Paint a Portrait in Oil
In just four classes, you'll learn how to capture a likeness, understand lighting, and paint like a master!
Next class: Four Thursdays, October 23-November 13, 10-1 at Riley Street Santa Rosa
$200 (plus materials, list provided upon sign-up)
How it Works
Class One: Learn the Story of Light and how it applies to painting the basic shape of the head. Get a feel for using oils and painting planes, not objects.
Class Two: Correct features using an easy method that anyone can use. At the end of this class, you'll have a completed black and white value study.
Class Three: You'll lay down the first layer of color, using the black and white layer as your underlying structure. Color and paint mixing are simplified.
Class Four: This is where the magic happens! You get to paint details, adjust values, and learn valuable "tricks" of rendering. The portrait comes to life before your eyes
By the end, you'll have a beautiful portrait that captures the essence of someone, regardless of where you started out. You will be amazed at what you can create!
Student testimonials
Peggy S.
“Maggie is a museum quality artist and also patient, generous, and helpful to artists of all levels. She guided us methodically through each step of painting a good portrait. You will learn how to use darks and lights to shape the facial features and produce a good likeness. She provides a consistently pleasant atmosphere to relax and paint."
L.V.
“I loved the entire process from beginning to end. You really don’t need much experience to try oil painting, just trust the process. You can learn a lot in just two days. Maggie is very knowledgeable and makes class very enjoyable.”
K.A.P.
"Maggie is a generous teacher, sharing her talent, tips and offering patient guidance. She not only brought me back to the basics I had forgotten, but she also taught me new methods and techniques I never knew existed! Working with Maggie has helped me to improve measuredly, and the results have elevated my confidence."