Course Title Saturday Portrait and Figure Painting Tutor TBC Studio Session Dates Saturdays: 25th September 2021 - 4th December 2021 Reading Week: 25th October – 29th October 2021 Session Times 10:30AM - 4:30PM Course Code E2101P31 Studio Studio 2 Cost £550
Course overview
Taught by experienced, preeminent portrait and fgure painters, the Saturday Portrait and Figure Painting Class introduces diferent approaches within portraiture and fgure painting. This term, Clae Eastgate will guide you through portrait painting and the technical application for creating a head and shoulders portrait. Working in three modules, the course will cover a drawing technique for efectively assessing and fnding head angles, proportions and tonal values. You will also learn colour mixing from scratch, to work with the placement of colour and create palettes for diferent skin tones, culminating in painting a head and shoulders portrait in full from life. Charlie Schafer will be concentrating on teaching how to look closer, how to understand what it is you are seeing, and pay equal attention to all aspects of the drawing and painting.
Your tutor will support you fully throughout the course in both group sessions and one-to-one support, providing regular feedback, critique and constructive advice.
Learning Outcomes
Students will be able to:
Create portrait paintings using art-historical techniques (glazing, grisaille, verdaccio, use of ‘cartoons’). Experiment with a variety of approaches in creating fgurative compositions. Apply skills in drawing and painting to the fgure and head in a context Create tonal underpaintings and drawings as preparation for colour paintings. Understand shape, tone and colour better, applying knowledge in the creation of paintings Paint skin, hair and clothes more efectively, and to create a better likeness. Apply safe-working practices at all times.
What Level is the course and do I need any particular skills?
Some prior experience is recommended if possible, but all levels welcome.
About your tutors
Clae Eastgate is a portrait painter who lives and works between Shropshire and London. She has over 18 years experience creating projects and commissions for private clients, collectors and institutions. Her portraits have been included in the BP Award exhibition and Ruth Borchard Self Portrait exhibitions. Noted subjects are former Poet Laureate Carol Ann Dufy, former Scotts Makar Jackie Kay, Dame Jane Goodall and her Majesty the Queen commissioned by the Kennel Club. Her work is in the Scottish National Portrait Gallery permanent collection with another portrait currently in acquisition for a permanent collection. Her current projects are Painting the Poets - a series of painted portraits featuring some of the UK’s fnest contemporary poets to be shown in various venues and galleries around the UK and The 4th Age – a collection of portraits featuring people of note now in their 80+ years. She has run portrait painting workshops for several years in collaboration with Cass Art as well as privately, both online and from her London studio. https://www.clae.uk
Charlie Schafer is a portrait painter currently living and working in Brighton. He studied Fine Art:Painting at the University of Brighton and has been teaching at Art Academy London since 2016. Charlie has been awarded multiple prizes, including the 2019 BP Portrait Award, The Brian Botting Prize three times, as well as The Young Artist award at the Lynn Painter-Stainer’s Prize. He has also appeared in Sky Arts Portrait Artist of the Year twice. He continuously exhibits throughout the UK, and has work held in a wide range of public and private collections, including Lincoln’s Inn and the University of Bedfordshire. www.charlieschafer.com
Weekly breakdown Below is a weekly breakdown of what will be covered. Please bear in mind that these sessions will move with the pace of the group, so a degree of fexibility of what will be covered on which day will be employed.
Wk Date Topic/Activity Location What to bring Tutor(s) & Model
1 Studio 2 Pencil (3b) Eraser AM H&S briefng. 25th Sept Small ruler We will begin with a technique for assessing No model angles and proportions of the head giving you A3 Copy (cheap) paper the tools to ‘read’ a head correctly for Photographic portraiture. The tutor will give demos and reference Cartridge paper ongoing instruction. material (minimum A3 size) provided Willow charcoal
Clae PM Using photographic reference initially we Eastgate will be practicing drawing heads from all angles then scaling up toa life size drawing to begin looking more deeply at mapping features using comparative measurement. This way of looking trains the eyes natural measuring to fnd and asses the planes of the face, its geometric structure and tonal values of shape for modelling. We will look at Lucian Freuds drawings.
