Portrait Drawing Essentials
one day weekend workshop
In this one-day intensive, we will learn and practice the essential elements of portrait drawing, including proportions, value structure, shading, and anatomy of facial features. We will work from plaster casts of the head and photographs. Feel free to bring your own photo, or work from one provided. Demonstrations will be given in charcoal and graphite.
All levels are welcome! Beginners will be introduced to the fundamentals of drawing portraits, and more advanced artists will deepen and refine their understanding of core concepts and technique. Instructor will demonstrate followed by guided work time.
You may work in the medium of your choice.
Sunday December 6
10-4 PM
Workhouse Arts Center, Room 607
Painting and Drawing the Portrait
weekly class
Learn how to create realistic and expressive portraits! We will begin by drawing, focusing on the large planes and shapes of the face. We then progress to color, with an emphasis on mixing fresh skin tones. Beginners will be introduced to the fundamentals of drawing and painting portraits, and more advanced artists will deepen and refine their understanding of core concepts. Instructor will demonstrate in charcoal and oils. Students may choose to draw or paint in their preferred medium.
Wed, Jan 20- Mar 10 (8 weeks)
10-1 PM
Workhouse Arts Center
Winter registration opens Nov 25 at noon
Spring Session
April 7- May 26 – 8 classes
Classical Drawing
weekly class
Students will learn how to draw realistically from life. We will develop our abilities to observe and interpret the visual world as we build foundational skills in line, shape, proportion, values (shading), and texture. Exercises will focus on still life drawings. Great for beginners and intermediate students who want to practice and refine core skills. Instructor will demonstrate in charcoal. Advanced or repeating students may work on independent projects.
Wed, Jan 20- Mar 10 (8 weeks)
2-4 PM
Workhouse Arts Center
Winter registration opens Nov 25 at noon
Spring Session
April 7- May 26 – 8 classes
Master Copy in Oils
weekend workshop
Sat-Sun June 12-13
10-4 PM
Workhouse Arts Center, Room 607
Registration coming soon
Private and Semi-Private Lessons
Custom-designed lessons and targeted feedback to help get you to the next level, no matter your starting point. Subject matter will be chosen based on your interests and needs, with an emphasis on the classically-inspired foundational skills that lend strength and power to contemporary realist art.
Past students have used lesson time for critiques, color exercises, demonstrations, and paint-along projects such as still lifes, master copies, landscapes, and portraits.
Lessons are currently available in person at Alison’s Arlington studio, or via online video conference.
Alison loves sharing her knowledge with students in a positive, supportive and substantive manner. She has over ten years of experience teaching and tutoring as well as a Masters in Teaching from Johns Hopkins University.