Tag Archive for: Painting the Oil Portrait

Blog: Painting the Oil Portrait

“Blogs” is a new addition to The Painting & Drawing Art Studio of Rome. All are invited to share their thoughts and elaborate on the techniques, themes and ideas that we discuss in studio. To benefit those who currently participate… and those who are thinking of participating, all blogs are public.
Please be courteous in your comments and constructive in your criticisms. Thank you.

Note: in order to encourage a multi-cultural and multi-lingual dialogue, this blog is not divided by language. Please visit the Italian version of this page… and feel free to add your thoughts and comments in English.

[p2p type="id" value="896"]

“Blogs” is a new addition to The Painting & Drawing Art Studio of Rome. All are invited to share their thoughts and elaborate on the techniques, themes and ideas that we discuss in studio. To benefit those who currently participate… and those who are thinking of participating, all blogs are public.
Please be courteous in your comments and constructive in your criticisms. Thank you.

Note: in order to encourage a multi-cultural and multi-lingual dialogue, this blog is not divided by language. Please visit the Italian version of this page… and feel free to add your thoughts and comments in English.

[p2p type="id" value="896"]

Painting the Oil Portrait – Course 2 – 15 Lessons

Update – January 31, 2010

Current availability for Course 2, 15 lessons:

  • Tuesdays, 17:00 – 19:00 – 2 places remain;
  • Wednesdays, 17:00 – 19:00 – Full;
  • Saturdays, 10:30 – 12:30 – 1 place remain.

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact us using the form below.

Starts February 9th, 2010.
Meets Every Tuesday (17:00 – 19:00) OR Every Wednesday (17:00 to 19:00) OR Every Saturday (10:30 – 12:30).

For those with limited time, I am pleased to offer a condensed version of Painting the Oil Portrait.

By the end of Course 2 each student can expect to have completed 2 graphite studies on Rives BFK paper and 2 oil paintings the size of 35 x 25 cm.  The two paintings will adhere to a specific objective and criteria:

  • Painting 1 will focus on design, light and value;
  • Painting 2 will focus on warm/cool tonalities, volume and color.

Each new painting assignment will include a demonstration by the instructor and ongoing critiques of the works in progress.

The subject matter of Course 2 includes:

  • Models;
  • Casts;
  • Self-Portraits.

Each two hour session will typically run as follows:

  • Introduction and/or Review of the current assignment;
  • Demonstration of techniques/process or a presentation and examination of works by other artists;
  • Work time for students;
  • Critique of work and/or closing discussion on things to think about for the next class.

Should you have any questions regarding the nature of this course, please contact me using the form at the bottom of the home page and I will be happy to reply.

I hope those of you who take this course will be as excited about taking it as I am teaching it.  I look forward to seeing you in the studio in February of 2010!
– TJA

Please note: if you are interested in this course, but would prefer a more robust program, please consider Course 1 which meets twice a week, every Tuesday and Thursday from 17:00 to 19:00.

[p2p type="id" value="252"]

Update – January 31, 2010

Current availability for Course 2, 15 lessons:

  • Tuesdays, 17:00 – 19:00 – 2 places remain;
  • Wednesdays, 17:00 – 19:00 – Full;
  • Saturdays, 10:30 – 12:30 – 1 place remain.

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact us using the form below.

Starts February 9th, 2010.
Meets Every Tuesday (17:00 – 19:00) OR Every Wednesday (17:00 to 19:00) OR Every Saturday (10:30 – 12:30).

For those with limited time, I am pleased to offer a condensed version of Painting the Oil Portrait.

By the end of Course 2 each student can expect to have completed 2 graphite studies on Rives BFK paper and 2 oil paintings the size of 35 x 25 cm.  The two paintings will adhere to a specific objective and criteria:

  • Painting 1 will focus on design, light and value;
  • Painting 2 will focus on warm/cool tonalities, volume and color.

Each new painting assignment will include a demonstration by the instructor and ongoing critiques of the works in progress.

