Figure Painting from Life:
An Immersive Weekend Workshop 

Observe the figure from life and learn how to
paint what the human eye really sees.

Instructor: Lacey Swift (Lewis)

When: Friday - Sunday November 18, 19, and 20

Time: 10am-5pm Plus evening activities

Location: School of Realist Art
7800 Shawnee Mission Parkway, Suite #17
Overland Park, KS 66202

Tuition: $375 includes all materials and model fee

Workshop Details

Materials: $375 fee includes all materials. No need to purchase or haul supplies!

Models: Live models 10am-1pm and 2pm-5pm each day. Please refrain from photographing the model.

Museum Visit: Nelson-Atkins Museum visit Friday night with a casual dinner.

Saturday Group Dinner: Dinner reservations for Saturday night will be determined in advance of the workshop by student vote.

Lunches & Refreshments: Coffee, water, and snacks available in-studio. Lunches are available at nearby restaurants, can be ordered-in, or feel free to pack your own.

Tuition Refund Policy: Refunds available up to 30 days before the workshop. Due to limited class space, tuition is non-refundable after this time period.

Download the Full Schedule by Clicking the Image

The Experience

This immersive workshop experience will leave you inspired and excited to tackle figurative projects at home! Each day begins with a presentation and demo by Lacey Swift (Lewis) outlining the exact steps to follow at each stage. You will work from two separate 3-day poses from the live model, allowing you plenty of time to practice and incorporate new skills. We'll also take a guided tour of the Nelson-Atkins Museum, pointing out the ways painters throughout history have utilized the concepts studied in class to create incredible images, and enjoy dinner on Friday and Saturday with fellow figurative artists.

Concepts of Focus

The painting process will be broken into 3 parts: Establishing the Drawing, Mixing Light & Shadow Skin Tones, and Pushing Realism & Depth. Although every concept studied can be applied to working from photos, you will take advantage of the opportunity to observe the figure from life to notice how the human eye really sees. Gaining a deeper understanding of how your vision is different from the way cameras see, and learning specific techniques used by the old masters will empower you to make more lifelike and unique paintings from any reference.

About the Instructor

Lacey Swift (formerly Lacey Lewis) is known and internationally recognized for her realistic figurative and portrait paintings. She is passionate about sharing knowledge and inspiring artists at every level, because she believes that developing an art practice can change your life by deepening your connection with your self and your environment.