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Portrait painting Basics

A six-session foundational course

 

Portrait Painting Basics is a six-session course designed to build a strong foundation in painting the human face. The course combines essential drawing skills with oil painting techniques, allowing students to understand structure before moving into color.

 

Throughout the sessions, students work on drawing and painting facial features while learning how to mix and control skin tones. Emphasis is placed on proportion, form, light, and color relationships rather than rushing toward a finished result.

 

Topics covered include:

 

  • Head structure and facial proportions

  • Drawing and understanding individual facial features

  • Translating drawing into paint

  • Mixing skin tones and color variation

  • Light, shadow, and form in portrait painting

  • Building a portrait step by step

 

This course is suitable for beginners, self-taught artists, or anyone looking to strengthen their portrait painting foundation in a supportive environment.

Material List

Paint Colors

 

  • Titanium White

  • Ivory Black

  • Ultramarine Blue

  • Phthalo Blue

  • Alizarin Crimson

  • Light Red

  • Cadmium Yellow

  • Yellow Ochre

  • Burnt Umber

  • Burnt Sienna

 

 

Mediums & Solvents

 

  • Linseed Oil

  • Odorless Mineral Spirits (for brush cleaning)

 

 

Brushes

 

  • Short-handle flat synthetic brushes

     

    • Sizes 2–8 (up to 10 optional)

  • Small round synthetic brushes

     

    • Size 0 or 2 (for details)

 

 

Tools & Supplies

 

  • Reusable palette (plastic, glass, or sealed wood)

  • Palette knife

  • Paper towels or rags

  • Container for solvent

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