Intermediate Portrait Drawing

This class will take place over five consecutive Thursdays, starting on April 10.

Ages 16+

Skill level: Students should have some basic drawing skills but want to improve*.

This course introduces portrait drawing, focusing on fundamental techniques, concepts, and principles essential for capturing a subject's likeness and personality. Through theory, demonstrations, and hands-on practice, students will develop their observation, proportion, shading, and expression skills, ultimately gaining confidence in creating realistic and expressive portraits.

*An intermediate skill level does not need to refer to portrait drawing directly. You will get more from the class if you grasp drawing fundamentals like basic shapes and perspective. It is OK if you are new to portrait drawing.

Syllabus

• Week 1: Introduction to class + different head drawing methods
• Week 2: Break down of facial features of the head + Light and Shadow
• Week 3: Supervised practice with a live model
• Week 4: Supervised practice with a live model
• Week 5: Supervised practice with a live model

Materials and approximate cost

No materials will be supplied. Students are responsible for purchasing their own art supplies.

• Newsprint Paper 9×12 minimum, $5 – $8
• Pencils 2b,4b,6b: $2 per pencil
• Erasers hard + Kneeded, $1.50 per eraser
• Charcoal (medium), $8 – $10
• Drawing board, $17 – $24 on Amazon
• A drawing board provides a hard surface for your drawing pad so it doesn’t bend or bow as you draw. It is typically a thin wooden board with clips at the top to hold your pad or a single sheet of paper.

The drawing board should be slightly larger than your drawing pad.

• Optional: an easel, $19 – $70
  We recommend a lightweight, collapsible field easel if you prefer to stand and work at an easel.

Arts Alliance of Stratford has tabletop easels available for student use (at no additional cost).

Art supplies can be expensive, so we recommend you explore alternative retailers like Ocean State Job Lot or Walmart. Michaels and Jerry’s Artarama periodically run good sales on art supplies for customers with loyalty cards.

If you purchase your supplies online, be sure to price shop.

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About the instructor
Tyler Rutherford has a BFA from Lesley University and has taught high school-age kids (14-17) for the past 7 years.

Host or Publisher Coastal Arts Guild of CT