Intro to Portraiture

Unlock your creative potential with our Intro to Portraiture class, specifically designed for total beginners! Whether you’ve always dreamed of capturing the essence of your loved ones or simply wish to explore the fascinating world of portrait art, this class is your perfect starting point. From understanding the proportions of the human face to experimenting with light and shadow, Ann will provide live draw-along demonstrations for you to follow along with. By the end of class, you'll have several completed portraits to show off, and a newfound knowledge of how to draw your friends and family!

In this beginner's portraiture class, we'll start by mastering the fundamentals with pencil, focusing on techniques like shading, proportions, and facial structure to develop a solid foundation in drawing. As we progress, we'll transition to charcoal, allowing students to explore its expressive qualities and bold contrasts, enhancing their ability to capture emotion and depth in their portraits.

If you've already come to one of our intro to portraiture classes--this is a great chance to practice your new skills! Ann will start the class with a demonstration and new assignment for returners as she goes over the basics with beginners, after which we'll all join up for new draw-along explorations of facial features.

About your Tutor

Ann Mackowski is an artist, and the founder of Soho Life Drawing, which she established in 2018 to democratize art making for adults seeking an engaging creative outlet. Her classes attract diverse clientele including institutions like Buzzfeed, Liberty London, and the University of the Arts London and she works as a training consultant to several animation studios. Holding a Masters of Fine Arts from Chelsea College of Art and Design, Ann has garnered numerous awards and exhibits her work internationally, proudly represented by The Violet Hour in London. She was a featured contestant on Sky's Landscape Artist of the Year; was Espronceda Barcelona's 2020 Artist in Residence; appears on the shortlist of many top awards; and regularly exhibits with the Royal Institute of Painters in Watercolours. Her students, including notable professional artist Ahmed Farid—whose works have sold at Christie’s—testify to her impact in the art community. For more about Soho Life Drawing, visit www.soholifedrawing.com, or for Ann’s professional work visit www.annmackowski.com.

Host or Publisher Ann Mackowski and Jen Moore