Learn Oil Painting Online with Interactive Lessons Live on Zoom
from Anywhere in the World

Painting the Portrait: Head, Hands & Greek Myth

Part I – March 8th to April 2nd

Part II – April 12th to May 7th

  • Level: Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced

  • 24 Interactive Lessons: 16 Demonstrations + 8 Group Critiques

  • 36 Total Learning Hours

  • Number of Participants: Max 10 for each group

Introduction

This course will demonstrate the process of making a life-size portrait from the head to waist, hands included, while working from the live model.  In addition, I will also adopt the mythological theme of ‘Persephone in the Underworld’ as a guide for finalizing the pose, composition and colors.  (Our Greek model, Euphemia, hails from the town of Veroia in Central Macedonia, very close to the tomb of Phillip II, Alexander the Great’s father, so a theme of this nature strikes me as imperative!)

The recommended canvas size is 100 cm tall by 70 cm wide.  Should you find the scope and ambition of this plan overwhelming, you may choose to limit your efforts to only the head or even do a simple study of hands.  In that case I recommend a canvas size of at least 40 cm tall by 30 cm wide.

Ultimately, your options during the course are:

  1. Work from your own model at home.
  2. Use a high resolution image of the model that I am working from and position the photo next to the canvas in order to simulate a process of working from life.

The final pose and setting will be determined the week before the start of the course.  The high-resolution photos will be available on the day of the first lesson.

How does a Zoom Course Work?

There are two lessons a week, one in the evening (the Blue Group) and one in the morning (the Orange Group).  Both groups will have access to the recorded session of the other, meaning each week you will have one live session via Zoom and one recorded lesson.

For example, if you elect to join the Blue Group, you will participate in a live Zoom session on Monday evening and then have access to a recording of the Orange Group session that will take place on Wednesday.  If you join the Orange Group, you will have access first to the recorded session with the Blue Group and then you will participate in a live Zoom session on Wednesday morning.

During the live sessions, I work from life, and will continue the process in chronology from one session to the next.

At the end of each week, there is a group critique.

If you have any questions, please contact me.  Or, if you would like to preview a Zoom course in action, please visit the new PADASOR website.

Schedule, Cost & Payment

The first session for the evening schedule will start March 8th; the first session for the morning schedule will start March 10th.  Critiques for both schedules will take place every Friday.

Depending upon which schedule you choose (morning or evening), the full schedule is presented on the right (or below, if you are on your smart phone or tablet).

Please review the dates and times carefully.  In particular, the times have changed since the last course in order to better serve people in time zones all over the world.

Please note: The times listed are the local Rome times, GMT+1

Total Cost & Payments

The total cost of the course is €320 + IVA (€390.40) and is divided into two payments:

  • The first payment of €160 + IVA (€195.20) is made at the time of registration.
  • The second payment €160 + IVA (€195.20) is made the week of April 5th, 2021.

PART I

Evening Schedule
Blue Group

Please note: The times listed are the local Rome times, GMT+1

March 8
Monday
17:30

Live Zoom Session:
Tim paints from the model
17:30 – 19:00 GMT+1

March 12
Friday
17:30

Live Zoom Critique
17:30 – 19:00 GMT+1

March 15
Monday
17:30

Live Zoom Session:
Tim paints from the model
17:30 – 19:00 GMT+1

March 19
Friday
17:30

Live Zoom Critique
17:30 – 19:00 GMT+1

March 22
Monday
17:30

Live Zoom Session:
Tim paints from the model
17:30 – 19:00 GMT+1

March 26
Friday
17:30

Live Zoom Critique
17:30 – 19:00 GMT+1

March 29
Monday
17:30

Live Zoom Session:
Tim paints from the model
17:30 – 19:00 GMT+1

April 2
Friday
17:30

Live Zoom Final Critique
17:30 – 19:00 GMT+1

PART I

Morning Schedule
Orange Group

Please note: The times listed are the local Rome times, GMT+1

March 10
Wednesday
9:00

Live Zoom Session:
Tim paints from the model
9:00 – 10:30 GMT+1

March 12
Friday
9:00

Live Zoom Critique
9:00 – 10:30 GMT+1

March 17
Wednesday
9:00

Live Zoom Session:
Tim paints from the model
9:00 – 10:30 GMT+1

March 19
Friday
9:00

Live Zoom Critique
9:00 – 10:30 GMT+1

March 24
Wednesday
9:00

Live Zoom Session:
Tim paints from the model
9:00 – 10:30 GMT+1

March 26
Friday
9:00

Live Zoom Critique
9:00 – 10:30 GMT+1

March 31
Wednesday
9:00

Live Zoom Session:
Tim paints from the model
9:00 – 10:30 GMT+1

April 2
Friday
9:00

Live Zoom Final Critique
9:00 – 10:30 GMT+1

Conditions & Requirements for All Courses

  1. All lessons are conducted via Zoom, therefore you must have a computer or a tablet to connect.  (You could use your smart phone to do this, but I don’t think that is ideal.)
  2. You will need to procure all of the materials (see details under “Materials”).
  3. I strongly recommend you invest in the materials I specify, especially the paints.  If that’s not possible, we’ll manage.
  4. If you don’t have paints, you can elect to draw with either pencil or charcoal.

