Portrait Painting Classes

Portrait Painting Classes at Sydney Art School

If you have a solid foundation in painting, then portraiture is the ideal way to expand your skills. 

At Sydney Art School you can learn from awarded portrait artists including;

• Michael Simms - Doug Moran National Portrait Prize & Black Swan Prize for Portraiture Finalist
• Krista Brennan - Portia Geach Portrait Prize and AME Bale Travelling Scholarship Finalist
• Morris Yao - Hornsby Art Prize Finalist
• Jackson Davies - Doug Moran National Portrait Prize & Mosman Art Prize Finalist, Winner Northern Beaches Art Prize.
• Veronica Colvin - trained at Studio Escalier, Paris. Finalist in the Basil Seller Art Prize and Naked & Nude Art Prize exhibitions.

These portraiture classes will provide students with the skills necessary to depict something as complex as the human face, with the goal of capturing the soul of their subject in a way that surpasses the photographic image.

 We offer a range of portraiture class options so you are sure to find one to fit your personal style and level.

Working from reference images
to develop basic portraiture skills 

Learn how to work from a live model. New model every 2 or 3 weeks.

Detailed development of a portrait using long pose with same model for the term.

Portrait Painting Foundations

The Portrait Painting Foundations classes will develop your skills in crafting a realistic portrait from a live model.  You will work from a live model with a different model being used every 2 to 3 weeks.

You will begin the term by developing an accurate charcoal drawing, before moving onto an oil painting working within a limited range of colours. Classes will cover the following key areas:

• The basic anatomy of the human face
• Simplifying the face to lay the foundations for a successful portrait
• Achieving a likeness
• Tonal value relationships
• Colour theory
• Painting techniques (brushwork, texture, blending)
• Composition

Throughout the term, students will learn how shapes, form, tone and colour can achieve a sense of realism, and capture the essence of their subject. Students will have the opportunity to develop a highly rendered, completed artwork by the end of the 8 weeks, working from a combination of live models and photographic images.

Long Pose Portrait Painting

In this class, you will be create a portrait working from a live model.   The same live model will be used over the entire term.

The first class will cover some theory and examples, including composition, structure, shape, value, edge and the elements of colour and colour mixing with paint. Then the rest of the term will be the same continuous pose with a single model.

You can complete your portrait in any medium, although as this is a long pose your tutor Krista recommends using charcoal or graphite for drawings, and oil paints for painting.

The class would suit students who already have some experience with painting or drawing and wish to take their portraits to the next level.