Program for the Fundamentals
I started teaching this course about two years ago, and, since that time, I’ve found myself referring to it on several occasions as the ‘Karate Kid’ of drawing and painting: there is a lot of ‘sanding the floor’ and ‘painting the fence’, but it is all necessary prior to tackling more challenging subjects like the portrait or the figure.
There are four basic projects, executed in sequence, that will take you from drawing to oil painting:
- A pencil drawing of a still-life with a sphere and another object that is principally geometric
- A pencil drawing of a still-life with more organic forms, like a shell or a skull
- A pencil drawing of a cast
- An oil painting of a still-life with a limited palette that begins with a preparatory drawing in pencil
Students are invited to work at his or her own pace. Once these four projects are complete, students may choose to continue the lessons working on either another still-life painting, a painting of a cast, a copy of an Old Master painting, or even a self-portrait.
Program for Portrait Painting
The Short Explanation
We will use Caravaggio as a reference, make a copy of a detail of his painting, and apply what we have learned from the copy to either the figure or the portrait.
On the day of the first lesson you will choose which high resolution Caravaggio detail you wish to use as reference (see above) and I will have that professionally printed for you. It is yours to keep and is included in the cost.
In addition both the classes will join me for a group visit to Palazzo Barberini to examine Caravaggio in person, in addition to numerous other painters that followed in Caravaggio’s style. The entrance ticket to the museum is not included in the cost.
Special Note: Program for Figure Painting has changed
Because the program has been shortened, we will not be doing a copy of Caravaggio, but we will follow the same painting process that is presented in the Portrait Painting class.
Caravaggio & Cabinet Making - the Long Explanation
The theme of this Fall is Caravaggio and Cabinet Making and asks the following questions:
- To what extent did Caravaggio’s image-making rely on a specific process?
- How much does that process contribute to a predictable outcome?
- By what means might we make those determinations?
- How much of this process requires a shift away from observational fidelity toward conceptual intent?
Allow me to explain:
By ‘cabinet making’ I literally mean the process by which a carpenter sets out to make a set of cabinets. Presumably, the carpenter is able to make as many sets of cabinets as needed and, if required, can make numerous sets nearly the same. This means that the process has an inherent framework that helps to guide the craftsman’s artistry in order to achieve a predictable outcome.
Could this be true for painters? I believe so.
The question then becomes, what kind of cabinet are we trying to make? And the question I want to ask this Fall is: can we make a ‘cabinet’ the way Caravaggio would?
To answer this, I think we need to tackle the series of questions I asked at the beginning, most importantly, the last one:
How much of this process requires a shift away from observational fidelity toward conceptual intent?
By ‘observational fidelity’ I mean a process by which we base our decisions solely on what we see. It could be that a problem painting from life invites is being too faithful and not having the courage to establish a relative reality that allows for conceptual decision making.
By ‘conceptual intent’ I mean knowing how to manually manipulate elements like light, space and volume to create a three-dimensional illusion on a two-dimensional surface based on conceptual knowledge (and not observational fidelity) and applying that knowledge to arrive at a finished image.
Join me on this journey!
Lesson Plan – Portrait Painting
Note: if you are doing the Figure Painting, we will work from a nude model, one pose, for the duration of the semester; if you are doing Portrait Painting, we will work from a clothed model, one pose, for the duration of the semester. In both courses there will be days when we do not work from the model.
Lesson 1: Introduction to course, selection of Caravaggio detail, begin drawing from the model, begin preparation of the canvas for the copy.
Lesson 2: Continue drawing from the model, continue preparation of the canvas for the copy and for the original painting.
Lesson 3: Final day working on the drawing. Transfer Caravaggio copy drawing to canvas. Continue preparation of the canvas for the original painting.
Lesson 4: Start work on Caravaggio Copy, continue preparation of the canvas for the original painting.
Lesson 5: Continue work on Caravaggio Copy, transfer drawing to canvas for original painting.
Lesson 6: Last day on Caravaggio Copy in class; work should be continued as homework and brought back for each subsequent lesson.
Lesson 7: Begin painting of portrait.
Lesson 8: Continue working on the portrait.
Lesson 9: Visit to Palazzo Barberini.
Lesson 10 to 12: Work from the model while following the same process and conceptual ideas developed while making the copy. If necessary, development of the copy should continue as homework.
Final note: I reserve the right to modify the Lesson Plan as needed.
View List of Materials
Below are two lists: a ‘starter kit’ of the essential materials (palette, brushes, etc.) and a paint list, plus an accompanying image of the starter kit.
The starter kit now costs around €70, which you can buy at La Bottega dell’Artista. Reminder: all group courses are run in the basement of La Bottega dell’Artista, so it is very easy for you to buy what you need the first day of the course.
The core set of Michael Harding oil paints cost €90.
In order to provide an affordable alternative to those not wanting to buy all of the paint, you can, instead, choose to pay me an additional, one-time fee of €30 per Session during the registration process and I will provide you with all of the oil paints you need.
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- Michael Harding Oil Paints
Video Highlights: The Fundamentals on Tuesday Evenings
Video Highlights: Figure Drawing on Thursday Evenings
Register Online and Reserve Your Place at the Easel
Click the title of the course that interests you in the list below. Once you see the course and session that interests you, click “Book Now”. Registration is then a three-step process:
- Click “Register” at the bottom of the registration page, then accept the “Terms and Conditions”.
- Provide your name and email address, phone and country, then click “Submit”.
- Confirm your information, then click “Pay Now” to pay with a credit card.
NB: The credit card must be a Visa, Mastercard or American Express.
The Fundamentals on Tuesdays: 17:00 - 19:00
Open Seats
The Fundamentals - Session II - Nov 5 to Dec 10
5 Nov 2019 - 10 Dec 2019
17:00
The Fundamentals I Fondamentali The Fundamentals – Session II – November 5th to December 10th 5 Lessons Level: Beginner, Intermediate Time:...
Book NowFigure Drawing on Thursdays: 17:00 - 19:15
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Figure Drawing - Nov 21
21 Nov 2019
17:00 - 19:00
Figure Drawing Disegno del Nudo Level: Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced. Time: Thursdays, from 17:00 to 19:15. Cost: Open Studio/Draw...
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Open Seats
Figure Drawing - Dec 5
5 Dec 2019
17:00 - 19:00
Figure Drawing Disegno del Nudo Level: Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced. Time: Thursdays, from 17:00 to 19:15. Cost: Open Studio/Draw...
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Figure Drawing - Dec 12
12 Dec 2019
17:00 - 19:00
Figure Drawing Disegno del Nudo Level: Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced. Time: Thursdays, from 17:00 to 19:15. Cost: Open Studio/Draw...
Book NowAdvanced Painting: the Nude Figure: 11:00 - 14:00
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Advanced Painting: the Nude Figure - Nov 2 to Dec 14
2 Nov 2019 - 14 Dec 2019
11:00
Advanced Painting: the nude figure Dipingere la Figura 1 Session - 7 Lessons Level: Intermediate, Advanced Time: Saturdays from 11:00...
Book NowPortrait Painting on Saturday Afternoons: 15:00 - 17:30
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Portrait Painting in Oil - Sept 14 to Dec 14
14 Sep 2019 - 14 Dec 2019
15:00
portrait painting in oil Dipingere il ritratto ad olio 1 Session - 12 Lessons Level: Intermediate, Advanced Time: Saturdays from 11:00...
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