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This course aims to introduce you to this fascinating genre in both drawing and painting portraits through practical experience of the basic skills and concepts involved, including structure and proportion of the head and features, tone, colour, pose and expression. Working from direct observation of the live model.
Learning modes and locations may be different depending on the course start date. Please check the location of your chosen course and read our guide to learning modes and locations to help you choose the right course for you.
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.
Through practical experience we will learn how to represent people in drawing and painting. We will also develop your knowledge of the basic skills and key concepts involved in making portraits. This includes learning about scale and proportion in relation to the human head, use of lighting, tone and colour, and a chance to experiment with drawing, painting and mixed media.
What will we cover?
Working directly from the model we will make observational studies and interpretations. We will learn about composition and key themes from the traditions of portrait making. This will include the option of self-portrait projects and using narrative references in making portraits.
We will look at how information can be gathered through sketching, and brought together in a finished piece. There will be short structured projects around improving observational drawing throughout the course, as well as developing longer studies.
What will I achieve? By the end of this course you should be able to...
• Draw and paint from observation of the portrait subject
• Use painting techniques relevant to portraits
• Experiment with a range of viewpoints
• Respond to the work of a variety of portrait artists.
What level is the course and do I need any particular skills?
Ideal for beginners but also mixed level ie those who have some drawing experience but have never worked with portrait before
You should be able to follow simple written and verbal instructions, demonstrations, hand-outs and health and safety information, and will be invited to take part in group discussion.
How will I be taught, and will there be any work outside the class?
The class will be primarily practical with one-to-one tuition, exercises, demonstrations, informal talks and group discussions. Optional homework tasks.
Are there any other costs? Is there anything I need to bring?
All basic materials are provided. The tutor will advise you if you wish to buy additional art equipment.
Alex Hanna is an artist (painter) based in East London. His practice examines perception and the materiality of paint. He works from arrangements of objects and uses analogue and digital means as source material, whilst employing visual data to inform his creative outcomes. Many of his paintings are carried out from direct observation and within a shallow space. In 2015 he was visiting artist at the University of Leeds and has delivered workshops and a pod cast on ‘Paint Alchemy’. He has exhibited at a number of galleries including: The Discerning Eye, The Royal Academy, Marmite Prize, Salon Art Prize, Royal Society of Portrait Painters and the B.P. Portrait Award. He has works in several British and International collections including: The Paul Mellon Centre for British Art Massachusetts, University of Arizona, Prizeman Seabrook Collection and has exhibited in Poland, Japan and China. He is a member of Contemporary British Painting and is represented by Alan Kluckow Fine Art.
Joe Richardson is a multi-disciplinary artist working in painting, drawing, collage, video, print and sculpture. Since graduating from his MA in Fine Art at Central Saint Martins in 2018, Joe has worked regularly taught at Foundation and Undergraduate level as well as working with Under 18s. Joe is dedicated to encouraging learners to discover new creative approaches to making, exploring their own interests in relation to art and design, and teaching methods and techniques that help to form the foundation of students' creative careers. Joe has undertaken residencies in Beijing, China and Stokkoya, Norway to develop his collaborative and flexible practice. He currently has a permanent collection of video works on display at Universal Music, Four Pancras Square, and has recently held a solo show at CineWindow Winsford and a duo exhibition at FIVE YEARS, London.