A Philosophical Note from Your Teacher

Teaching painting online has been a necessity and a revelation.  How fortunate we are to live in an age where the technology is advanced enough to enable dynamic interaction.  More importantly, how pleased I have been to discover that this format—with live discussions, recorded demos and photos of student progress—facilitates a thorough and effective learning environment.

Wherever you are in the world, I hope you will consider joining me.

Timothy J. Allen

Note

You can still join the class after it has started.

Please contact me for details using the form below, or via Whatsapp: +39 347 263 1033

Questions Before You Register?

PART II

Evening Schedule
Blue Group

Please note: The times listed are the local Rome times, GMT+1

April 12
Monday
17:30

Live Zoom Session:
Tim paints from the model
17:30 – 19:00 GMT+1

April 16
Friday
17:30

Live Zoom Critique
17:30 – 19:00 GMT+1

April 19
Monday
17:30

Live Zoom Session:
Tim paints from the model
17:30 – 19:00 GMT+1

April 23
Friday
17:30

Live Zoom Critique
17:30 – 19:00 GMT+1

April 26
Monday
17:30

Live Zoom Session:
Tim paints from the model
17:30 – 19:00 GMT+1

April 30
Friday
17:30

Live Zoom Critique
17:30 – 19:00 GMT+1

May 3
Monday
17:30

Live Zoom Session:
Tim paints from the model
17:30 – 19:00 GMT+1

May 7
Friday
17:30

Live Zoom Final Critique
17:30 – 19:00 GMT+1

PART II

Morning Schedule
Orange Group

Please note: The times listed are the local Rome times, GMT+1

April 14
Wednesday
9:00

Live Zoom Session:
Tim paints from the model
9:00 – 10:30 GMT+1

April 16
Friday
9:00

Live Zoom Critique
9:00 – 10:30 GMT+1

April 21
Wednesday
9:00

Live Zoom Session:
Tim paints from the model
9:00 – 10:30 GMT+1

April 23
Friday
9:00

Live Zoom Critique
9:00 – 10:30 GMT+1

April 28
Wednesday
9:00

Live Zoom Session:
Tim paints from the model
9:00 – 10:30 GMT+1

April 30
Friday
9:00

Live Zoom Critique
9:00 – 10:30 GMT+1

May 5
Wednesday
9:00

Live Zoom Session:
Tim paints from the model
9:00 – 10:30 GMT+1

May 7
Friday
9:00

Live Zoom Final Critique
9:00 – 10:30 GMT+1

Materials

Oil Paints

I use only Michael Harding paints.  If you don’t have them and/or can’t get them, use what you can get.

Note: this is not acrylic painting, so acrylic paints are not an acceptable substitute.

  • Cremnitz White or Warm White or Titanium White
  • Ivory Black
  • Raw Umber
  • Raw Sienna
  • Burnt Sienna
  • Yellow Ochre
  • Lead-Tin Yellow (very expensive) or Naples Yellow Light (less expensive)
  • Vermilion or Cadmium Red Light or similar
  • Alizarin Crimson
  • Cobalt Blue or French Ultramarine Blue or Ultramarine Blue
  • Terre Verte

Brushes

Try and have an assortment of hog bristle, synthetics and sables of various shapes—flats, filberts and rounds—and various sizes.  Small sables are good to have when it is time for precise drawing and details.

If you can, get a brush set.  For example, on Jackson’s Art website they have a set of Black Hog bristle brushes and Pro Arte synthetics.

Medium

First you need the oil and the solvent.

For oil, you can use regular linseed oil or walnut oil.

For solvent, I recommend the odorless, non-toxic kind.  I use either ‘Tintorsetto’ (which I get at the Rome art shop) or ‘Shelsol-T’ (which I order from Kremer).

Get three ‘jam jars’ and mix the following mediums:

  • Lean Medium: 75% solvent + 25% Linseed Oil
  • Medium Medium: 50% solvent + 50% Linseed Oil
  • Fat Medium: 25% solvent + 75 % Linseed Oil

When I do this, I use a double-boiler to heat the medium for about 15 minutes.  If you don’t have that, don’t worry.  Mix the property quantities, then shake thoroughly.

Other Materials: Canvas, Easel, etc.

The size of the canvas should easily accommodate the size of the model.  For this painting I’ll probably use a canvas that is close to 100 x 70 cm.

As mentioned above, you can choose to limit your composition to only the head or even a study of the hands and use a smaller canvas.  If you still have questions about the best size, ask me during your first live Zoom lesson.

You’ll also need:

  • A palette
  • Palette knife
  • Rags, paper towel, wet wipes

Register for the Course

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Would You Like More Time to Discuss Your Progress? Book a Private Critique

Depending on the total numbers of participants, the time allotted to each painter during the group critiques can range from 9 to 15 minutes each.  If you would like additional time with me, please feel free to book a private critique.  Once you have done so, I’ll contact you to arrange for a date and time.

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© A.P.S. PADASOR - The Painting and Drawing Art Studio of Rome - C.F. 96526090582 - Courses in Painting and Drawing in Rome / Corsi di Pittura e Disegno a Roma