This workshop will cover the “Alla Prima” method of painting a portrait study in oils, working wet-into-wet in one extended 6 hour sitting from life.
Morning Session: 9:30am-12:30pm

The morning session will begin with a one hour portrait study demonstration. The demonstration will begin with an explanation on the materials and tools, palette arrangement, painting surfaces, types of brushes, painting mediums and lighting the model. Topics discussed and demonstrated will include design, initial block-in, understanding proportions, drawing with the brush, seeing proper values, color mixing and paint application. (9:30am-10:30am)
The remaining two hours of the morning session participants will work on their own paintings from the model employing concepts and techniques covered during the demonstration. One-on-one instruction will be given and proper pacing in developing the painting will be stressed. During each model break examples of portraits by artists of the past and present will be shown that employ the “Alla Prima” approach to painting a portrait study. (10:30-12:30)

Lunch Break: 12:30pm-1:30pm

During the lunch break we will review the mornings work with a brief critique and discuss the goals of the afternoon painting session.


Afternoon Session: 1:30pm-4:30
In the afternoon session each step of the process in the next stages of developing the portrait study will be demonstrated during the first 15 minutes of each hour. Participants will spend the next two sittings of each hour developing their paintings while receiving one on one instruction. The goal is of this approach is to keep the same pace as a group and be at the same stage of the process along the way. On each model break topics related to portrait painting will be covered. Students will be taught to see the large masses and planes of the head, how to measure for accuracy, understanding tonal relationships, color mixing and paint application.

Casale will cover methods he uses in developing a portrait that will include composition, initial block-in, drawing with paint, understanding light and shadow and how it affects color. Temperature, brushwork, handling of edges and seeking out the specifics characteristics of the sitter to capture the likeness in oils will also be topics in this workshop.

Creating a portrait from life is an exciting experience and is the best way to develop painting skills as an artist.

Painting a Portrait Study in Oils Alla Prima

One Day Oil Painting Workshop with Instructor Paul Casale
Saturday, January 8, 2011, 9:30am - 4:30pm
Cranford Community Center
220 Walnut Avenue
Cranford, NJ 07016

*Gift Certificates
 Simply send us an email with the persons name and address and the class name and we will send them the gift certicicate for the class. dleber@comcast.net

Cost is $95.00