PORTRAIT PAINTING TERM 3, 2026

PORTRAIT PAINTING  (SKILLS-BUILDING CLASS)

This is a skills-building class: each lesson starts with a demo & exercise on the basics of portraits. 

Working from reference photos and real life, we will do exercises in weeks 1-5 (demonstrated in the first 30 minutes) on topics such as; 

• What makes a great portrait 
• How to loosen up your painting
• Portrait drawing skills
• Understanding hue, saturation, and value
• Colour mixing for faces
• Mark making and brush tips 
• Figurative foreshortening
• How to effectively work from reference photos
• How to simplify forms when you are starting a painting
• Eye, nose, ear, mouth, hair exercises

(easels, tea, coffee and biscuits are provided).

We will complete a series of smaller drawings and painting exercises to loosen up and build confidence and skills. We will discuss and be influenced by examples from traditional and contemporary artists. Each week, you can choose to continue on with the exercise I provide, or begin to work on a portrait painting of your choice. You can use my reference photos, or your own ideas, style and subject matter.  

Materials you need to bring: 

We can discuss materials suitable that suit your budget in the first class. You don't have to bring everything in the first week. I also sell starter kits.

I teach the course based on these colours in JO SONJE acrylic paint: 

ULTRAMARINE BLUE

YELLOW LIGHT

NAPTHOL CRIMSON

BURNT UMBER

TITANIUM WHITE

YELLOW OXIDE 

I sell starter kits and paint, canvas, sketchbooks, pencils, palettes, brush kits, palette knives etc.

These brands are all suitable for this course: 

Jo Sonje, Atelier, Matisse or Liquitex  

(No chromacryl or school student brands please). 

We can discuss materials suitable for your budget in your first class. You don't have to bring everything in the first week. 

You will need paint, brushes and a paint palette, a sketchbook or loose paper for sketching, and a mixed-media sketchbook (A4 or A3) is very handy for the painting exercises. Also an apron, graphite pencils, eraser are useful. I have a small shop and sell canvas, sketchbooks, paint, palettes, brush kits, palette knives etc. 

Tea, coffee and biscuits are provided.

Payment: I will send you an invoice, which you can click on to pay securely online. Alternatively, payment can be made as an online bank transfer. 

Please contact Kell to arrange (ph. 0439 678 821).

This is a term payment only. Term payment is not refundable or transferable. 

Unfortunately, we cannot offer casual payments for this beginner class. 

Feel free to email, phone or text with any questions you have. I look forward to meeting you all! 

Phone: Kell 0439 678 821