Workshops

This 3-day workshop introduces an expressive, efficient approach to painting called direct painting. The direct method allows the artist to explore all aspects of painting, including warm and cool tones, expressive brushwork, accuracy of shape, form and colour, etc. It synthesizes the layering and glazing methods used by most old masters, and the modern alla prima style that features wet-into-wet paint application, lending efficiency without compromising quality or draftsmanship. Students will also learn principles of composition, selecting and setting up objects to paint.

In this 3-day portrait workshop, Principal Instructor Fernando Freitas will guide students from beginning to end in achieving a stronger likeness in capturing a portrait. He will be covering how to start with the structure of the head, focusing on proportion and placement of the features. Special attention will placed on the planes, forms, and volumes of the face. Whether a beginner or advanced artist, participants will definitely gain higher results in a more realistic portrait. Appropriate for all levels.

This 3-day workshop is an introduction to the Alla Prima method, which means “all at once.” This is a method that has to be done in one section, wet-into-wet, where each brushstroke counts. Using this approach, artists can develop a better vocabulary of paint and brush handling toward achieving expressive, yet realistic portraits in a more immediate way. Participants will execute one sketch each day throughout the week, from a range of different points using live models. This course is suitable for all levels.

Learn the art of figure drawing using our step-by-step method. Beginner and advanced students will benefit from this drawing workshop. Students will be working directly from the nude using charcoal or carbon pencil. Principal instructor Fernando Freitas will teach the basics of gesture, proportion, and morphology. Students will then finish their drawings with big form and small form modeling. The end effect is a dramatic three-dimensional figure.

This 5-day drawing workshop focuses on creating a solid understanding of the anatomy of the head as the base for building the structure of the portrait. Participants will be taken through a number of shorter poses, where with a lineal drawing, the construct of the head will be broken down into a series of big to small steps. The workshop will discuss the planes, proportions, and features of the face, and how these can be explained through anatomy.

Principal Instructor Fernando Freitas takes students through the stages of the Tenebrist approach to oil painting. This workshop teaches the chiaroscuro approach (which means light and dark) used by such artists as Rembrandt and Caravaggio. Working from a selected study, students learn the specific step-by-step process to achieve an exact copy, as well as gain a clear understanding of the principles of oil painting, and the best techniques and materials to use. Suitable for all levels of experience.

This intensive 5-day workshop focuses on the classic alla prima portraiture style used by 19th century painter John Singer Sargent, one of the most influential direct painters of all time. Participants will work from copies of Sargent paintings to become familiar with the wet-into-wet technique that he used. This direct technique allows us to paint in a very quick and efficient way with expressive and realistic results. 

This workshop will focus on alla prima figure painting in oil from the live model. Students will explore many short pose sketches in oil (10-23 minute poses) as well as longer poses of several hours for a more completed painting. Emphasis will be on accurate colour use, paint handling and palette management. Participants will explore the efficiency and strength of alla prima painting and learn new aspects of paint handling and finish in their alla prima work.

How can you select the best photo references to work from, and what special challenges will you need to tackle? This 5–day workshop focuses on creating a painted portrait using a photo reference, learning what to keep and what to leave out. Also covered are painting fundamentals such as form, value (or tone), shape, colour theory, and the process of “finishing”. In addition, fundamentals of photography for portrait painting will be presented. Students of all levels are welcome.

Principal Instructor Fernando Freitas takes students through the stages of the Ingres approach to oil painting in this 7-day workshop. This workshop teaches the French Academic approach used by old masters like Jacques Louis David and his student Jean Auguste Dominique Ingres. Working from a selected study, students learn the specific step by-step process to achieve an exact copy, as well as gain a clear understanding of the principles of oil painting, and the best techniques and materials to use. Suitable for all levels.

This 5-day workshop is an introduction to the Alla Prima method, which means “all at once.” This is a method that has to be done in one section, wet-into-wet, where each brushstroke counts. Using this approach, artists can develop a better vocabulary of paint and brush handling toward achieving expressive, yet realistic portraits in a more immediate way. Participants will execute one sketch each day throughout the week, from a range of different points using live models. This course is suitable for all levels.