Portrait drawing: expression in the face
Choose a start date
- Course Code: VH893
- Dates: 24/03/25 - 07/04/25
- Time: 18:00 - 21:00
- Taught: Mon, Evening
- Duration: 3 sessions (over 3 weeks)
- Location: Keeley Street
- Tutor: Brian Sayers
Course Code: VH893
Choose a start date
Duration: 3 sessions (over 3 weeks)
Please note: We offer a wide variety of financial support to make courses affordable. Just visit our online Help Centre for more information on a range of topics including fees, online learning and FAQs.
What is the course about?
Drawing can provide quick and accessible methods to look at elements like structure and likeness in the face, both from quick sketching and mark-making to more developed study. Focusing on drawing facial expression will inform your portrait painting and really bring it to life.
What will we cover?
Expression and likeness, emotion and mood in the face
How the facial muscles produce expressions as they contract or relax
Looking at a variety of artists' work to see how different mark-making techniques can produce lively and expressive drawings.
What will I achieve?
By the end of this course you should be able to...
- Draw facial expression
- Use tone to communicate volume and surface
- Draw structure in the human head
- Draw a variety of viewpoints of the head
- Use a range of drawing techniques for expressive effect.
What level is the course and do I need any particular skills?
This coruse is aimed at those with some portrait drawing experience who would like to focus on facial expression eg Portraits 1 or Portraits 2.
How will I be taught, and will there be any work outside the class?
Talks, practical work, demonstrations, individual tutoring and group discussion.
Are there any other costs? Is there anything I need to bring?
All drawing materials are provided.
If you would like to buy art materials for your personal use outside of the course, City Lit students receive 10% discount off everything* from Cass Art, the UK's leading art supplies retailer. Your tutor will advise you on what you should buy. You will need to show your enrolment receipt in-store to receive your discount. Visit the Charing Cross shop at 13 Charing Cross Road WC2H 0EP or find your local shop at www.cassart.co.uk. *Terms and conditions apply, visit www.cassart.co.uk/students.
Brian has taught painting and drawing for over 30 years in a variety of different places and at different levels. He graduated from the Slade School of Art in 1978 and has continued to practise painting ever since. He has had over 10 one-person shows in the UK and exhibited in Germany and the USA. Although still life has been a principle interest, he has completed a number of portraits and exhibited 3 times in the National Portrait Gallery and is often in the RA Summer Exhibition. Brian particularly likes to include knowledge of art historical contexts with practical work to extend students' methods and approaches. He aims to focus on painting from diverse periods and cultures to develop individual ideas. When teaching he hopes to encourage a liveliness of approach with a solid understanding of technical issues involved. This can, in his opinion, lead on to a more confident, personal approach.
Please note: We reserve the right to change our tutors from those advertised. This happens rarely, but if it does, we are unable to refund fees due to this. Our tutors may have different teaching styles; however we guarantee a consistent quality of teaching in all our courses.
