The goal of the class is to teach using value, color and edge as three essential tools to create naturalistic human portraits. The class will start with a dramatic lighting setup for students to use the power of value, using a limited palette. The day one demo will cover the geometry of the facial structure in a facet-like way, and how light describes the facial structure, while the value structure describes the quality of lighting. The day will start with an introduction of colors. There is the actual mixing of color, vs applying the colors. Instead of concentrating on what exact colors should be used, Mary would like to concentrate on the concept of color composition or the relationships among colors--it should be able to be varied by the subject and by preference. The second demo will show how to create form using color temperature shifts under a flatter lighting situation. The day will start with introducing different techniques of creating different kinds of edges by demonstration and showing images. The third demo will show how edges can change the paint quality of a painting. All three elements are completely intertwined. The entire approach is very much observation-based, but at the same time with constant deliberate picking and choosing. The fourth day we will create naturalist portraits using all these tools. Mary can do a demo during the morning, or let students work the full day. It can be decided by the students. She will work with each student one-on-one during their painting time. www.maryqian.com