Join renowned realist painter and PAFA alum Fred Danziger from his studio via Zoom for this live portrait and figurative painting course!  Whether working from good photo sources or a live model, the essential elements of figurative realism remain the same:   composition, color, and accurate representations of light, form, and space.  Demonstrations will address effective set up of workspace, palette, and lighting; choosing a good photo source; and both grisaille underpainting and alla prima painting techniques.  Students will work independently from a willing family member model or photo references, with individual critiques from the instructor.  Aspects of the portrait will be emphasized – such as hair, hands, and obtaining a good likeness – but a variety of figure-based themes, additional subjects, and conceptual interests may be pursued.  Additional resources will be available through the Canvas, including art historical examples, technical advice addressing the use of black and white grounds, using a grid with transparent overlays for working with photo references, and more. 

Course Schedule

Project 1:  Indirect Painting

• Photographs provided by the instructor.
• Creating linear underdrawing.
• Applying a base layer of paint with monochrome washes.
• Applying finish color using glazes, opaque, and semi-opaque (velatura) layers.

 Project 2: Tonal Painting

• Students choose their own subject
• Developing a painting using a wipe-out technique from an imprimatura base

 Project 3: Direct Painting

• Students choose their own subject
• Application of direct color over minimal underdrawing to achieve an immediate, expressive painting (alla prima).

Note: This course is available for 1.0 undergraduate credit for $625.

Registration Still Available

Materials List : Danziger PT 600E_ON

Zoom Technical Requirements

CE Policy Guide Spring 2021

Image:

Fred Danziger, L, 2013, oil on panel, 20 x 18 in.

An in-depth approach to portrait painting from the Chair of PAFA’s Painting Department and noted author of Color for Painters: A Guide to Traditions and Practice. Investigate the structure of the human head through drawings and painted studies. Progress to finished paintings and address issues of likeness, composition, space and texture. Learn to better see and understand color to mix it more successfully – a useful skill for painting any subject matter. Includes weekly step-by-step painting demonstrations, assignments that target each important issue of painting a portrait, critiques and weekly Zoom meetings every Sunday, 4:00 - 5:00 p.m.  All levels welcome.

Learning Objectives

This dynamic online course will address all aspects of portrait painting and drawing, including:

• Students will learn the traditions and history of portraiture

• Students will learn portrait structure and anatomy

• Students will learn how to achieve a good likeness

• Students will learn alla prima (direct) painting techniques

• Students will learn to use the materials and color palettes for effective portrait painting

• Students will learn to use the materials for effective portrait drawing inlcuding pastel

• Students will learn to paint portraits from both life and from photo reference

Note: This course is available for 1.0 undergraduate credit for $525

Registration Still Available

Image:

Al Gury, Portrait Painting and Study, oil on canvas/charcoal on paper

Materials List : Gury PT 602E_ON

Zoom Technical Requirements

CE Policy Guide Spring 2021

Learn the art of watercolor portrait painting from photographic references.  Working alongside the instructor during live Zoom sessions, paint a variety of portrait subjects, with a focus on mixing skin tone, rendering hair, achieving a likeness and realistic expression, and more.  Instruction will feature demonstrations of fundamental watercolor techniques such as washes, gradations, textural effects, wet on wet, wet on dry, dry brush, and more.  Portrait drawing experience recommended.

Register by:  February 26

Materials List : Osti PT 604WP_ON

Zoom Technical Requirements

CE Policy Guide Spring 2021

Image:

Samuel Joseph Brown (1907-1994), Untitled [Head of a boy] (detail), 1950, Watercolor on paper, 13 3/4 x 10 in. (34.925 x 25.4 cm.), Collection of the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, accession # 2019.3.7, Gift of Dr. Constance E. Clayton in loving memory of her mother Mrs. Williabell Clayton

Enliven your portraits with realistic facial expression!  In this live Zoom course with renowned artist, educator and author, Roberto Osti, students will practice rendering a variety of facial expressions from photographic references of artworks and real people.  Each session will cover a different expression:  happiness, surprise, sadness, anger and disgust-contempt.  Students will practice various drawing techniques especially suited for portraiture and for improving the expressive qualities of portraits.

Register by: February 26

Materials List : Osti DR 609FE_ON (1)

Policy Guide Spring 2021

Zoom Technical Requirements

Learn to draw classical portraits using photographic references. This class will focus on expressing the structure of the head through the language of drawing. Topics covered will include measurement, proportion, tone, line quality, anatomy and gesture. Explore a variety of traditional materials, from chalks to charcoal, ink wash, and a variety of papers. All materials will be suitable for the home studio. Teaching will be conducted through video lectures, demonstrations, and assignments as well as regular critiques. All levels welcome!

Learning Goals

• Learn the basics of proportional measurement, value, tone, line, and gesture
• Develop a knowledge of the forms and structural anatomy of the head
• Learn to use photography as an aid to classical drawing techniques -Master a variety of traditional drawing media -Produce two finished drawings

Register by: February 26

Materials List: Dummit DR 600EP_ON

CE Policy Guide Spring 2021

Zoom Technical Requirements