Luke JonesSee moreSee less
Luke Jones is a practising artist working in both 2D and 3D, he studied at Chelsea school of art and Norwich School of art (currently called NUA) He has always been fascinated by observational art both in 2D, drawing and painting mostly in oil paint and in sculpture, mostly working with clay modelling and simple casting processes Portraits and figures are the central subjects to most of my current output I’ve undertaken portrait commissions both in paintings and sculptures and I have also worked with theatre making sculptures for a stage play
Andrea studied Drawing at Camberwell College and textiles at Morley College, where she also did her teacher training. She has a passion for the macabre and much of her recent practice has focused on drawing animal skulls and skeletons. She has a particular interest in comparative anatomy which led her to devise the Anatomical Life and Portrait Drawing courses at City Lit. Observational drawing is at the core of her practice and she uses it as a means of recording the world around her, be it the clutter of the studio, a music gig or a specimen in a museum. Andrea has an energetic approach to teaching. She is highly communicative and strives to create a positive group dynamic whilst being sensitive to the needs of individual students. This has been enriched by her extensive experience as a life model which she has used as a unique opportunity to observe first-hand the teaching methods and creative processes of many artists and has applied this knowledge to develop her own distinctive teaching style. Examples of her work can be found at www.instagram.com/voiseydrawing
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.
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<i>This course takes place in the classroom, please follow this link to find out what we are doing to keep you safe: <a href="https://www.citylit.ac.uk/blog/staying-covid-19-secure-city-lit" target=”_blank”>Staying COVID-19 secure at City Lit</a></i><br> Through practical experience we will learn how to represent people in drawing and painting. We will also develop your knowledge of the basic skills and key concepts involved making portraits. This Includes learning about scale and proportion in relation to the human head, Use of lighting, tone and colour and a chance to experiment with drawing, painting and mixed media.951172779Portraits 1479479https://www.citylit.ac.uk/media/catalog/product/p/o/portraits_1-vh497-1080_4.jpgInStockDaytimeMonKeeley StreetAvailable courses5-10 weeksWeekday2025-09-08T00:00:00+00:00BeginnersSep 2025Art & designVM597479479Portraits 1383311479Alex Hanna, Joe Richardsonportraits-1/vm597-2526This course aims to introduce you to this fascinating genre in both drawing and painting portraits through practical experience of the basic skills and concepts involved, including structure and proportion of the head and features, tone, colour, pose and expression. Working from direct observation of the live model.0000-Available|2025-09-08 00:00:00virtual2539945Portraits 1479479https://www.citylit.ac.uk/media/catalog/product/p/o/portraits_1-vh497-1080_2.jpgInStockEveningFriKeeley StreetAvailable courses5-10 weeksWeekday2026-05-01T00:00:00+00:00BeginnersMay 2026Art & designVH502479479Portraits 1383311479Luke Jones, Andrea Voiseyportraits-1/vh502-2526This course aims to introduce you to this fascinating genre in both drawing and painting portraits through practical experience of the basic skills and concepts involved, including structure and proportion of the head and features, tone, colour, pose and expression. Working from direct observation of the live model.0000-Available|2026-05-01 00:00:00virtual1172755Portraits 1479479https://www.citylit.ac.uk/media/catalog/product/p/o/portraits_1-vh497-1080_1.jpgInStockEveningMonKeeley StreetAvailable courses5-10 weeksWeekday2025-09-08T00:00:00+00:00BeginnersSep 2025Art & designVH497479479Portraits 1383311479portraits-1/vh497-2526This course aims to introduce you to this fascinating genre in both drawing and painting portraits through practical experience of the basic skills and concepts involved, including structure and proportion of the head and features, tone, colour, pose and expression. Working from direct observation of the live model.0000-Available|2025-09-08 00:00:00virtual383479311VM597,VH502,VH497NONEMon,Fri08/09/25 - 10/11/2510:00 - 13:0010:0013:0010 sessions (over 10 weeks)105-10 weeksDaytime,EveningWeekdayKSKeeley StreetBeginnersAvailable courses2025-09-08T00:00:00+00:00,2026-05-01T00:00:00+00:00Sep 2025,May 2026Art & design479479Portraits 1portraits-1/vm597-2526,portraits-1/vh502-2526,portraits-1/vh497-2526This course aims to introduce you to this fascinating genre in both drawing and painting portraits through practical experience of the basic skills and concepts involved, including structure and proportion of the head and features, tone, colour, pose and expression. Working from direct observation of the live model.0000-Available|2025-09-08 00:00:00configurable