developing portraiture and eliminating stifling habit

Afternoon activity

• A focus on individual features and perceiving shape and space
• Building on this with one-to-one demonstrations supporting individual needs and goals
• Students have an opportunity to choose own challenges to build confidence in their interests, this may include developing broader free-hand skills, or using semi-guided techniques to progress skills with confidence (using loose grids / completing a half-photo portrait)
• Opportunity to learn about the portrait detailing process from start to finish including realistic blending

Materials and equipment required by students

• Basic drawing materials including mixed grade pencils, rubbers, sharpeners, mechanical pencils, charcoal, and cotton wool buds/tortillons
• A mirror for self portraits
• A folder to take work home in

Materials and equipment provided

• A4 and A3 drawing paper
• A selection of drawing materials

Methods of assessing outcomes

• Group discussion and tutor feedback
• Completion of the evaluation form