PORTRAITURE WITH SITTER | NICHOLAS ROBINSON
Day & Time: Mondays, 2-5pm
Format: In-studio
Location: Enniskerry
Skill Level: all levels welcome
Please see detailed class information below
If this course is fully booked or not currently scheduled, go ahead add your name to the waiting list HERE.
Payment plans available contact us directly
aBOUT THE CLASS
Painting the portrait is one of the longest traditions in oil painting; from van Eyck, Titian and Velázquez through to Reynolds, Romney and Raeburn and up to our present day.
Painting the portrait is a time honoured practice of the oil painter.
This 6 week course is designed to break down painting the portrait from the model into easily understandable principles.
The course will focus on;
drawing and design of the head and face
working with shadow and light to describe form
colour theory and mixing to describe colour and light
use of materials and technique in oil painting
conveying mood and expression to capture the personality of the sitter.
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Explore one of oil painting’s richest traditions — portraiture from life, rooted in the legacy of artists like van Eyck, Titian, Velázquez, Reynolds, and Raeburn.
Break down the portrait painting process into clear, manageable steps over six weeks.
Learn foundational skills including:
Drawing and designing the structure of the head and face
Understanding and using light and shadow to model form
Applying colour theory and mixing to depict skin tone, light, and atmosphere
Handling materials and oil painting techniques with confidence
Capturing expression and mood to convey the sitter’s character
Work directly from the model, with expert guidance and supportive feedback.
Develop your observational and technical abilities, building a strong base in traditional portrait painting.
Suitable for intermediate painters or those with some experience looking to deepen their understanding of portraiture.Description text goes here
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As above
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The basic materials list is:
• a canvas primed with jesso. Please make sure you prime your canvas in advance! Even store bought pre-primed canvases will need to be removed from packaging and another application or two of jesso. Any questions please get in touch.
(suggested size for portraiture 40x30cm up to 90x50cm, but it's up to the individual 60x40cm is what I would use)
• Brushes – recommended below.
• Palette
• Palette knife
• Black/ raw umber /red /ochre /white oils
• A preferred medium - (I would use linseed oil)
** please note, no solvent allowed in studio – sansodor ok but not necessary.
The detailed materials list is:
• brown baking paper (for storing oil paint)
• Bar of ordinary household soap (for cleaning brushes). Nick will teach students how to clean brushes with veg oil that he will provide. No solvents needed.
• small palette cup & empty jam jar.
Oil-paints.
Michael Harding/ Old Holland recommended
1. Raw Umber
2. Titanium White
3. Yellow ochre
4. Cadmium red (cad hue not an alternative)
5. Ivory black
Brushes:
A range of about 10+ flat and filbert brushes in different sizes. From Evans art shop I suggest:
• Winton Flats 1 to 4
• Winton Filberts 1 to 8
Brushes:
A range of about 10+ flat and filbert brushes in different sizes. From Evans art shop I suggest:
• Winton Flats 1 to 4
• Winton Filberts 1 to 8
• Winton Short Flat Brights 2 to 8
• Richard Oliver Flat Hogs 0 to 4• Richard Oliver Hog Filberts 1 to 6 Also the Mr. Price Royal & Langnickel brushes are fine.
Get 2 packets of those and you’re away in a hack. (Pictured)
• small hand mirror - not essential
To paint a life size head and hands portrait like this Repin, you want about 90x50cm
For a life size head and shoulders alone like this Serov get approx 60x40cm approx. (I would suggest this size) For a smaller than life size head alone get about 40cmx30cm
“Every portrait that is painted with feeling is a portrait of the artist, not of the sitter.”
