Before learning how to paint with full colour palettes, artists for centuries have begun using only a mixture of black and white paint known as grisaille. In the morning of day 1 we will learn how to use this approach to help you learn how to mix and apply paint, simplify your subject and draw with paint, design shapes for value clarity, and how to make form read correctly, all without colour!

In the afternoon of day 1 we will learn essential information about colour theory and mixing you need to paint portraits (and figures). You will learn how to mix colours to achieve proper value and temperature using the famous Anders Zorn palette, which is beautiful for portraiture.

Day 2: How do value, design & colour design work together in a portrait?  What is colour temperature and how do you apply it? How do you keep your paintings from getting muddy, or unclear? As you did before in the grisaille session, today you will do four painting thumbnail simple paintings then moving on to a finished longer portrait, applying concepts such as contrast, simplifying shapes, form, edges and brushwork and the focal point creating a strong portrait.

Marian Littlejohn graduated from Glasgow School of Art in 1998 with a First Class Degree in Fine Art Printmaking. They were the winner of the John and Anna Laurie Travel Bequest and the Chairman’s medal for Fine Art, and worked as a graphic designer between 1999 and 2009.

Since 2014 Marian has worked as a high school art teacher, during which the focus has been on learning how to enable all students to make clear progress. A particular passion for portraiture has always been at the centre of Marian’s practice and this is the same in the classroom. Using a rigorous, constructive approach, she teaches how to draw facial features by studying anatomy, structure, and placement. Her students are taught how to draw the head, understanding proportion. She is passionate on connecting work by the Old Masters to contemporary painting to create portraiture that speaks to the soul.

MAXIMUM OF 10 STUDENTS

More information & materials list will be provided once a booking has been placed, or please contact South West Art, Sidmouth on 01395 514717 or email info@southwestartmaterials.co.uk