At last: portraits made easy!
Join me for a fun, informative two-day workshop that makes portrait painting feel approachable and achievable. With more than thirty years of experience painting commissioned portraits, I’ll share the techniques that really work so you can build confidence quickly. Bring along photos to use as a reference for a portrait of yourself, your partner, a parent, a child, or even someone famous.
If you’ve always wanted to paint realistic portraits but felt they might be too difficult, this workshop will show you just how manageable they can be. Once you understand the core principles of portraiture, the whole process becomes much easier to enjoy.
What You’ll Learn:
The proportions of the head
Light and shadow
Drawing accuracy
Skin-tone colour mixing
Creating soft and hard edges
“Sarah is a great teacher - patient and clear and she makes watercolour painting seem so simple. It’s so relaxing learning with her.”
How the workshop works
I’ll guide you with plenty of demonstrations and one-to-one support throughout the workshop to help you progress quickly. You’ll also work from carefully chosen photographic references designed to make the best use of your time and support steady improvement.
What you’ll do in the workshop
We’ll begin by strengthening your drawing and observational skills, because every strong portrait starts with a strong drawing. By focusing on the essentials first, you’ll build a solid foundation for the rest of the weekend.
Day One: You’ll learn the basic proportions of the head from different angles and discover how to avoid common beginner mistakes, including the famous “shrunken head” problem.
We’ll also look at the basic anatomy of the head and explore how convex and concave forms shape the face. I’ll demonstrate how to draw the individual features, including the eyes, nose, and mouth.
In the afternoon, we’ll explore how light and shadow fall across the face. You’ll learn how to turn a flat line drawing into a rounded, three-dimensional portrait using tonal studies in shades of grey.
Day Two:
In the morning, you’ll begin drawing your chosen portrait using your own photographic reference (And, not to worry: if you feel your drawing skills are not quite ready, there’s an easier option. I’ll also show you how to trace and transfer the portrait quickly and easily onto watercolour paper without the use of tracing paper!)
Later in the morning, we’ll prepare your watercolour paints with the right dilutions and learn how to mix beautiful skin tones, hair colours, and shadow tones. You’ll also create colour swatches to guide your portrait painting.
In the afternoon, I’ll begin with a painting demonstration showing the sequence for creating a simple portrait in watercolour. You’ll then spend the rest of the session working on your own painting, with individual support from me throughout. I’m always on hand for “Portrait First Aid!”
What’s included
I provide all the art materials you’ll need for the course, along with hot drinks available whenever you like.
You’ll go home with head studies, portrait drawings, a finished watercolour portrait, and a useful handout packed with tips to help you keep practising at home. Most importantly, you’ll leave with greater confidence and fresh inspiration.
This is a special and enjoyable workshop—come and join me for what could be one of the most rewarding creative weekends of your year.
What’s Not Included:
Accommodation (I can email you a list of lovely local places to stay)
Lunch – please bring a packed lunch each day or head to a nearby food shop at lunch
Car Parking - The closest long stay parking is at the Harbourside Car Park (TR18 2GB)
Payment Info:
Length: 2 Days (10:00am – 4:00pm each day)
Fee: £199
Pay today: £99 deposit
Pay later: £100 a week before the workshop starts
Location: The Union Hotel, Chapel Street, Penzance, Cornwall, TR18 4AE
Limited to 15 students – spaces fill quickly, so book early!
Deposit to be paid today: £99.00
The final amount is to be paid a week before the course starts.
Please check your spam folder for your booking details email (once you’ve booked) as it sometimes gets lost in there.