Artist's Eye: Rethinking Portraiture in the Classroom

In this engaging CPD session, we invite art educators to explore new approaches to integrating painting practice into their portrait lessons. Move beyond traditional teaching techniques and discover how to empower your students to approach portraiture with the mindset of an artist.

Freelance portrait artists Kelly Frank https://www.ksfrank.com/ will guide you through the full cycle of portrait painting—from directing sitters to mastering composition and curating completed works. Expect hands-on activities that foster student agency, creative exploration, and practical methodologies to enhance your teaching.

Throughout the session, you’ll gain insights into the professional world of portrait artists and discover how this knowledge can transform your approach to portraiture in the classroom.

Highlights Include:

- Learning how to guide students through the creative process, from concept to completion

- Developing practical strategies to encourage student ownership in artistic creation

- Exploring the inspiring techniques of professional portrait artists

- Hands-on activities that you can incorporate into your lessons immediately

This workshop will draw inspiration from the October Gallery exhibition Forest Figures by Alexis Peskine. Peskine’s striking mixed-media ‘portraits’ use nails of varying sizes, hammered with precision into wooden canvases—an artistic process inspired by Afro-Brazilian spirituality. We’ll explore how you can incorporate similar creative ideas into your classroom, encouraging students to experiment and innovate

Host or Publisher October Gallery Education