Painting II: Portrait and the Human Figure

Instructor: Robin Adair
Mondays 1-4pm
10 weeks: April 13 to June 22 (no class May 18)
Location: In-person Williams Building room 306
$395 (supplies not included) + $55 model fees
Prerequisite: Painting I (Acrylic Painting I: Basic Techniques & Fundamentals or Acrylic Painting I: Foundations & Styles)

This course will introduce students to the fundamentals of portrait and figurative painting: blocking out basic structures and proportions, mixing skin tones, and using glazes to create shadows. We will also draw inspiration from a variety of techniques and styles by other masters, including the Fauvist paintings by André Derain, the impressionist portraits by Vincent Van Gogh, the surrealist self-portraits by Frida Kahlo, and the psychologically charged human figures painted by Lucian Freud. Students will also get experience painting from a live model on two separate occasions throughout the course. 

Syllabus

  • Values and blocking out forms
  • Mixing skin tones
  • Glazing
  • Using the Zorn palette
  • 1st live model session
  • Palette knife and Impasto Techniques
  • The self-portrait
  • Depicting human emotion with colour
  • Exploring abstraction
  • 2nd live model session

Supplies

  • Acrylic heavy body paint. Recommended Brands: Golden; Holbein; Tri-Art
  • Pigments:
    • Titanium White
    • Bone Black
    • Ultramarine Blue
    • Cobalt Blue
    • Primary Cyan
    • Cadmium Red Light
    • Cadmium Red Medium
    • Alizarin Crimson
    • Quinacridone Magenta
    • Cadmium Yellow Light
    • Cadmium Yellow Medium
    • Yellow Ochre
    • Burnt Sienna
    • Raw Umber
  • Acrylic Brushes: square, round, fan, and flat angle in assorted sizes. Also, one larger square brush (1.5-inch width).
  • 3 palette knives, either plastic or metal, I recommend finding different sizes of the trowel (diamond shaped) blade
  • Wet palette (12" x 16") You may buy one from a store or I will also teach you how to make your own wet palette. For this you will need:
    • Regular tray palette
    • Paper towel
    • Parchment paper
    • Bulldog clips
  • Cotton rags
  • Masking Tape
  • Supports: Pad of 9x12 or 11x14 Bristol board (vellum). You may use canvas or board if you prefer