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Alla Prima Portrait Painting is unfortunately unavailable

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Alla Prima Portrait Painting

  • All levels
  • 18 and older
  • $629
  • 16926 Saticoy St, Van Nuys, CA
  • 44 hours over 8 sessions

Start Dates (0)

  • $629
  • Los Angeles Academy of Figurative Art @ 16926 Saticoy St, Van Nuys, CA 91406
  • 44 hours over 8 sessions
  • $20 registration fee to be paid directly to LAAFA
    Early bird until April 24, $679 thereafter
Showing 10 of 0

Class Description

Description

What you'll learn in this portrait class:

Light reveals form. A convincing portrait is as much a portrait of the Light as it is of the forms and structures that define the subject at hand. In fact, they are dual aspects of a singular reality as perceived by the human eye—dictated by the laws of visual perception, specifically the physics of Light. This course will introduce students to a sculptural approach to painting that emphasizes Light & Structure. We will also take a principled approach to application of the formal elements of panting that articulate visual concepts: shape, value, color, edges, volume, space, texture, and paint quality.

The alla prima portrait study is primarily a study of Essential Form—this is an aesthetic universal. The most beautiful alla prima paintings strike a subtle balance between the ideal global roundness of a form and the faithful introduction of surface sub-forms. If you neglect the sub-forms that articulate the surface structure/topography and build upon the ideal, it looks more like an artistic style rather than visual reality. Rembrandt, Velazquez, and Rubens are three giants who struck a highly nuanced balance. The basic principles of human structure are the bedrock with which we will begin our examination of the nature of the portrait revealed by a kind and quality of light within the visual field.

On the first day of class the instructor will do a five-hour demonstration, which will emphasize the methodology and technique of the closed grisaille (monochrome underpainting) as a finished alla prima portrait study. There will also be a full explanation on how the closed grisaille can also be used as an underpainting method for a direct alla prima painting to be done on top. There will be three poses. The first pose will be two weeks long and the final (third) pose will be three weeks long. Though the curriculum has certain learning advantages, more advanced students are free to use whatever palette they wish in this class and we'll be happy to instruct them through their own creative process in all prima painting.

Includes 30-min. break.

Supply List:
Color Palette

  • Cremnitz Or Flake White
  • Titanium White
  • Cadmium Yellow Lemon
  • Cadmium Yellow
  • Yellow Ochre Light
  • Cadmium Orange
  • Cadmium Red
  • Red Ochre
  • Transparent Oxide Red
  • Burnt Umber
  • Raw Umber
  • Alizarin Crimson Permanent
  • Ultramarine Deep
  • Cobalt Blue
  • Viridian
  • Green Umber
  • Ivory Black

PAINTING SUPPLIES

  • Vine charcoal – medium (thin sticks)
  • Wooden or glass palette or French Companion w/ glass palette
  • Eco-House brand solvent or Gamlin Gamsol
  • 16” x 20” – 18” x 24” canvases, canvas board, board, or taped canvas on board, etc.
  • Palette knife
  • Painting knife
  • Razor blade and holder
  • Paper towels (soft shop towels or Viva brand towels)
  • Cheese cloth
  • Small box of Q-tips
  • Small jar with tight fitting lid for medium
  • Silicoil brand brush cleaner, or Holbein air-tight brush washer, #1052-15S or #1052-15M, or comparable brush cleaner (or just a glass jar with a tight fitting lid)
  • Mahl stick
  • Masterson’s Sta-Wet plastic palette box with lid (preferably the one that can store your palette) is a useful tool for transporting wet palette paints to and from class.

MEDIUMS

We will mainly use the following two (2) mediums in class:

  • Oleogel or Marojer Medium
  • Alla Prima Medium (50/50)
    • 1 part refined linseed oil
    • 1 part stand oil
    • 1 part mineral spirits (Eco-House)

BRUSHES

  • Bring a selection of hog bristle filberts (2 – 10) (Silver or Trekell)
  • A selection of natural hair filberts and flats (2 – 10) (Rosemary & Co.)
  • A fan brush and a soft flattening brush (Rosemary & Co.)
  • Some smaller sable rounds (for details) (Rosemary & Co.)

Workshop etiquette

  • If you arrive late, please enter quietly. If you have equipment to set up, please wait for a break to set up so that you do not disrupt the class.
  • The front row of benches is reserved for sitting individuals.
  • Economize your workspace to accommodate fellow artists.
  • Please refrain from talking to the models while they are posing. Photography is not allowed without the express permission of the model. The model may require a photography fee.
  • Please refrain from personal discussions while class is in session. Be sure to switch cell phone ringers OFF.
  • Don’t comment on others’ work unless it is solicited.
  • Animals are not permitted, with the exception of assistance dogs for the disabled.
  • Please clean up your work area and properly dispose of your waste after class. Use the Brush Cleaning Closet, not the bathroom sinks, to clean your hands, paintbrushes and other art tools.
  • No Turpentine or smelly solvents and mediums are allowed. Odorless Mineral Spirits is preferred.

Refund Policy

LAAFA reserves the right to cancel any class, limit class size, change class times or substitute instructors for those listed in the schedule. If a class is cancelled, students will be issued a full refund or may transfer with no fee to another class. If an instructor must leave after a term has begun, and no suitable substitute is available, the student will be refunded a pro-rated amount.

Refunds & Transfers

All classes, uninstructed workshops, visiting artist workshops and artist demonstrations are non-refundable. You may request to drop for credit or transfer into another class. You have two weeks to evaluate each class and decide whether you want to drop for credit (a dollar amount calculated based on the receipt of request) or transfer into a new class. Requests must be submitted before the start of the third session. A $25 drop/transfer fee is assessed. Credit will be valid for a full year and is non-refundable. It can be applied toward any extension course, workshop or visiting artist event at LAAFA. All artist demonstrations are non-refundable and non-transferable.

Reviews of Classes at Los Angeles Academy of Figurative Art (4)

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Los Angeles Academy of Figurative Art

The Los Angeles Academy of Figurative Art (LAAFA) offers foundational (drawing, painting, sculpting and anatomy) and entertainment classes (character design, creature design, digital painting, environment layout and etc.) taught by professional and talented artists who have years of experience working...

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Los Angeles Academy of Figurative Art

Los Angeles Academy of Figurative Art

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