Course Description

In this 1 day workshop participants will have the opportunity to learn and strengthen their foundational portrait skills.

By using a limited palette of just three colours plus white (famously used by Swedish painter Anders Zorn), we will focus on key skills such as:

• Measuring and proportions
• Understanding tonal values
• Mixing skin tones
• The structure and basic anatomy of the head
• Expressive mark making

Matt will give practical demonstrations of techniques and stages and will guide you through a structured approach, breaking everything down into easy to follow steps. He will also give one to one advice and feedback throughout the day. Whilst we will all be using the same materials and approach, the aim is to encourage each student with their individual approach and journey.

Suitable For

This course is suitable for beginners or improvers alike.

Requirements List

• Canvas (minimum size 28x45cm) x 2
  It is a good idea to pre ground your canvas with a thin wash of acrylic or oil paint made up of burnt sienna lightened down to a light to mid tan with titanium white, must be dry on the day
• A selection of long handle short flat hog paint brushes in a range of even sizes from 2 -12, also a small round size 1 synthetic or hog brush
• Palette knife
• Zest-It oil painting dilutant or similar low odour thinners
• A empty jar or container for your low oder thinners
• A good size flat mixing palette
• Oil colours as follows:
  • titanium white
  • yellow ochre
  • cadmium red light (cadmium red will suffice)
  • ivory black
• A good size jar/pot to hold enough low odour thinners to clean brushes, cloths or a couple of kitchen rolls.

Matt will provide a simple desk based easel. However please bring a long a portable free- standing folding easel if you have one

Materials Cost

There will be a charge of between £15-£20 for the life model, depending on the number of students booked. This is payable directly to the tutor by cash or card on the first day of the course.