Portrait drawing, Måla porträtt

Information

In this new course, we’ll strengthen the core principles of drawing, shifting the subject from still life to the fascinating world of portraiture.
Portrait drawing is a "second-level course" in terms of difficulty, but it will be carefully adapted for beginners. We’ll explore the portrait through the methods of the old masters, using simple templates to learn essential portrait concepts step by step.

Who is this course for?

In this artistic drawing class, focused on the portrait genre, we will revisit the drawing fundamentals already covered in the first course "Classic Drawing for Beginners". Portrait drawing is a more advanced level, but this course is especially adapted for beginners, as we will use templates to copy the basic outlines and avoid problems with proportions. More advanced students are also welcome, as they can work without templates and adapt the exercises to their own level.

What is it about?

The portrait classes will be based on photographs and printed references provided by the course instructor. The sessions will also be lightly guided by some historical context about portraiture in art, since this genre goes far beyond a simple caricature. Portraiture delves into the psychology of the subject and belongs to a long tradition in which memory, political or religious significance, and aesthetics all play an important role.

Course structure

The structure will follow the same dynamic as in the first course: block-in, tonal values, and detailing. The main difference is that we will now highlight with white chalk, as the new challenge consists in drawing on toned paper using sanguine, charcoal, and white chalk.

Objective

The goal of this course is not to master portrait drawing like Leonardo da Vinci. Portraiture requires patience, practice, and above all, enjoyment. It is a challenge even for the most experienced artists.
This short course will therefore focus on: the basic process of drawing a portrait, the history of portraiture in art, and reinforcing the foundations of drawing (especially for beginners).
The emphasis is not on technical perfection but on understanding the process that leads to a good portrait drawing. Of course, instruction will be tailored to each student's level.
In this course, you will learn how to build the structure, lights, and shadows necessary to create a realistic portrait in the classical style.

Materials

- Brown sketchpad or toned paper
- Sanguine (red and/or brown)
- White chalk
- Compressed charcoal pencil
- Regular eraser
- Cutter
- Blending stumps

About the courseleader

For those who don’t know me, I’m Adrián Jiménez, an artist and Fine Arts graduate from the University of Granada, Spain — my home country. I’ve been teaching classical drawing at Studieförbundet for the past two years, and I’ve dedicated my whole life to art.
You can see more of my work on Instagram: @adrian_konst