Workshop: Portrait Painting with Catherine Hamilton
Learn how to create inspiring portraits, explore new painting techniques, and discover new ideas in how to approach creating the human face in your artworks.
In this two-day workshop participants will be exploring how to create portraits by working from a photograph.
What to bring:
- One stretched canvas approximately 45cm x 60cm
- Old towel
- Notebook
- A reference photo will be supplied but you may also bring your own if preferred. If bringing your own, please ensure the photo is of the face, neck and shoulders only, is A4 in size, 2 copies with one copy in colour and the other in black and white.
- all other materials provided.
Workshop Program
Day 1
Participants will use charcoal and liquid charcoal to create a drawing on canvas or painting paper. Catherine will step you through how to construct the features and tones of the face. You will also be taught key lessons about the proportion and the anatomy of the face.
Participants will create a tonal portrait straight onto the painting surface that will be used as a base to paint over in day 2. The drawing itself becomes the underpainting for the colour work.
Participants will be shown various ways of building up the drawing ready to paint and then how to alter this drawing with transparent gesso. Participants will be encouraged to be innovative.
Day 2
Participants will be exploring colour on day 2. A second journey into the world of the face and this time not only looking at various palettes and colour but also tones. Participants will explore will acrylic paint and learn techniques that can be utilised with other mediums.
Demonstrations and critiques on the final painting will be given and plenty of time for one-on-one guidance.
Meet the Tutor: Catherine Hamilton
Catherine Hamilton is an established, professional, Mornington Peninsula-based artist who been painting for over 30 years. Catherine works in a range of media including acrylic, oils, gouache, charcoal and natural pigments and has an extensive knowledge of both colour and the different medias used.
Catherine trained initially at art school in the UK where she studied printmaking and figurative drawing. She has had the opportunity to study with great artists in the UK such as Tom Coates, Ken Howard and portrait painter Ken Paine and in the US with David Leffel and at the New York School of Drawing.
Catherine’s work is featured by galleries in Melbourne and also overseas.
