Portrait Painting

Tutor: Gianluca Rotelli | Thursdays 6.30pm–9pm | 12 weeks

Learn to paint a portrait from life through a structured approach that builds both confidence and technique. You’ll begin with drawing exercises focused on the human skull, three-dimensional planes, and the fundamentals of proportion, light, and shadow, laying the groundwork for a strong understanding of structure. From there, you’ll progress to working in oil paint, developing your ability to capture likeness and form with accuracy and expression. Open to students of all levels.

Students are required to bring their own materials and should refer to the materials list below before their course starts. (#TH08)

Course Information

Portrait Painting

We provide easels and drawing boards for use during the course. There is also a small art shop on-site, selling a range of supplies including paper, charcoal, and pencils for drawing, as well as brushes, paints, and canvases for painting. Your tutor will be happy to advise you on suitable materials.
Please bring these materials with you when you start the course:

Brushes and Equipment

· N4 to N12 Cornellissen Series 44 Hog Bristle Filbert
· N4 to N12 Rosemary Classic Filberts
· N1 to N6 Rosemary Evergreen Acrylic
· Two round synthetic watercolour brushes, size 01
· Wooden palette approx. 25 x 35 cm
· Painting knife size 1 to 3
· Dipper – double dipper ideally
· Jam jar
· A roll of paper kitchen towel or similar

Painting Medium

· Linseed Oil
· Walnut Oil
Optional and we can discuss the merits of using painting mediums later on. The fundamental medium is Linseed Oil.

Oil Paints

· Titanium White (Michael Harding)
· Yellow Ochre (Michael Harding)
· Cadmium Red Light (Mussini)
· Ultramarine Blue (Michael Harding)
· Raw Umber (Mussini)
· Alizarin Red (Michael Harding)
· Ivory Black (Michael Harding)

Affordable alternative brands are also available for these colours, such as Roberson Oil Colours, which can be purchased from the school shop.

Drawing Materials

· Artist Sketchbook (A4)
· Drawing Pencils (3H to 4B)
· General Charcoal Pencil (HB to 4B)
· Grey Putty Rubber
· Masking Tape
· Proportional Divider (Artist Drawing Tool)

Please only bring low odour thinners with you or buy them from the school shop. For health and safety reasons we do not allow the use of white spirit or turpentine at Heatherleys.

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