2 Studio 2 AM Recap using the drawing technique, 2nd Oct assessing measurements with comparative Model x 2 Drawing equipment form shapes and tonal values. You will make a life (Portrait) last week, plus primed size drawing using the studio models as canvas – sheets/oil reference. We will take the drawing deeper. Clae painting pad. (minimum PM We will layout a drawing on a canvas Eastgate A3 size) using the initial basic technique for fnding angles and proportions 3 Studio 2 Primed canvas sheets or AM Introducing colour using a limited colour 9th Oct oil pad no smaller than palette. Building confdence in colour mixing A3 (to be used for the by looking at colour temperature, harmony Photographic palette and colour and colour placement. An initial demo from reference swatches). the tutor then working together you will each provided create a colour reference swatch chart. Oil colours (or acrylics): Titanium white, Yellow PM Using our colour charts and Clae ochre, Paynes grey and Cadmium Red (hue or photographic model reference material we will Eastgate mid tone red), practice how to identify and mix colour systems for all skin colours. Brushes, brush cleaner, clean up paper towels or rags. (see note for colours required)
Boards
4 As per previous week AM Using your canvas with the head and 16th Oct Studio 2 equipment shoulders mapped out we will start our frst painting. This painting will be monochrome Model x 2 and will concentrate on assessing shape, (1 of 2) brush work technique, placement and tonal (Portrait) values.
PM Starting a second canvas you will move Clae into the colour painting. Using your colour Eastgate reference charts to help identify, mix and place colour. We will look at Lucien Freudand Kyfn Williams portrait painting. 5 Studio 2 (painting from previous AM In this last session we continue with our 23rd Oct week, can be stored at paintings working from the studio models. You Model x 2 the art academy for the will receive continual tutoring with all the (2 of 2) week) stages you have learnt, considering and (Portrait) implementing each as your portrait develops. Clae PM Friendly critique of work to fnish the Eastgate course.
Reading Week
6 Charcoal/pencil/conte We will consider format, scale and feld of 6th Nov Studio 2 Eraser, paper view, making thumbnail sketches to explore Small canvas (tutor to diferent options. Model x 1 advise) (1 of 1) Range of paint You will then concentrate on tone to create a brushes, suitable for tonal monochromatic painting, initially oils and an Charlie blocking in the entire surface with 3 tones, oil Painting pack or Schafer then gradually introducing a 4th, 5th, 6th and the same colours listed within (see 7th tone. We will look at Seurat’s drawings. preparation requirements)
7 2 Small canvases We will look at colour and colour mixing, 13th Nov Studio 2 (tutor to advise) considering warm and cool, using a limited Range of paint Model x 1 brushes, suitable for palette of black, red, yellow ochre and white. (1 of 2) oils and an In the afternoon we will look at how to use oil Painting pack or complimentary colours and use a primary Charlie the same colours colour limited palette of red, yellow and blue Schafer listed within (see (and white). preparation requirements) We will look at Goya and Seurat in relation to the exercises this session.
8 Medium canvas (tutor Three-week pose (wk 1) 20th Nov Studio 2 to advise) Working from the model we will put to use the Range of paint lessons learnt in the frst 3 weeks. Model x 1 brushes, suitable for (1 of 3) oils and an oil Painting pack or the same colours Charlie listed within (see Schafer preparation requirements)
9 same as previous Week 2 27th Nov Studio 2 week A continuation from last week.
Model x 1 (2 of 3)
Charlie Schafer
10 same as previous Week 2 4th Dec Studio 2 week A continuation from last week. This section of oil Painting pack or the course will end with a friendly critique. Model x 1 the same colours (2 of 3) listed within (see preparation requirements)
Charlie Schafer
Preparation Requirements & Additional Costs YOU MUST BRING YOUR OWN MATERIALS
The Academy is a white spirit and turpentine free environment and only odourless spirits, such as Zest-it or Sansodor, are permitted on the premises. You must provide your own spirits, which can be recycled for longevity.
We request that you bring 2 small jars (one with a lid, one without) to hold your spirit, and a few cloths rags for brush cleaning (such as an old cotton t-shirt).
Below is a list of what is currently required for the course. Please also check the ‘what to bring’ sections above. Your tutor will advise if further materials or equipment are required as the course progresses.
