The Alla Prima Portrait (Online Course) Winter 2025 w/ Shannon Vaught
February 3 to March 3 (Mondays), 11:00 AM to 2:00 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/LWPtz8PzvHY
Course Description
Alla prima, or “at first attempt” is a painting approach that emphasizes spontaneity, directness, and a fresh, vibrant quality in painting. Students will explore this exciting method through portrait painting in oil, completing 5 different paintings over the duration of 5 weeks. Each week will include a demo using a photo reference as a starting point, detailing how to achieve a likeness without simply copying the photograph. We will cover basic fundamentals such as anatomy, proportion, value, color, light, form and more. This course is designed with students of all levels in mind, but some experience painting in oils is encouraged.
Course Outline
Week 1 -
Introduction to materials and how to block in a portrait - simplify. We will begin week 1 with a focus on value and drawing, completing a monochromatic painting exercise using a color of your choice & white.
Week 2 -
We will explore the possibilities of a limited (zorn) palette, with emphasis on shape, form and structure informed by the planes and anatomy of the head.
Week 3 -
Expanding on what we learned the previous weeks, incorporating a full palette this time. Focus on color and light and how the mood of the painting can be determined by color theory and lighting.
Week 4 -
Continue to apply the techniques we’ve learned so far. Emphasis on edges, and atmosphere. Discussion about the psychology of a portrait and how these devices alter our perception.
Week 5 -
Continuation of themes explored in the previous weeks. Focus on materials, texture, and mark making a stylistic portrait.
Course Materials
SURFACES:
Canvas, linen, or oil paper - size 8x10, 9x12, or 11x14
OIL PAINT:
Titanium White
Cadmium Yellow
Yellow Ochre
Cadmium Orange *
Cadmium Red
Alizarin Crimson
Transparent Red Oxide
Cobalt Blue *
Ultramarine Blue
Sap Green *
Ivory Black *
*means optional
BRUSHES:
Assortment of flats - I like Trekell’s Legions and Rosemary’s Eclipse synthetics (sizes 2, 6, 10)
Synthetic round (for drawing and detail) size 0
Large bristle round OR synthetic mop brush for softening edges (size 12 or larger)
SOLVENT:
Odorless mineral spirits, I use Gamsol
PALETTE:
Glass, wood or paper palette
February 3 to March 3 (Mondays), 11:00 AM to 2:00 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/LWPtz8PzvHY
Course Description
Alla prima, or “at first attempt” is a painting approach that emphasizes spontaneity, directness, and a fresh, vibrant quality in painting. Students will explore this exciting method through portrait painting in oil, completing 5 different paintings over the duration of 5 weeks. Each week will include a demo using a photo reference as a starting point, detailing how to achieve a likeness without simply copying the photograph. We will cover basic fundamentals such as anatomy, proportion, value, color, light, form and more. This course is designed with students of all levels in mind, but some experience painting in oils is encouraged.
Course Outline
Week 1 -
Introduction to materials and how to block in a portrait - simplify. We will begin week 1 with a focus on value and drawing, completing a monochromatic painting exercise using a color of your choice & white.
Week 2 -
We will explore the possibilities of a limited (zorn) palette, with emphasis on shape, form and structure informed by the planes and anatomy of the head.
Week 3 -
Expanding on what we learned the previous weeks, incorporating a full palette this time. Focus on color and light and how the mood of the painting can be determined by color theory and lighting.
Week 4 -
Continue to apply the techniques we’ve learned so far. Emphasis on edges, and atmosphere. Discussion about the psychology of a portrait and how these devices alter our perception.
Week 5 -
Continuation of themes explored in the previous weeks. Focus on materials, texture, and mark making a stylistic portrait.
Course Materials
SURFACES:
Canvas, linen, or oil paper - size 8x10, 9x12, or 11x14
OIL PAINT:
Titanium White
Cadmium Yellow
Yellow Ochre
Cadmium Orange *
Cadmium Red
Alizarin Crimson
Transparent Red Oxide
Cobalt Blue *
Ultramarine Blue
Sap Green *
Ivory Black *
*means optional
BRUSHES:
Assortment of flats - I like Trekell’s Legions and Rosemary’s Eclipse synthetics (sizes 2, 6, 10)
Synthetic round (for drawing and detail) size 0
Large bristle round OR synthetic mop brush for softening edges (size 12 or larger)
SOLVENT:
Odorless mineral spirits, I use Gamsol
PALETTE:
Glass, wood or paper palette
February 3 to March 3 (Mondays), 11:00 AM to 2:00 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/LWPtz8PzvHY
Course Description
Alla prima, or “at first attempt” is a painting approach that emphasizes spontaneity, directness, and a fresh, vibrant quality in painting. Students will explore this exciting method through portrait painting in oil, completing 5 different paintings over the duration of 5 weeks. Each week will include a demo using a photo reference as a starting point, detailing how to achieve a likeness without simply copying the photograph. We will cover basic fundamentals such as anatomy, proportion, value, color, light, form and more. This course is designed with students of all levels in mind, but some experience painting in oils is encouraged.
Course Outline
Week 1 -
Introduction to materials and how to block in a portrait - simplify. We will begin week 1 with a focus on value and drawing, completing a monochromatic painting exercise using a color of your choice & white.
Week 2 -
We will explore the possibilities of a limited (zorn) palette, with emphasis on shape, form and structure informed by the planes and anatomy of the head.
Week 3 -
Expanding on what we learned the previous weeks, incorporating a full palette this time. Focus on color and light and how the mood of the painting can be determined by color theory and lighting.
Week 4 -
Continue to apply the techniques we’ve learned so far. Emphasis on edges, and atmosphere. Discussion about the psychology of a portrait and how these devices alter our perception.
Week 5 -
Continuation of themes explored in the previous weeks. Focus on materials, texture, and mark making a stylistic portrait.
Course Materials
SURFACES:
Canvas, linen, or oil paper - size 8x10, 9x12, or 11x14
OIL PAINT:
Titanium White
Cadmium Yellow
Yellow Ochre
Cadmium Orange *
Cadmium Red
Alizarin Crimson
Transparent Red Oxide
Cobalt Blue *
Ultramarine Blue
Sap Green *
Ivory Black *
*means optional
BRUSHES:
Assortment of flats - I like Trekell’s Legions and Rosemary’s Eclipse synthetics (sizes 2, 6, 10)
Synthetic round (for drawing and detail) size 0
Large bristle round OR synthetic mop brush for softening edges (size 12 or larger)
SOLVENT:
Odorless mineral spirits, I use Gamsol
PALETTE:
Glass, wood or paper palette