Portrait Painting

Prerequisite for this class is Portrait Drawing.

Painting portraits can be intimidating to say the least, but I want to show you how to let go of that fear!

Learn the fundamental elements of creating a realistic portrait in acrylic paint using reference photos and expand on what we learned in the Portrait Drawing class. We will explore a variety of techniques to arrive at the goal of an expressive portrait.

In this class, you'll learn how to:

Select a reference photo that will provide the best results
Use acrylic paints to paint a portrait you have drawn.
Use negative and positive space to recognize shape and dimension
Use light and shadow to create form
Choose a color palette to appropriately express the mood you wish to create.

Have fun practicing painting techniques to bring about a likeness of an individual. You will walk away with at least one finished portrait by the end of the class and established painting techniques to help you confidently create portraits on your own.

Great for beginning and intermediate level artists.

Supply List:

Reference photo, either printed or on iPad
12x12 up to 18x24 stretched canvas, panels, or mixed media paper (anything you want to paint on)
Pencil Set of 6: either 2H-6B or HB-8B
Eraser: (e.g., General’s Large Kneaded)
Portable Pencil Sharpener
9x12 Sketchbook (e.g., Canson XL Mixed Media Spiral-Bound)
Color Wheel Pocket Guide
Small containers with lids (for saving leftover paint)
Various size paint brushes
Palette knife
Palette paper
Heavy Body Acrylic Paint (recommended: Golden Open, but any brand will work)
- carbon black, or mars black
- ultramarine blue
- Titanium White
- Pthalo blue (green shade)
- Bismuth yellow, or lemon yellow
- Cadmium yellow medium
- Vermilion red, or cadmium red light hue
- Quinacridone red, or cadmium red deep hue
- ...plus any other colors you already have!

Available for Purchase @ Front Desk if Needed:

Artist Aprons and Tote Bags

Class Info:

Next session: TBD
All skill levels welcome
Age level: adult (18 & up)

Parking Info

WHO SHOULD TAKE THIS CLASS...

• those who want to add color to their portrait renderings
• those who love painting faces and expressions

• those who want to learn to capture someone's likeness
• adults who want to learn the anatomy of faces and heads

About the instructor

Wendy Kwasny

Wendy Kwasny is an award winning fine artist in San Diego who specializes in oil and acrylic portraiture, still life, and landscapes. She earned her BA in fine art from SDSU, and regularly shows her art at The Ashton Gallery in San Diego. She is currently working out of Art on 30th and her home studio. Wendy has shown her work in venues all over San Diego in the past 25+ years, and has completed numerous commissioned pieces.

Painting, and the creative process, really, is part of Wendy. It’s innate in her world view, in her interactions with people and ingrained in her life. The world can be chaotic place and painting centers her and brings her to a place of serenity, calm and confidence. She brings that into her work with each brush stroke and careful color consideration, always trying to capture that certain unique something about someone to tell their story. When she’s not painting, she is off playing with (and being inspired by) her family and friends.

Website

"It's hard to say what I like most about Art on 30th because it's such a varied place with ALL kinds of great classes for everyone of any skill level."

~Kristen Guest

class info