In this course, you will learn how to paint realistic and expressive portraits. Develop your skills in mixing life-like skin tones, creating glowing light effects, and achieving accurate proportions of the face.

You’ll begin by learning how to draw the head with a brush, using a variety of measuring techniques, then moving on to simple methods for painting shadows, half tones and light.

In working from both the live model and reference materials, you will create finished portrait paintings in the ‘alla prima’ technique, using imprimatura, ‘tiling’ colour, and glazing techniques.

Emphasis will be placed upon accuracy, and capturing the subtle nuances of skin by adjusting colour, edges, value and temperature. Attendees of this course will experience heightened confidence, ease and flow in their painting.

In this essential course, learn the painterly fundamentals necessary to convey the beauty of the natural world. Both traditional and contemporary approaches will be utilized, making your paintings both realistic and exciting.
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You will learn how to develop strong compositional drawings, and translate them into rich, luminous and complete paintings. Colour theory, brushwork and general rules will be applied as you learn to paint evergreen and deciduous trees, rocks, mountains, clouds, the sky and much more.
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Emphasis will be placed on starting with simplified shapes and generalized areas of colour, and being attentive to the effects of light and atmospheric perspective on a landscape.

Work from photos provided by the instructor, or bring your own. By the end of the course you’ll have increased confidence to paint the most inspiring scenes from nature.

Are you ready for greater realism, depth and a convincing finish in your paintings? In this course you will fully develop one figure / portrait painting from start-to-finish, bringing together traditional & contemporary techniques.

In using both direct (wet-into-wet) and indirect painting (glazing) methods, you’ll begin with a loosely drawn underpainting to serve as your guide, find generalized colours for different areas of the figure, then move towards nuanced form and colour.

Basic anatomy, planes of the body, and brushwork will be discussed. Emphasis will be placed on capturing the gesture of the model, creating accuracy of form, and mixing nuanced skin tones.

Choose your from our wide selection of professional, well-lit photos (or bring your own) to create your own dynamic, gestural and poetic painting! Whether focusing on the whole figure or the portrait, attendees of this course will acquire greater confidence, ease and depth in their paintings.

Are you ready to bring more force, feeling, and simplicity into your figure drawings? In this exciting course, you will draw from the live model exploring how gesture and structure come together to create powerful, dynamic and realistic drawings.
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Each class begins with a focus on fast gestural drawings, utilizing line-of-action, simplified shapes, and expressive line to capture the essence of the pose. In the longer poses, emphasis shifts toward accuracy, structure and proportion using sighting & measuring techniques, basic anatomy, and planar construction.

Further exploration of compositional framing, linear perspective, and the tonal scale will bring a unique aesthetic appeal to your drawings.
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While improving speed and accuracy, you will experience a heightened sense of confidence, ease, and flow in your drawing!

In this essential course, you will learn how to create realistic still life paintings in watercolour that convey convincing 3-dimensional form, light & texture.

Learn how to break this notoriously difficult medium down into manageable steps, applying clean washes and confident brushstrokes. Using a photo reference as a starting point you will form your strategy to translate your vision into a convincing watercolour interpretation.

Emphasis will be on developing your observational and compositional skills to achieve an effective arrangement of dark and light values.

The instructor will demonstrate techniques throughout each class, then spend plenty of time with each student one-on-one. Attendees of this course will leave with a set of new skills that will add strength and realism to their paintings.

In this foundational course, you will learn how to draw realistic portraits with accuracy and expressive force. Each class begins with a brief anatomy lecture, followed by drawing from the live model & photo references. Using basic drawing media in short and long poses, you will examine the head & facial features from various angles, learning how to draw them into simplified geometrical shapes & planes.

Emphasis will be placed upon solidifying structure and proportion, achieving a likeness, and utilizing shading techniques to make convincing, 3-dimensional drawings.

The instructor will demonstrate techniques throughout each class, then spend plenty of time with each student one-on-one.

Attendees of this course will leave with a set of new skills that will add strength and realism to their drawings.

In this course, you will learn critical skills necessary to convey the beauty of the natural world. Working from photos, you’ll develop strong compositional drawings and translate them to rich and complete paintings.

Learn some general rules for painting evergreen and deciduous trees, rocks, mountains, clouds and more. Emphasis will be placed on starting with simplified shapes and generalized areas of colour, and being attentive to the effects of light and atmospheric perspective on a landscape.
‍
Work from photos provided by the instructor, or bring your own. By the end of the course you’ll have increased confidence to paint the most inspiring scenes from nature!

In this essential course, you will draw from the live model exploring classical and contemporary techniques to create powerful, dynamic, and realistic drawings.
‍
Each class begins with a focus on fast gestural drawings, utilizing line-of-action, simplified shapes, and expressive mark-making to capture the essence of the pose.

As the poses lengthen, emphasis shifts toward accuracy, structure and proportion using sighting & measuring techniques, basic anatomy, and planar construction.In the longest poses, you will focus on the subtle nuances of light and shade to create 3-dimensional, lifelike figure drawings.

Attendees of this course will enjoy heightened confidence, ease, and flow in their drawing.

In this foundational course, you will learn how to paint the realistic human figure / portrait from start-to-finish, bringing together traditional & contemporary techniques.
‍
In using both direct (wet-into-wet) and indirect painting methods, you’ll begin with a loosely drawn underpainting to serve as your guide, find generalized colours for different areas of the figure, then move towards nuanced form and colour.

Basic anatomy, planes of the body, and brushwork will be discussed. Emphasis will be placed on capturing the gesture of the pose, creating accuracy of form, and mixing nuanced skin tones.

In this course, you will learn how to paint realistic landscapes and seascapes in watercolour that capture the light and atmosphere of the natural environment.

James will demonstrate how to break this notoriously difficult medium it down into manageable steps, applying clean washes and confident brushstrokes. Using a photo reference as a starting point you will form your strategy to translate your vision into a convincing watercolour interpretation.

Emphasis will be on developing your observational and compositional skills to achieve an effective arrangement of dark and light values.  

Attendees of this course will leave with fresh ideas and skills for watercolour landscapes that will add strength and realism to their paintings.