The subject matter of Course 2 includes:

  • Models;
  • Casts;
  • Self-Portraits.

Each two hour session will typically run as follows:

  • Introduction and/or Review of the current assignment;
  • Demonstration of techniques/process or a presentation and examination of works by other artists;
  • Work time for students;
  • Critique of work and/or closing discussion on things to think about for the next class.

Should you have any questions regarding the nature of this course, please contact me using the form at the bottom of the home page and I will be happy to reply.

I hope those of you who take this course will be as excited about taking it as I am teaching it.  I look forward to seeing you in the studio in February of 2010!
– TJA

Please note: if you are interested in this course, but would prefer a more robust program, please consider Course 1 which meets twice a week, every Tuesday and Thursday from 17:00 to 19:00.

[p2p type="id" value="252"]

Painting the Oil Portrait – Course 1 – 30 Lessons

Update – January 31, 2010

Due to the overwhelming interest in Course 2 (15 lessons, once a week), Course 1 is no longer offered for the Spring session, 2010.

However, in addition to Wednesday evenings, Course 2 is also offered on Tuesday evenings (17:00 – 19:00) and Saturday mornings (10:30 – 12:30).


Starts February 9th, 2010.
Meets Every Tuesday and Thursday, 17:00 to 19:00.

I’ve come to believe that one of the most important ingredients in the creation of a good oil portrait is time: more time with a portrait = more time for reflection, development and evolution.  And when I say “time”, I’m not just referring to the time spent with the subject while applying paint to the canvas, but the entire time spent living with a portrait.  This includes the time it hangs on a wall or the time it sits in a corner for a spell out of sight–amazing things can happen when you pull it back into view!

For this reason, I am interested in offering a course targeted to aspiring artists of all levels and cultures interested in committing themselves to an intensive course of study.

The quantity of time allotted in Course 1 enables a robust exploration of techniques and subjects and affords students the opportunity to push the refinement of their work.

By the end of Course 1 each student can expect to have completed between 3 and 4 graphite studies on Rives BFK paper and 3 or 4 oil paintings the size of 35 x 25 cm.  In addition, each painting assignment will adhere to a specific objective and criteria:

  • Painting 1 will focus on design, light and value;
  • Painting 2 will focus on warm/cool tonalities and volume;
  • Painting 3 will focus on color;
  • Painting 4 will bring all elements together.

Each new painting assignment will include a demonstration by the instructor and ongoing critiques of the works in progress.

The subject matter of Course 1 includes:

  • Models;
  • Casts;
  • Self-Portraits.

Each two hour session will typically run as follows:

  • Introduction and/or Review of the current assignment;
  • Demonstration of techniques/process or a presentation and examination of works by other artists;
  • Work time for students;
  • Critique of work and/or closing discussion on things to think about for the next class.

Should you have any questions regarding the nature of this course, please contact me using the form at the bottom of the home page and I will be happy to reply.

I hope those of you who take this course will be as excited about taking it as I am teaching it.  I look forward to seeing you in the studio in February of 2010!
– TJA

Please note: if you are interested in this course, but are not able to commit to the time, please consider Course 2 which meets once a week, every Wednesday from 17:00 to 19:00.

[p2p type="id" value="461"]

Update – January 31, 2010

Due to the overwhelming interest in Course 2 (15 lessons, once a week), Course 1 is no longer offered for the Spring session, 2010.

However, in addition to Wednesday evenings, Course 2 is also offered on Tuesday evenings (17:00 – 19:00) and Saturday mornings (10:30 – 12:30).


Starts February 9th, 2010.
Meets Every Tuesday and Thursday, 17:00 to 19:00.

I’ve come to believe that one of the most important ingredients in the creation of a good oil portrait is time: more time with a portrait = more time for reflection, development and evolution.  And when I say “time”, I’m not just referring to the time spent with the subject while applying paint to the canvas, but the entire time spent living with a portrait.  This includes the time it hangs on a wall or the time it sits in a corner for a spell out of sight–amazing things can happen when you pull it back into view!

