What is the best drawing and painting course for doing portraits?

September 30, 2015 3:15 PM

I'd like to do an online study, proceeding on my own time; I'm mostly interested in portraiture.

I've been seized with a strange and sudden passion for drawing and painting. The last time I used paints other than to do walls was probably in kindergarten. (!). I am an absolute beginner whose first efforts will probably be....embarrassing.

Portrait work interests me the most.

I'd like to do an online study, to proceed on my own (stolen) time, as my schedule is full to the brim and I can't fit in attending local classes.

What courses do you recommend?

Thanks in advance!

posted by ragtimepiano to Media & Arts (4 answers total)

I'm sorry in advance that I can't recommend a specific on-line portrait drawing class.

However, I did want to post and give you encouragement on pursuing the idea. I have taken a bunch of on-line art classes over the past few years and I have enjoyed them all so much. My focus is more on mixed media, though, and not on realistic drawing.

I Googled "on-line portrait class" and a bunch of the results look intriguing. If you haven't done much drawing since you were little, you could look for a class that begins with basic design principles, gives specific recommendations for supplies, and doesn't presume the student is a working artist would be good.

Things to also look for: they have a community where you can get help and feedback, what kind of access you get to the lessons and for how long, can you download the lessons, do they have students' work posted that you can see.

I have not personally taken any pay classes from Will Kemp Art School, but I follow his blog and his free videos seem useful.
posted by Squeak Attack at 4:44 PM on September 30, 2015

I suggest you consider Sadie Valeri's online videos. While the focus of these videos is still life, they offer an excellent drawing and painting foundation for the realistic rendering of any subject, including portraits.
posted by cleverevans at 5:51 PM on September 30, 2015

I'm back because just this morning I got notice of an on-line portrait class that features some artists I like. Take a look at Let's Face It 2016 to see if anything there gives you inspiration.

It's not a classical foundation course and many of the artists are stylized, but it looks like you'll get a great variety of approaches in a very supportive and caring community.
posted by Squeak Attack at 6:56 AM on October 1, 2015

Not online, but you may want to check out Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain.
posted by glass origami robot at 2:35 PM on October 1, 2015