Ideally you will need:
Titanium white Lemon yellow or cadmium lemon Yellow ochre Cadmium red Alizarin crimson Ultramarine blue Cobalt blue Viridian Burnt sienna Burnt umber
Brushes: a range of round or flbert or fat hog hair bristle brushes (small to large) Willow charcoal Sketchbook 30x40cm (A3) A palette knife Only odorless spirits, Sansodor or Zest-it (the Academy is a white spirit free environment) Tear of A3 paper or - preferably - solid palette Kitchen towels or cotton rags Canvases/primed boards 90x60cm (approximate size)
If you do not have your own materials, there is an option to order an Oil Painting Pack at the time of booking, which will be available when you arrive for your frst class and can be stored at the Academy for the duration of your course.
An Oil Painting Pack (£65.00) contains: A set of bristle brushes, both fat and round, suitable for either oils or acrylics One tear of palette (9”x12”) One palette knife One bottle Zest-it (250ml) One 10″x 12″ canvas board One 10″x 14″ canvas board Two 12″x 16″ canvas boards 6 Daler Rowney (Georgian) oil tubes: Titanium White, Cadmium Yellow, Alizarin Crimson, Cadmium Red, French Ultramarine and Burnt Umber
Certain materials can also be purchased from the Academy shop during shop hours. Please check in advance of your class if the item you require is available, as the Academy may not have this in stock.
Resources & Further Reading
Please note reading lists are suggested, not required.
Author Year Title Publisher Location
Bayles, D. 2001 Art & Fear: Observations on the Image Continuum London Perils (and Rewards) of Artmaking Press
Other useful resources (websites, galleries etc)
Artists you could look at:
Rembrandt, Velazquez, Vermeer, Titian, Michelangelo, Da Vinci, Giacometti, Paula Rego.
Websites:
Royal Society of Portrait Painters www.therp.co.uk The ofcial website of the Royal Society of Portrait Painters.
Museums: National Portrait Gallery www.npg.org.uk BP Portrait Award, good collection past and present and a well stocked bookshop.
British Museum www.britishmuseum.org/reference The museum has a vast collection of drawings from Michelangelo to Antony Gormley. Any image can be viewed from the database and printed of. Fantastic Print Study Room where you have access to a vast collection of drawings. Opening times: Mon – Fri 10.00-13.00 and 14.15-16.00
National Gallery https://www.nationalgallery.org.uk
Who can I contact for further information? General information and advice on courses at The Art Academy is available from the main ofce, open Monday to Friday 09:00 – 17:00 during term time. Tel: +44 (0) 20 7407 6969 or email our Administrator, Emma Tighe: [email protected]
Location The Art Academy is conveniently located minutes away from London Bridge (Northern and Jubilee lines, National Rail services) and Borough (Northern line) underground stations - follow signs for Borough High Street to exit. Please click here for a map.
Just moments walk from the Thames, the Art Academy is also ideally located for access to:
White Cube Tate Modern Jerwood Gallery If you would like to make the most of the area a member of the team will be happy to advise you on areas of interest locally.
Refreshments & Facilities
All students have access to the common room located in the Barn, on the ground foor of the Mermaid Court building. Here you will have use of a fridge, kettle, microwave and eating area.
There is a wealth of supermarkets, shops and cafes in the area as well as the world-famous Borough Food Market, fve minutes walk away.
Disabled Access We make every efort to accommodate students’ access requirements, but if you have mobility issues, please speak to a member of the Academy team before your course starts.
Further Details
● You will need to have paid in full for your class before the frst session of your class, your place is not guaranteed until we have received payment.
● If you purchased a materials pack online this will be given to you on the frst session of your course upon your arrival.
● Ensure that you wear old clothing, as you may get messy!
● All artwork at the Academy MUST be taken home at the end of the course.
● Please ensure that your mobile phone is switched of, or is on silent, during the class.
● Please read the Health and Safety Guidelines carefully, provided at the beginning of your course.
● If you wish to join any class for the next term please contact the ofce to re-book. Classes are becoming increasingly popular, so please book early in order to guarantee your place.
● If you have any further queries let us know and we will do our best to resolve them. Thank you for your co-operation and we look forward to seeing you.