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"]

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