Beyond Reality: The Unportrait (Online Course) Spring 2024 w/ Andres Kal
May 4 to May 25 (Saturdays), 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM, Eastern Time
**All sessions are live and will be recorded, students do not have to be present. All recordings will be available to students for 3 months after the final session, after 3 months the recording will be deleted.
Please check your email spam/junk folder for your Zoom invite.
DEMO: https://youtu.be/p4uF-gyhwNo
*This course will have an English interpreter for Andres
Course Description
During the course, participants will create a self-portrait over the course of four sessions, guided by Andrés Kal. He will lead them to reconsider not only what can be seen in appearance but also how it is perceived. The workshop encourages going beyond mere representation and capturing a more personal and meaningful essence in their portraits while fostering creativity and artistic exploration.
Objectives:
Teach participants to deconstruct the traditional representation of portraits and explore new forms of expression.
Inspire attendees to create portraits that delve into contemporary themes and challenge conventions.
Encourage artistic exploration and the creation of contemporary portraits that transcend traditional norms, prompting participants to think creatively and contribute their unique perspective to artistic creation, expanding the possibilities of the image.
Course Outline
Week 1 - Beyond Reality: Creation and Construction
Introduction and reflection on works by artists who have pushed portraiture beyond the conventional.
“Know Thyself”: Initial approaches through a self-portrait.
Stage 1: Sketching and reference-based exercises.
Preparation of the underpainting, bases, and backgrounds.
Discussion of methodology and the balance between technical knowledge and artistic freedom.
Analysis of the sketched works.
Week 2 - From the Tangible and Essential to the Personal and Imaginary
Portrait construction and the painting process.
Chromatic palette, form, and material.
Exploration of personal pictorial vision: focus and decision-making. What message do I want to convey with the image?
Addressing emotional portraiture and decisions regarding composition and deconstruction of the image.
Week 3 - Creative Exploration of Abstract Figuration
Exploration of abstract figuration and emotional expression.
Use of techniques and materials to transition from figurative representation to abstraction.
Experimentation with shapes, colors, textures, and symbols to add layers of emotional meaning to the portraits.
Analysis and discussion of how abstraction can enhance and deepen emotional expression in portraiture.
Week 4 - Organizing the Chaos: Finalizing the Reinterpreted Portraits
Final touches and detail refinement.
Simplification and cleaning up the composition: rescue and discard.
Completing and finalizing the reinterpreted portraits.
Presentation and Reflection:
Exhibition of artworks and final discussion.
Sharing personal experiences and reflections.
Presentation of the portraits and group discussion.
Reflection on the concepts and processes used.
Course Materials List
Acrylics Paints:
Any colors of your preference. Basic color palette will be fine, you can add any bright or vivid colors of your preference.
White gesso.
Oil Paints:
Titanium White
Cadmium yellow
Lemon Yellow or Bismuth Yellow (optional)
Yellow Ochre
Burnt Sienna
Raw Sienna
Cadmium Red
Alizarin Crimson Permanent is fine, Permanent Rose or any Magenta Quinacridone will be good!
Ultramarine Blue
Viridian Green
Raw Umber
Violet or Dioxazine Purple.
Gamsol or sansodor.
Liquin (or any alkid medium.)
Paper Towels. (sturdy ones better.)
Palette: medium size with gray surface if posible.
Small mirror
Painting Surface:
3 to 4 pieces but you can work just in one the whole 4 sessions.
Canvas or panels
from gessoed wood, Cotton Canvas, to Primed Linen.
30x40cm / 40/40 or 40x50cm is Fine min. 12” to max around 25 inch.
Masking tape
Brushes
Flat synthetic rough ( bristles) and smooth hair. different sizes 2,4 6,8,10,12 and household brush 1” 1/2 or 2”.
Knife palette. 2 or tree different sizes and shapes.
Small rubber (silicon) squeegee window cleaner (household tool.)
Sand paper- grain: medium