I’ve been teaching an expressive portraits class on Friday nights. In the first few classes we talked about common pitfalls including the blueberry pancake effect of features floating in the middle of a round face shape. We practiced how to measure proportions quickly, how to see the three dimensional aspects of a face, what makes a good reference photograph (or real life pose), and how to navigate your way through a difficult angle, such as the person looking up. After all that, I figured it was time to let loose a little. I had everyone grab some wet media and something to scribble with. I didn’t have any ink, so I made some with coffee and a bit of leftover clothing dye. My drawing tools for the evening were a chopstick and a paper towel. Other students used household tools like a mascara brush, garden sticks, and bamboo skewers. Hooray for adaptability! We all made a pile of portraits, and enjoyed a very fun evening while our portraits just got better and better.
For the expressive portion of our Expressive Portraits class, we drew some funny and seriously moody old fogies, including Marlon Brando and my puppy – the funniest character challenge of them all, and a playful way to end an evening.
Artworks by Mimi Torchia Boothby, Shima Bhamra, Sophie Frieda, Liz Hejlsberg, Katie Jo Keppinger, Kim Jackson, and Anne Walker.
We’ve opened this class up to newcomers! If you have some experience drawing, you are welcome to jump in for a 2 or 4 week slice of this ongoing portraits session. It will be great to see you!
One year ago in March, to protect our students and teachers from a new coronavirus, the Seattle Artist League moved our classes online. The virus was declared a national emergency, and we went into quarantine. We have now been in quarantine for thirteen months. Through this year, we have met each other online to draw, …
I met Keith Pfeiffer in one of the last classes I taught in person, before the quarantine. The class was on color and light. We practiced producing a sensation of light by replacing white with color (above), how to get vibration from complementary hues, vibrant vs neutral effects, and how to dim or compress the …
[image_with_animation image_url=”7922″ alignment=”center” animation=”None” box_shadow=”none” max_width=”100%”] Vincent Bal Place an object that makes an interesting shadow, and use the shadow as the beginning of a doodle. Share your work to this post on our Facebook page. (#salchallenge). See more of Bal’s shadow doodles here. The January Creative Challenge: 15 minutes, once a day, for 30 days – BONUS …
Marlon Brando, some grumpy old fogies, and my puppy
I’ve been teaching an expressive portraits class on Friday nights. In the first few classes we talked about common pitfalls including the blueberry pancake effect of features floating in the middle of a round face shape. We practiced how to measure proportions quickly, how to see the three dimensional aspects of a face, what makes a good reference photograph (or real life pose), and how to navigate your way through a difficult angle, such as the person looking up. After all that, I figured it was time to let loose a little. I had everyone grab some wet media and something to scribble with. I didn’t have any ink, so I made some with coffee and a bit of leftover clothing dye. My drawing tools for the evening were a chopstick and a paper towel. Other students used household tools like a mascara brush, garden sticks, and bamboo skewers. Hooray for adaptability! We all made a pile of portraits, and enjoyed a very fun evening while our portraits just got better and better.
For the expressive portion of our Expressive Portraits class, we drew some funny and seriously moody old fogies, including Marlon Brando and my puppy – the funniest character challenge of them all, and a playful way to end an evening.
Artworks by Mimi Torchia Boothby, Shima Bhamra, Sophie Frieda, Liz Hejlsberg, Katie Jo Keppinger, Kim Jackson, and Anne Walker.
We’ve opened this class up to newcomers! If you have some experience drawing, you are welcome to jump in for a 2 or 4 week slice of this ongoing portraits session. It will be great to see you!
Expressive Portraits
Fridays 6:00-10:00pm PST
Join us!
There’s also a digital portraits class starting on Saturday mornings. Check it out!
Portrait Painting with Procreate
4 Saturdays 10:00-1:00pm PST
Starts this Saturday!
And now… puppies!
Related Posts
Online Anniversary Show: Life in Blue and Green
One year ago in March, to protect our students and teachers from a new coronavirus, the Seattle Artist League moved our classes online. The virus was declared a national emergency, and we went into quarantine. We have now been in quarantine for thirteen months. Through this year, we have met each other online to draw, …
March to March; Keith Pfeiffer’s Quarantine Posts
I met Keith Pfeiffer in one of the last classes I taught in person, before the quarantine. The class was on color and light. We practiced producing a sensation of light by replacing white with color (above), how to get vibration from complementary hues, vibrant vs neutral effects, and how to dim or compress the …
30SAL Faves: Naiskos Fragment
Day 19 of our 30 Day Challenge was to finish the Naiskos fragment. This inspired a multi media bonanza! How do you all come up with this stuff?!?
SAL Challenge 31: Shadow Doodles
[image_with_animation image_url=”7922″ alignment=”center” animation=”None” box_shadow=”none” max_width=”100%”] Vincent Bal Place an object that makes an interesting shadow, and use the shadow as the beginning of a doodle. Share your work to this post on our Facebook page. (#salchallenge). See more of Bal’s shadow doodles here. The January Creative Challenge: 15 minutes, once a day, for 30 days – BONUS …