Alla Prima Portrait Painting: Human Features (Online Course)

Instructor(s):
Sandra Sanchez

Wednesdays, 6 PM – 8 PM ET – please adjust for your timezones
February 5, 12, 19, 26, March 5, 12, 19, 26, 2025
Plus over 12 hours of recorded demos. Each week’s corresponding demo is provided a week before each live class session.
There is a homework assignment due the first class.
8 weeks– Tuition $495

Limit: 10 students per section

Class format notes:

• 2 hours of pre-recorded demos distributed weekly. The first demo is distributed the week before the first live class. Homework is due on the first class.
• 2 hour live critiques class.
• Students work on their weekly assignment outside of class time.

Take this class:

• to round out the study of portraiture by learning characteristics typical to eyes, noses and mouths. 
• to learn helpful painting techniques like palette organization and color decision making.

Is this class for me?

• Some oil painting experience is recommended.
• Taking GCA’s Painting Orientation Seminar is helpful if you are new to GCA.
• Some drawing experience, especially in the Academic method, is always useful for painting classes at the GCA.

How often is this class offered?

• This class is offered once or twice a year.

Online tech needs:

• The class will be conducted on the Zoom platform and is a live online experience.
• The pre-recorded demos will be shared via a private video link on YouTube. YouTube is free but will require an account to view the video.
• Sandra’s classes are recorded and made available so students can review critiques after each live session for the entirety of the class plus an additional thirty days. There are no extensions.
• This class also uses Google Classroom to distribute materials. Watch this video for more insight.  Both of these services are free but require registration.
• It will be necessary for students to have access to a computer, tablet or smartphone. The recommended device is a laptop or desktop.

“This class has advanced my alla prima painting practice more than any other. Sandra’s lectures are very engaging, never boring or esoteric. She is very supportive and encouraging with her students, and will even introduce you to new and inspiring representational artists you probably never heard of before.” – Kim

Download MaterialsRegister Now

Course Description

Improve painting confidence by studying key features of the portrait individually. During the first four weeks students will investigate the unique structure of the different features and how both feature and structure relate to the whole of the head. Each student will select and execute a study of a particular feature from a portrait masterwork. The final four weeks will be dedicated to painting completed portraits using the concepts already practiced.

This course covers block-in strategies for accurate proportions, three-dimensional form modeling, light effect, and flesh color concepts. There will be weekly demonstrations as well as individual critiques based on each individual’s personal artistic goals. It will help to have some oil painting experience.

Week 1-Set-up, Materials, Demo the Eyes – Structure of the eye socket, as well as subforms that create the eyes.

Week 2-Critiques on Eyes- Demo the Nose – Breaking down the nose and how it fits in a portrait.

Week 3-Critiques on Nose-Demo the Mouth – Building the muzzle structure and understanding its impact on the character of a portrait.

Week 4-Critiques on Mouth -Demo the Ears – Finding patterns in ear structure, with a focus on shape and adding realism to a portrait.

Week 5-Critiques on Ears – Demo the Head Block-in – Discussing proportions, and how placement of key shapes can create a likeness.

Week 6-Critiques on Head – Demo the Portrait in Color – Discussing the role of structure and planes on the human head and color mixing basics.

Week 7-Critiques on Color Portrait – Demo a Portrait in Profile – Discussing proportions in profile, and how to simplify portrait paintings to build speed.

Week 8-Critiques on Profile Portrait – Final critiques plus a final demo topic based on instructor & class discussion.