Course details
How do you paint realistic portraits with great accuracy and detail? Learn how to master light and shadow and the basics of the classical sight size technique.
Artist, Emily Roberts who trained at Charles H. Cecil Studios in Florence has been teaching and mastering the art of portrait painting for many years and will be sharing all she knows with you in the studio over four days.
The emphasis of the approach for this course is on light and shadow, so that, while structural accuracy is important, anatomy is only touched upon; the approach is visual.
Explore ways to make a charcoal drawing with an emphasis on creating contour and isolating light and shadow shapes. Emily will provide an example of each stage of the drawing and painting process as the course progresses. She will show you how to transfer a drawing to canvas and start painting in oils, using traditional mediums to layer paint and build up colour, using the model as a constant reference. You will be working from a live model for all four days of the course.
The aim is to come away from the course with an introduction to the sight size technique, knowledge of traditional approaches to charcoal portrait drawing and an introduction to mixing using a limited palette, as well as a firm grounding in searching for the light flow on a subject. By the end of the session you will take away a charcoal drawing on paper and a 30x40cm painting on canvas.
Emily’s approach to teaching is one of mutual discovery. She always works alongside the student in order to guide and move through obstacles together. The basis of the method that she use is very step by step, offering guidance to those with less experience, but allows for personal expression and the touch of the individual to shine through.
What will I learn?
- An introduction into the sight size technique
- How to find light flow on a subject and create subtle transitions from light to shadow
- Traditional approaches to charcoal drawing
- Transferring a drawing to canvas
- Colour mixing using a limited palette of oil paints
Who would this course suit?
This course would suit any interested student with any level of experience. The technique is very ‘step-by-step’, so even students with no background in drawing or painting will be pleased with their progress. Those with experience of life drawing or portraiture will enjoy this in depth exploration into a historic technique, and those looking to tweak their current practice may find elements of the approach beneficial.
Ahead of your oil painting course with us if you would like to brush up your skills, you are entitled to 25% off our online “Getting Started with Oil Painting” course here. You will be given a code after purchasing our studio oil painting course.
Our studio ‘Beginner’s Oil Painting’ courses can be found here.
Taught by
What to Bring
Our studios are fully equipped and we provide you with all the materials you need for your course. However, if you have a favourite set of brushes or any specialist materials that you would prefer to use, please bring them with you.
Timings and Breaks
The first day starts at 10am and finishes at 4.30pm, please aim to arrive ten to fifteen minutes before the start time.
All course days after that start at 9.30am and finish at 4pm and there will be an hour for lunch. There are plenty of nearby places to eat and we will serve tea and coffee at break times during the day.
What our students say
Emily was great – incredibly helpful, concise feedback and strategy. Just brilliant.
Excellent teacher!
Approachable teacher, informal and friendly.
I thought the course was thoughtfully structured and the process was really helpful to understand the fundamentals. I was initially reticent to the idea of two days of sketching but found that it really helped me hone in on the details and move towards painting the portrait with a lot of the structure, composition, tonal range, thought out.
FAQs
Art Courses
Do you have to be experienced to come to the School?
No prior experience is required to join most of our art courses. The School of Painting is a friendly and welcoming environment for all ages and abilities, including complete beginners.
Our drop-in life drawing classes and short workshops are perfect if you’re trying painting for the first time. Many of our longer courses are also suitable for beginners, as our tutors are experienced in supporting mixed ability groups. If a course requires previous experience, this will be clearly stated on the course page.
Studio Courses
Can I bring my dog?
The studios are busy places with lots of equipment and not suitable for bringing a pet dog. We can accommodate assistance dogs with prior notice so we can make suitable adjustments. If you wish to bring an assistance dog please call 01736 797180 or email [email protected]
Can you help me choose the right course?
Yes, our friendly and knowledgeable team are always happy to help you choose the best course for your needs, whether you’re a beginner or looking to develop specific skills.
Please call us on 01736 797180 to discuss your options.
How do I get my work home?
Tutors have special techniques for transporting oil paintings and for our 3 day courses we will give you a plastic folder with a handle. These are also available to purchase for £3.50 or do bring a portfolio.
Please note: For the course Bigger, Bolder, Braver with Boo Mallinson, we will provide a large A1 size plastic folder for your work but please consider how you will be able to transport the larger canvases home safely before signing up for the course as we will not be able to store large paintings in the studio. On this course you will be painting on a 50cms x 50cms and a 1m x 1m canvas alongside smaller pieces.
For international students we are happy to arrange transportation of your work back home, postal costs will be borne by you.
What do I need to bring?
Absolutely nothing! All materials and aprons are provided although some people do like to bring their own set of brushes.
What do I do for lunch?
Courses allow an hour’s break for lunch and there are numerous places nearby or you are welcome to bring a packed lunch into the studio.
What times do courses run?
Most of our courses start at 10am and end at 4.30pm on the first day. Subsequent days we start at 9.30am ending at 4pm.
Short workshops start at 10am in the Summer and 9.30am/ 1.30pm during September festival
Booking a Course
How do I reserve a place on a course?
You can book your place online or by calling us on 01736 797180.
If you need time to arrange accommodation, we can hold a provisional booking for 24 hours. To secure your place, a £100 deposit is required, with the remaining balance due 12 weeks before the course start date.
About St Ives
Where can I park near the School?
The nearest long-stay car parks are:
Island Car Park
Barnoon Long Stay Car Park
Both are approximately a 5-minute walk from the School.
During the busy summer months, you may find it easier to park at Trenwith Car Park near the leisure centre and walk into town. A shuttle bus often runs back up the hill from near Tate St Ives.
How do I get to the School of Painting in St Ives?
By train:
The nearest mainline station is St Erth, which is approximately a 15-minute taxi journey away. From there, you can also take the St Ives Bay Line, which runs every 30 minutes. The School is a 10-minute walk from St Ives station.
By car:
Take the M5 to Exeter, then follow the A30 into Cornwall. After passing Hayle, exit at the St Erth roundabout towards St Ives. Continue through Lelant and Carbis Bay into St Ives..
Where can I stay in St Ives?
St Ives offers a wide range of accommodation, including hotels, guest houses, and self-catering options. You can explore options on our website, or contact us directly on 01736 797180 if you’d like personalised recommendations.
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