Introduction
Painting the Portrait Using Sight-Size is a five-day intensive workshop that demonstrates the use of the sight-size technique in making a portrait. Sight-size essentially means you are painting the scale 1:1, i.e., the size of the head you see alongside your canvas, is the size you transpose (see the image below). Because of this, there will be a model for every two participants.
The entire workshop will be held inside the PADASOR studio.
- Recommended Level: Intermediate, Advanced
- Total Learning Hours: 20 – 4 hours a day over 5 days
Setting Expectations
“Many people love to paint portraits but struggle to find a process ( step by step) that they can comfortably control start to finish.
Primarily we will be providing an insight into a methodology that can make portrait painting more controllable and far easier when facing problems that you encounter whilst painting portraits.
Sight-size in combination with the painting process is a great way to simplify the complexity of the information that the painter faces when painting a portrait. In short, you are painting the portrait the same size that you see it, making comparative observation much simpler.
The sight-size technique can also be applied to anything that you choose to paint, not only portraiture, and through this process we will discuss a variety of techniques and tricks that help elevate not only the level of your portraiture but also the level of your painting in general.”
—Nick Chaundy
About Nick Chaundy
Nicholas first studied art at Central St Martins where he received his Foundation Diploma in Fine Arts and then moved to Falmouth, Cornwall to study Fine Arts at Falmouth University. Here, having received no prior formal training Nicholas used the three-year programme to fully immerse himself in the world of fine art, reading about, practicing and discovering the techniques of traditional painting and drawing that had been used for hundreds of years.
After graduating, Nicholas moved to Bristol where he began his work as a portrait painter. He later moved to Florence to continue his studies at the prestigious Florence Academy of Art. Here he went on to further his understanding of nineteenth century techniques in portraiture, figurative and still life work. Whilst studying at the Florence Academy Nicholas received a scholarship and completed the three-year programme in just over two years.
Nicholas then moved back to the Uk, where, for two years he ran his own art school in Bristol and resumed his career as an oil painter. Following a job offer from the Florence Academy of Art he has returned to Florence and has been a teacher at the Florence Academy for 4 years.
Schedule
| Monday – Jan. 15 | Tuesday – Jan. 16 | Wednesday – Jan. 17 | Thursday – Jan. 18 | Friday – Jan. 19 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15:00- 19:00 Painting in the PADASOR Studio | 15:00 – 19:00 Painting in the PADASOR Studio | 15:00 – 19:00 Painting in the PADASOR Studio | 15:00 – 19:00 Painting in the PADASOR Studio | 15:00 – 19:00 Painting in the PADASOR Studio |
| 20:30 – 22:00 Farewell Dinner |
Materials
Paints
- White (preferable lead but titanium is fine)
- Yellow Ochre
- Vermillion
- Transparent Red Oxide
- Raw Umber
- Ivory Black
Other
- Decent sized palette nothing smaller the 30 x 40
- Stretched linen (preferably oil primed) canvas 40 x 50 cm
- Brushes, all hog hair rounds or filberts varying sizes, from small to medium sizes
Medium
Linseed oil and Tintorsetto or Shelsol-T (odorless solvent)
Tintoresetto can be purchased at the art shop above the PADASOR studio. Else, Shelsol-T may be ordered from Kremer.
Important note: the following materials are hazardous to breathe and are NOT allowed in the PADASOR studio:
- Fixative spray
- Turpentine
- Turpenoid
- Sansador
- Liquin
- Dammar varnish, Canadian Balsam, Mastic varnish, or similar resin
- Cobalt siccative
- Etc., etc.
Important Note on Materials and How to Purchase Them
The PADASOR studio is located in the lower level of an art shop called La Bottega dell'Artista; participants in our workshop may purchase materials there with a discount of 20%.
If you are interested in having the shop prepare for you a canvas with Belgian linen, please contact them via the following email: labottegadellartista@poggi1825.it
Be sure to indicate which workshop you will be taking and when you plan to be there to purchase the canvas.
In addition, we offer all participants the opportunity to buy paints from us for a total cost of €30––all Michael Harding brand––though we do not offer expensive paints like Lead White or Vermilion, and instead substitute those colors with Michael Harding's Warm White and Cadmium Red.
Food & Accommodations
Each participant is responsible for his or her own food and accommodations. If you are coming from outside of Rome, we recommend you stay in the Trastevere area relatively close to the PADASOR studio at Via Cardinale Merry del Val 19b.
Accommodation Tips
AirBnB is great resource, else, there is a nice hotel right next to the studio:
Food Tips
Delicious restaurants and pizza places are very close to the studio. Some of our favorites:
- Supplì
- Popi Popi
- Alle Frate
- Fata Morgana (Gelato!)
Cost
- €750
- A non-refundable Deposit of €350.
Special Discount: Sign up by December 25th and save €50.
Use coupon code: SAVE50-CHAUNDY - The remaining €400 is due in cash at the start of the first lesson.
- Materials not included.
Terms & Conditions
- A minimum number of 6 students is needed to run the workshop.
- The maximum number of students is 10.
- The workshop will be confirmed by January 2nd, 2024, or whenever we arrive at the minimum number.
UPDATE, December 22, 2023: The workshop is CONFIRMED. - The Deposit is non-refundable, unless the workshop is canceled on January 2nd, 2024. If that happens, the Deposit will be reimbursed in full.
- If you are traveling from outside of Europe, please wait until the workshop is confirmed prior to making your travel arrangements.
- The final payment must be made in cash on the day of the first lesson; credit cards for the final payment are not accepted. No exceptions.
Questions before registering? Please contact us.
