Christian Fagerlund's Portrait Workshop

Portrait Workshop

February 24 -  March 12, 2013               Sunday/Tuesday evenings (6:00 - 10:00pm)

This February/March I am pleased to offer a 6-session workshop focusing on the painted portrait.  Over the course of six 4 hour sessions we will focus on developing a method for creating fully realized paintings (or drawings).  When making a portrait, especially in the case of commissions, one often doesn’t have the option of working from life throughout the entire painting.  In this workshop you will learn how to efficiently record directly-observed information from life, and then supplement those observations with well-planned photographic reference.  Combined, you will have the information and time necessary to create a finished portrait that is based on naturalism rather than pure photo-realism.

We will focus on the following principles:

• Color Theory - using a limited palette vs. full palette
• Measurement techniques for achieving accurate proportions
• Poster and Color studies – seeing the broader value/color relationships
• Underpainting techniques - grisaille and imprimatura
• Head and Facial anatomy
• Seeing 2D vs. 3D - flat shapes vs. illusion of form
• Large vs. small forms – simplification of masses
• Taking good photographic reference

Ideally students should have some experience with the figure/portrait and the basics of oil painting. Although most technical instruction will be geared towards oils, students are welcome to use other mediums (watercolor, acrylics, gouache, etc.). Students are also welcome to work purely with drawing media.
Class size will be small (6-8 students), allowing ample time for one-on-one critiques and demos.

SESSIONS OVERVIEW

• With the model in the studio, we will work from life, focusing on developing a simplified and accurate color study.  At the end of the session, we will take photographic reference.
• Working from photographs, we will develop a detailed contour drawing, that we will then transfer to our canvas.
• Working from photographs, we will develop a monochromatic underpainting.
• Working from photographs and our color study, we will be developing our first color layer (using a limited or "dead" palette).
• Further development of color layer.
• Model comes back, and we will work on corrections/finishing touches. Final critique at the end of session.

Studio address:
3145 Maxwell Ave, Oakland, CA.
Cost: $400
Feb 24, 26, March 3, 5, 10, 12

Send payments to:
(checks payable to Christian Fagerlund)
3298 Madera Ave, Oakland, CA, 94619
email: christianfagerlund@gmail.com
website: www.christianfagerlund.com
cell: (510) 379-8192
Space is limited and will fill up quickly – so be sure to enroll early on Jan 31st!