Workshops

Principal Instructor Fernando Freitas takes students through the stages of painting in the tradition of the old masters in this 7-day workshop. 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, each student will take home their own master copy as well as the step-by-step knowledge of the process.

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. 

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.

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.

This intensive workshop focuses on the classic 19th century academic painting style used by William Adolphe Bouguereau, considered by many to be the premier academician of his era. His impeccable drawing skills and facility in depicting form are widely admired, making his work some of the best to study to learn to paint realistically. Bouguereau’s methodology follows a series of repeatable steps, ultimately leading to a painting of the highest finish. Suitable for all levels of experience.

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.

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.