Portrait Drawing
In Graphite & Charcoal
Master drawing the portrait in 6 weeks.
In-studio at School of Realist Art
Saturdays 12:30-2:30pm
September 7th - October 12th, 2024
Draw Facial Features
Learn the basics of shape, shading, and facial anatomy through studying individual features.
Measuring Techniques
Learn multiple approaches to accurate proportions so you can work in a variety of situations.
Realistic Shading
Value is the foundations of depth in art! You'll learn how to shade convincing form & details.
Learn to Draw For Real!
When you first start making art, you want to skip to the fun stuff: finishing the details, playing with color, placing lots of highlights. But pretty soon you realize that when those foundational skills are missing, it's impossible to get the results you really want.
This class will teach you how to move past tracing, gridding, and projecting so that you can actually draw portraits yourself!
Accuracy in Graphite
While working in graphite, you'll learn accuracy and gradual shading.
- Lesson 1: Facial Features in Graphite
- An introduction to graphite drawing methods, exploring the sketching and shading of the individual features of the eyes, mouth, nose, and ears.
- Lesson 2: Beginning a Sight-Size Portrait in Graphite
- In this lesson you will learn how to take measurements from a photo to create a very accurate drawing in graphite. Great for training your eye as a beginner, and for commissions where accuracy is paramount.
- Lesson 3: Finishing a Graphite Portrait
- Here you complete shading and details in the portrait and discuss the pros and cons of blending or smudging.
Form Building in Charcoal
Drawing in charcoal brings opportunities to take a more dynamic and flexible approach to proportion and bolder shading options. These methods are faster than those used for graphite but require greater skill to execute.
- Lesson 4: Intro to Charcoal Block-In
- Now you switch gears to Lacey's preferred method for most drawing situations, including working from life. Using angles as a basis for proportion, you can now reduce and enlarge as you wish, but must rely more on observation and adjustment for accuracy.
- Lesson 5: Beginning Shading in Charcoal
- This week you will focus on layers of shading in charcoal and how to know what kind of marks you should be using and in which direction you should make them.
- Lesson 6: Finishing a Charcoal Portrait
- In your final class, you will learn aspects that make a drawing as a whole stand out and work as a composition, increasing the sense of overall depth and feeling of life in the work.
What Materials Do I Need?
All materials are included when you attend the class in-studio: Just show up!
But, if you want your own set of materials at home, here's a PDF which lists everything you'll need.
Download Materials List
Learn Realistic Portrait Drawing
Saturdays 12:30-2:30pm
September 7th - October 12th, 2024
School of Realist Art in Overland Park, KS
All Materials Included
