Life Model
Life Model
Life Model Schedule
Portrait and Figure Classes & Workshops
Intro to Figure Drawing
Instructor | Ryanne Phillips
Six weeks | February 5 – March 12, 2025
Wednesdays | 11-1 pm
Tuition | $330
$15 Add-on Life Drawing session after class
This 6 class introduction is perfect for students new to figure drawing, those who want to reacquaint old skills, or as a preparatory to our 2024 Extensive Figure class. Ryanne will move students through the classical process of drawing the figure.
- Gesture Drawing Essentials | Breaking down the line of action and recognizing key skeletal masses—head, clavicle, rib cage, and pelvis—to capture the overall energy of the pose.
- Adding Mass to Gesture Drawings | Learn how to add mass to arms and legs on top of the gesture, using shapes to represent larger body parts and enhance the figure’s structure.
- Gesture and Proportion | Introduction to key proportions using the head as a measuring unit to establish the figure’s height and position on the page, alignment, enveloping to make sure the figure fits within the composition of the picture plane, becoming familiar with the 7 average proportions of figure drawing.
- Finishing the Drawing | Focus on accurately placing shadow shapes, solidifying form, bringing in hints of anatomical structure and capturing details to bring the figure to life on paper.
Supply list for students: 18×24 Strathmore 400 Series drawing pad, 18×24 Newsprint drawing pad, Willow charcoal sticks, Two each of compressed charcoal pencils: 2B, 4B, and 6B, One each graphite pencils: HB, 2B, 4B.
Beginning Portrait
This beginner level is for newbies who have never attempted drawing people or for those who need a refresher. These four weeks will provide students with an overall understanding of measuring, spacing, proportions, and perspective. We will learn the various planes of the head and break down each of the parts in depth : eyes, nose, mouth, ears, and hair/neck.
February 17-March 10, 2025
4 Mondays | 10:30-12:30pm
Instructor | Denise Wada
Tuition | $200
Classes must have a minimum of 3 students to run.
Portrait Drawing +
This is the next step for beginners who understand of placement, spacing, size, and proportions. This course will focus on keying a portrait in terms of value, form, and perspective. Students can understand how to render form through mark making: hatching, cross hatching, contour and cross contour lines. We may have the opportunity to learn different styles and drawing mediums.
March 17 – April 21, 2025
6 Mondays | 10:30-12:30pm
Instructor | Denise Wada
Tuition | $300
Classes must have a minimum of 3 students to run.
Optional $10 add-on for students who want to stay for the Life Model, 1-4pm.
Portraits in Color
For students with a basic understanding of how to draw the main features and would like to incorporate color theory into their practice. In this class students will explore color palettes for structure, harmony, and mood. Students have the option to create representational abstract portraits or real life sking tones. We will begin with value paintings and apply color iterations that push our creativity.
March 19-April 23, 2025
6 Wednesdays | 10:30-12:30pm
Instructor | Denise Wada
Tuition | $330
Classes must have a minimum of 3 students to run.
Optional $10 add-on for students who want to stay for the Life Model, 1-4pm.
Sculpture Portrait/Figure
All Levels | Rachel Chang will take students on a three dimensional journey as students sculpt a portrait or figure. Lessons and demonstrations will provide students with an understanding of anatomy, proportions, and details of facial features. Artists will use tools to sculpt clay, employing techniques such as additive (adding material) and subtractive (removing material) methods to shape the likeness. Learn how to use sculpting tools, surface textures, and the ability to capture emotions and expressions are crucial technical aspects in creating a lifelike portrait sculpture.
Instructor | Rachel Chang
Saturdays | 10 am – 2 pm
Tuition | $90/weekly class – ongoing (recommended time 6-8 weeks) *Materials fee for Armature and clay
Instruction, model, and materials included in tuition
- 1/2 to 3/4 life size head/12″ figure
- Wood armature and base*
- photo prints
- Oil or water based clay*
- Tools for in workshop use
- Option to mold making/casts
- Option for additional studio time
Portrait Drawing Supply List
Students are required to bring their own supplies or pay the $5/class materials fee.
Drawing supply list
Spiral sketchbook, 8x10 or 9x12
Graphite Pencils
HB, B, 2B, 3B, 6B
Kneaded erasers
Plastic eraser
Strathmore Drawing pad, Series 400, 9x12
Stabilo, Aquarellable #9046 pencil
Faber-Castell Perfection Eraser Pencil
Chamois, Blending stumps or Tortillons
Generals Charcoal Pencils (hard, medium, soft)
Sanding pad
Single-edged razor blade, exacto knife, or AMFAT Manual Long Point Pencil Sharpener
Inexpensive bristle brush, flat, size 6
Vine charcoal (preferred: Coates or Winsor & Newton)
White charcoal pencil
11”x14” Grey Toned Strathmore sketchbook
Oil Painting
supply list
Spiral sketchbook, 8x10 or 9x12
Generic Pencil
Plastic eraser
Blue gray pastel pencil
Frederic Canvas Pad, 8x10 or 9x12; and 11x14 MDF panel board for taping sheets
3/4" masking tape if using canvas pad
Canvas or Gessoed Panels, 8x10 or 9x12
Long Handle brush suggestions
- Hog Bristle Filbert preferred but flat acceptable: Various sizes 10-1
- Teachers Favorite Silver Grand Prix: Long Filbert #1034: sizes 6, 4, 2 and Round #1000: size 1
- Synthetic Bristles: Trekell Golden Talkon #2520: sizes 10, 6, 2
Professional Oil Paints (sm tubes)
- Titanium white
- Yellow ochre
- Cadmium Yellow Light
- Cadmium red light
- Alizarin Crimson
- Cobalt Blue (alternative Ultramarine Blue)
- Cerulean Blue (optional)
- Ivory Black
Note: Avoid pigments with “hue” in the name
Portrait Class Gallery – coming soon
Create what you love. Love what you create.
Come in and give it a try!
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