Art and Design

Portrait painting – an introduction

Learn how to draw from a life model.     

Who the course is for

Adults at all levels who wish to learn about portrait painting

Course location

Thomas Calton Centre, Alpha Street, SE15 4NX.

What you’ll learn

How to develop your skills in portrait drawing and painting by working from a clothed model. Guidance will be given on materials you may like to use. More experienced artists may like to use a favourite medium to do a long drawing or painting. You will have the freedom to explore your own expressive interpretation while working from the model.

There will be opportunities to reference established artists throughout.

How the course is taught

The course is tutor-led with demonstrations, one to one support and group discussions on progress and finished work. Each week you will have the opportunity to draw from a different model with each pose lasting roughly 3 hours.

Materials you’ll need

You will need to provide your own paper/painting surfaces and drawing/painting materials for this course eg pencil, charcoal, pen and ink, watercolour, acrylics. The tutor will give you briefs ahead of most sessions so that you know what to bring the following week. Please note that solvents of any kind are not permitted in the workshop.

After the course

You may like to follow-up with further courses on the subject elsewhere or by doing the Personal Development Painting Studio course. 

We look forward to welcoming you to the adult learning centre and the start of your learning journey with us!

How to enrol

Complete an enrolment form online

Find out how to enrol, locations and more about our services.

Course details

Contact information

You can:

• email adult.learning@southwark.gov.uk
• phone 020 7358 2100 or 020 7358 2101

Page last updated: 21 November 2024