An oil painting of a woman looking away from the viewer. She is standing in a bathroom with a blue tile counter and a stained glass window.

Portrait Painting: Capturing a Likeness, Creating Form & Light

Class | Available

2107 Westlake Ave Seattle, WA 98121 United States
Life Drawing Studio #111
All Levels
2/19/2025-3/19/2025
6:00 PM-9:00 PM PST on Wed
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$390.00
$351.00

Portrait Painting: Capturing a Likeness, Creating Form & Light

Class | Available

LOCATION NOTE: This class will be taking place at our South Lake Union Location.

Learn to paint realistic portraits using oil or acrylic paint. Students will develop original portrait paintings from live art models and discover essential techniques for capturing a model’s likeness with accuracy. Nicholas Enevoldsen will present live demonstrations, individual critiques, and a series of lectures designed to equip students with techniques for mixing flesh tones, color theory principles, paint application, and how to imbue their work with a compelling sense of light, atmosphere, and form.

  • Students may choose to work with either oil or acrylic painting media. Below are supply lists specific to oil-based or acrylic-based painting. 

    OIL-BASED PAINTING – SUPPLY LIST

    OIL COLORS 
    • Cadmium Red Light 
    • Alizarin Crimson 
    • Ultramarine Blue 
    • Cerulean Blue or Manganese Blue 
    • Cadmium Yellow Medium or Light 
    • Yellow Ochre / Yellow Ochre Pale (Winsor Newton) 
    • Titanium / Flake White (large tube) 
    • Raw Umber 
    • Ivory Black

    (Optional Oil Colors: Cadmium Orange, Titanium Nickel Yellow, Burnt Sienna, Quinacridone Magenta, Viridian Green, Dioxazine Purple, Old Holland English Red) 


    SUPPORTS (Painting Surfaces)  
    • (2) Pre-stretched canvas or gesso-primed wood panel (11” X 14” – 18” X 24”)


    MEDIUMS /ADDITIVES 
    • Refined Linseed Oil or Gamblin Solvent Free Liquid 
    o NOTE: Bring glass or metal container with a lid for storing medium*


    BRUSHES 
    • Bristle or Synthetic: 0, 2, 4, 6, 10 (flat, filbert, or round) 
    • Raphael Kolinsky Sable: sizes 0, 2 (pointed round)


     MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS 
    • Palette (glass, wood, or paper sheets – Neutral color is BEST) 
    • Palette Knife – (medium diamond head recommended) 
    • Brush Cleaning Jar with Lid – Gamsol solvent only*
    • Paper towels / Cotton rags 
    • Vine / Willow Charcoal Sticks (for preparatory drawing on canvas) 
    • Kneaded Eraser


    ACRYLIC BASED PAINTING—SUPPLY LIST 
    ACRYLIC COLORS (Heavy Body – Golden or Liquitex paint recommended)  
    • Black - Ivory/Mars/Bone 
    • Raw Umber 
    • Ultramarine Blue 
    • Cerulean Blue 
    • Alizarin Crimson 
    • Yellow Ochre 
    • Cadmium Red Light / Pyrrole Red Light 
    • Cadmium Yellow Medium / Hansa Yellow Medium
    • Titanium White (large tube) 

    (Optional colors:  Cadmium Orange / Vat Orange, Titanate Yellow, Burnt Sienna, Quinacridone Magenta, Viridian Green, Dioxazine Purple) 


    MEDIUM 
    • Golden Glazing Liquid (satin or gloss) 
    • (*optional medium - Golden Heavy Gel Medium - matte or gloss) 


    SUPPORTS (Painting Surfaces) 
    • (2) stretched canvases or gesso primed wood panels (11” X 14” – 18” x 24”) 


    ACRYLIC BRUSHES
    • Synthetic bristles: Princeton / Winsor Newton Galleria: Sizes 0, 2, 4, 6, 10 (flat or round) 
    • Raphael Kolinsky Sable: sizes 0, 2 (pointed round) 


    MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS 
    • Palette: paper, glass, or wood (neutral color is BEST) 
    • Palette Knife: medium sized diamond shape 
    • Vine Charcoal: soft/medium sticks for preparatory drawing
    • Kneaded Eraser
    • Cheap Spray Bottle (for water) 
    • Cheap Plastic Cup (for water)

Nicholas Enevoldsen