Portrait Drawing from Life

Students looking to improve their portrait drawing skills are invited to join instructor Matthew Grimmer for this 6-week course. Working from a live model each week, students will develop several drawings using charcoal and pencil, ranging from shorter to longer poses. We will learn how to create quick, loose sketches that capture the models’ likeness, then, onto longer, more technical drawings where we learn to capture subtle details and shading. The course will focus on teaching a light-handed, anatomical, realistic style through a slow-paced practice that relies on measurements, comparison, and thoughtful mark-making.

This class is meant to cover the basic building blocks for portraiture and is directed towards beginners and intermediate skill levels. Advanced-level students may also be accommodated upon request. We will cover how to build and shape features in 3D and will cover basic areas of drawing, such as overall composition, cross-hatching to create form, and making the most of light and shadow, all within the context of the figure.

By the end of the course, students will have an understanding of the anatomy of the head, the complexity of shapes that create the face, and its relationship to drawing their portraiture, as well as improved confidence in their charcoal and pencil handling skills.

This course will be held weekly from 5:30-7:30 p.m. on Friday, January 16- February 20, in the Idonea Hersee Classroom at Art Reach, 111 E. Broadway in Mount Pleasant.

Recommended ages: Teens & Adults

Please note: An active membership is not required to register. Active members receive a 15% discount on classes.