Learn How to Paint the Contemporary Portrait

PORTRAIT PAINTING - LIVE MODEL WORKSHOP

Taught by professional artist, Sophie Newnham

Work with live models to create a finished portrait over four weeks!

This workshop is designed for those who want to develop their portrait painting skills in depth. Each block of four weekly sessions focusses on a single pose with a professional model, giving you time to create a fully developed, finished portrait. Learn how to master your observation and painting skills from an experienced tutor.

We will start by observing and marking down the proportions and shaping of the head and shoulders using a thinned down monochromatic underpainting. Once the the main shapes are established we can begin to build tone and form, blocking in the darker tones, mid tones and highlights. Next we will build up the features of the portrait and start to introduce the warmer and cooler tones of the portrait, thickening our paint as we go. Over the second couple of sessions, we can work on refining the features, establishing a likeness, and looking out for ways to describe the character of the sitter. We will learn how to add to our portraits and create mood and feel to the finished painting by building up background and clothing.

This course is offered in two 4-week blocks. Each ticket option covers four consecutive sessions on a Tuesday afternoon between 2-4.30pm. You have the option of either booking a 4 week block with start date 13th January 2026 or 10th February or both (at a discount).