Classical Painting Classes for Adults

Service Description

Have you always wanted to learn to paint people? Perhaps you have drawn or painted before and want to develop greater confidence, accuracy and understanding, or perhaps you are completely new to painting and simply want to learn how to approach the human figure. These classical painting classes for adults focus on painting the person — exploring portraiture and the figure through an academic approach rooted in the traditions of classical European painting. Based in my studio in Aboyne, on Deeside in Aberdeenshire, the classes teach you how to observe the sitter carefully and translate what you see into a convincing painted form. We explore proportion, structure, composition, colour, light and shadow, and the gradual modelling of the figure. The teaching draws on principles developed through the Renaissance and later academic traditions, while remaining accessible to people who may have little or no previous experience. You don't need to know what classical realism means before you begin. For those already interested in classical realism, the classes provide an opportunity to explore these traditional principles in greater depth. For beginners and those returning to painting after many years, the process is introduced step by step, helping you understand not only what to do, but how to see. The aim is not simply to produce a likeness. It is to understand how observation, drawing, colour, light and paint can work together to create a convincing representation of a person. Classes take place in small groups at my studio in Aboyne, Aberdeenshire, within easy reach of Aberdeen and the wider Deeside area.