About this Event
This course is suitable for aspiring watercolour beginners ready for a structured exploration, and intermediate artists looking to expand their technical toolkit. With clear, personalized instruction built to uplift and inspire practitioners with a range of abilities, you will learn how to create strong portraiture with a creative charm. Some experience with portraiture of any kind is recommended.
Perks of the course:
- No Prep, No Cleanup: Walk in and paint. All high-quality materials are provided for you in-studio (a £65+ value), so you don't have to carry supplies around.
- Personalised Pace: Small class sizes mean you get supportive one-on-one guidance from a professional artist with 30 years of experience devoted to your progress. Come seeking a creative escape, or a complete deep dive.
- Accessible Techniques: Learn alongside a professional live portrait model - drawing proportion & rhythm for facial structure, colour relationships, layering & blending effects, and how to achieve the best likeness of the sitter with a clear and structured, step-by-step method!
Drop in tickets - Perfect if you are short on time, or just want a wee experience. Join us for a relaxing, risk free single class right here in Glasgow. Just pick the Thursday and time you'd like to join and book your ticket. Expand on a little knowledge with watercolour portraiture, and leave with a painting. Limited drop-in tickets will be released on 21st of Dec, 3 weeks before course start, subject to remaining space.
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Course Schedule & Summary
Week 1 (07 Jan): Understanding the Drawing
Learn how to make an effective under drawing using the rules of proportion, gesture, and designing shadow shapes for accurate facial structure and anatomy. We will paint from a photographic reference using monochromatic washes to learn the power of value, and form building.
Week 2 (14 Jan): Palette Design and Brush Control
Discover palette organisation and colour practice that will bring your understanding of flesh tones and temperature to the next level. Command a variety of brush effects for blending, and keep luminous colour where you want it. We will paint from a photographic reference using the full palette.
Week 3 (21 Jan): Working with a Live Model
Begin a new painting from a professional live portrait model! The earlier rehearsal paintings and new knowledge will have you confident and ready to paint from life - as is done in classical Atelier style academies. An under drawing and initial wash will be established, with guidance on capturing the sitter's likeness.
Week 4 (28 Jan): Developing the Portrait
Continue working with our live model to deepen washes and important colour/value relationships. Using variegated or gradated washes, mingling or charging, you will decide with various techniques where to maintain control, or where to play with full expression.
Week 5 (04 Feb): Final Details and Finishing Touches
Our final session with the live model, and the refinement of your painting. Learn the art of glazing, accenting, and selectively adding important details without "over working". Bringing together the best decisions for a polished finish.
Agenda
🕑: 02:00 PM - 05:00 PM
Afternoon Session 5-Week Block
🕑: 06:00 PM - 09:00 PM
Evening Session 5-Week Block
Event venue & nearby stays
House of Toad CIC, Ground floor & 1st floor, Glasgow, United Kingdom
Concerts, fests, parties, meetups — all the happenings, one place.