Portrait Painting: Colour & Light from life - Morningside

Course Overview.

This Portrait Painting class runs from March to May, open to anyone aged 16 and above who would like to explore painting the human face from life, with a particular focus on colour, light, and tonal harmony. Whether you are new to painting or returning after time away, the course offers a welcoming and focused environment in which to develop confidence and deepen your understanding of colour relationships.

Working from a live model each week, we will explore how subtle shifts in temperature, value, and saturation bring a portrait to life. Particular attention will be given to mixing convincing skin tones, understanding warm and cool contrasts, and using limited palettes to create harmony and atmosphere. The aim is not only to improve likeness, but to develop sensitivity to colour as a powerful expressive tool.

Teaching Approach

Each session combines short demonstrations on colour mixing and compositional structure with sustained painting time. You will work directly from a live model, observing how light affects form and how colour can describe volume, mood, and character. Guidance is tailored to individual experience levels, and the atmosphere is calm, supportive, and thoughtfully paced, allowing space for careful looking and meaningful progress. The class is designed to suit those who appreciate a serious yet relaxed studio setting within the Morningside community.

What You’ll Learn

By the end of this seies of courses, you will:

· Develop a clearer understanding of colour theory as applied to portrait painting

· Learn to mix and control skin tones using warm and cool relationships

· Improve your ability to capture light, depth, and atmosphere through tonal values

· Gain confidence in working from life with a structured yet personal approach

· Produce a resolved portrait suitable for presentation in a small group exhibition

Material

Paining boards are provided. Participants should bring their own painting materials (oils, acrylics, or water-based media). Please also bring suitable surfaces such as canvas, primed board, or heavyweight paper.

If you are unsure about materials, guidance can be provided in advance.

Practical Information

All Levels Welcome Mondays, 5:30pm – 7:30pm

09 March · 16 March · 23 March · 13 April 2026

Fee: £20.50 for a 2-hour session (includes participation in a group exhibition)

Capacity: 10 participants Location: Morningside Library, Charles Smith Room, Edinburgh, EH10 4PU

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