The most efficient way to develop your observation and intuition simultaneously is to practice Alla Prima painting. The ability to work quickly, and with precision, is key in your development as a painter. The time restraint forces you to forego detail, see the big picture, and focus on gesture and large masses, these elements hold the power and personality within a portrait. In this class, we will work with a systematic and disciplined technique that is uniquely designed to achieve this aim.

I will provide frequent demos, breaking down the process of painting into clear and consecutive steps, as well as critique and instruction each session. We will work with a combination of paintings, photos and models. Since simplicity is one of our goals, we will be using a limited palette — a limited palette of only 4 colors; Titanium White, Yellow Ochre, Cadmium Red Light and Blue-Black (W&N). This palette helps us refine our understanding of color relationships. We will focus on 4 main aspects of a portrait: Proportion, Value, Color, and Edge, which will help us to accurately capture a likeness within a limited time frame. Practicing this way over the course of the month will help to sharpen your observation, and take your skill to a new level.

This class will be taught online using Zoom. When you register you will be sent instructions and login info for joining the call.

Space is limited to 27 virtual easels.