For this reason, I am interested in offering a course targeted to aspiring artists of all levels and cultures interested in committing themselves to an intensive course of study.

The quantity of time allotted in Course 1 enables a robust exploration of techniques and subjects and affords students the opportunity to push the refinement of their work.

By the end of Course 1 each student can expect to have completed between 3 and 4 graphite studies on Rives BFK paper and 3 or 4 oil paintings the size of 35 x 25 cm.  In addition, each painting assignment will adhere to a specific objective and criteria:

  • Painting 1 will focus on design, light and value;
  • Painting 2 will focus on warm/cool tonalities and volume;
  • Painting 3 will focus on color;
  • Painting 4 will bring all elements together.

Each new painting assignment will include a demonstration by the instructor and ongoing critiques of the works in progress.

The subject matter of Course 1 includes:

  • Models;
  • Casts;
  • Self-Portraits.

Each two hour session will typically run as follows:

  • Introduction and/or Review of the current assignment;
  • Demonstration of techniques/process or a presentation and examination of works by other artists;
  • Work time for students;
  • Critique of work and/or closing discussion on things to think about for the next class.

Should you have any questions regarding the nature of this course, please contact me using the form at the bottom of the home page and I will be happy to reply.

I hope those of you who take this course will be as excited about taking it as I am teaching it.  I look forward to seeing you in the studio in February of 2010!
– TJA

Please note: if you are interested in this course, but are not able to commit to the time, please consider Course 2 which meets once a week, every Wednesday from 17:00 to 19:00.

[p2p type="id" value="461"]

Painting the Oil Portrait – Courses Start February 9th, 2010

Update – February 5, 2010

Due to the overwhelming interest in Course 2 (15 lessons, once a week), Course 1 is no longer offered for the Spring session, 2010.

However, in addition to Wednesday evenings, Course 2 is also offered on Tuesday evenings (17:00 – 19:00) and Saturday mornings (10:30 – 12:30).

Current availability for Course 2, 15 lessons:

  • Tuesdays, 17:00 – 19:00 – 2 places remain;
  • Wednesdays, 17:00 – 19:00 – Full;
  • Saturdays, 10:30 – 12:30 – 1 place remain.

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact us using the form below.


The Painting & Drawing Art Studio of Rome is proud to present Painting the Oil Portrait, a comprehensive hands-on study of the conception, preparation and creation of a classically-styled oil portrait as painted from life.

Led by the American painter Timothy Joseph Allen, students will be instructed in the following methods and techniques:

  • Design and Composition;
  • Scale and Proportion;
  • Form, Volume and Facial Anatomy;
  • Value and Color;

All work will be done from a cast or live model.  The instructor will also spend part of the class time working so that students can see how the process evolves.

In addition, this course offers students the unique opportunity to learn about and use high-quality oil painting materials (all included in the price of the course).

Painting the Oil Portrait starts February 9th and ends May 20th and is offered in two formats:

Course 1 –  30 lessons total, every Tuesday and Thursday from 17:00 to 19:00 in Trastevere.
Price: €560.
Read the Painting the Oil Portrait Course 1 syllabus…

Course 2 – 15 lessons total, every Wednesday from 17:00 to 19:00 in Trastevere.
Price: €320.
Read the Painting the Oil Portrait Course 2 syllabus

Please note: the price of each course includes the cost of  all materials.  These materials include:

  • Schmincke Mussini oil paint;
  • Bull hair and Sable synthetic brushes;*
  • Linen canvas;*
  • Walnut oil medium;
  • Le Franc retouch varnish;
  • Conte’ graphite pencil;*
  • Conte’ kneaded eraser;*
  • Rives BFK paper;*

Items marked with an asterisk are yours to keep at the end of the course.  The others are provided by the Painting & Drawing Art Studio of Rome, as needed.

Each course is limited to a maximum of 8 students–first come, first serve.  If you have any questions, feel free to call us:

347 263 1033 or  340 5600 356 or send us an email.

To begin the enrollment process, please fill out and send the form below.  We look forward to seeing you in the studio!