Portrait painting is far more than capturing a person's physical appearance... it is the art of revealing character, emotion and presence. Through the dynamic qualities of acrylic paint, students will learn how colour relationships, tonal diversity, dramatic lighting, expressive brushstrokes and carefully observed form work together to create portraits that feel alive. The course encourages both technical precision and creative interpretation, enabling participants to develop a distinctive artistic voice rather than merely replicate photographs. This course guides students beyond achieving likeness to creating portraits that communicate mood, personality and narrative. Through demonstrations, practical exercises and individual feedback, participants will develop confidence in contemporary portraiture while learning professional techniques in composition, tonal modelling, expressive brushwork and colour harmony suitable for both exhibition practice and commercial application.
- Understanding Portrait Structure: Facial proportions, anatomy, observation and composition.
- Colour Theory for Portraiture: Skin tones, warm and cool relationships, colour harmony and emotional expression.
- Light, Shadow and Form: Developing convincing three-dimensional portraits through tonal structure and dramatic lighting.
- Brushwork and Surface Quality: Exploring expressive mark-making, texture, edges and painterly techniques using acrylic.
- Creating Mood and Atmosphere: Understanding how colour, value and composition influence emotional response.
- Developing Personal Style: Moving beyond photographic realism towards expressive and contemporary portraiture with individual artistic identity.
- Professional Practice: Preparing exhibition-quality work, presentation, portfolio development and understanding opportunities within Australia's contemporary portrait market
By the end of this course, students should be able to:
- Construct accurate and expressive portrait compositions using sound observational drawing principles.
- Apply colour theory, tonal relationships and dramatic lighting to create convincing three-dimensional portraits.
- Employ a range of acrylic painting techniques, including expressive brushwork and surface texture, to enhance visual impact.
- Develop an individual artistic language capable of communicating personality, atmosphere and emotional depth.
- Produce a resolved portrait suitable for exhibition or portfolio presentation while gaining an understanding of professional opportunities within Australia's contemporary portrait practice.
- Acrylic paints (Titanium White, Cadmium Yellow, Yellow Ochre, Cadmium Red, Alizarin Crimson, Burnt Sienna, Burnt Umber, Ultramarine Blue, Phthalo Blue, Viridian)
- Acrylic painting paper or stretched canvas (A3 or approximately 40 × 50 cm)
- Assorted synthetic brushes (flat, filbert, round and detail brushes)
- Palette (disposable or reusable)
- Palette knife
- Water container
- Spray bottle
- Soft graphite pencil (2B)
- Kneadable eraser
- Paper towels or cotton cloth
- Easel (optional but recommended)
- Reference photographs (provided by tutor or students)
IMPORTANT: Please arrive to the first class with all the relevant materials. A lack of materials is not just a handicap to you but to the ability to teach. Materials cost is not included in a course fee. In the event of a course being cancelled WEA cannot be held responsible for the purchase of any course materials. We therefore suggest you purchase your materials closer to the time of the course commencing.
The following stockists are examples of places where you can purchase art materials for your course:
- Art on King: 199-201 King Street, Newtown. Ph: 9516 2342
- Eckersley's Art and Craft Store: 93 York Street, Sydney. Ph: 9299 4151. Also located in various locations throughout Greater Sydney. WEA students receive a 10% discount on materials required for their course at the York Street store when showing their course confirmation email.
- Parkers Art Supplies: 3 Cambridge Street, The Rocks. Ph: 9247 9979
- The Art Scene: 914 Victoria Road, West Ryde. Ph: 9807 6900
- The Sydney Art Store: 11 Salisbury Street, Botany. Ph: 9699 2162
You can also purchase materials from places such as Dymocks, Officeworks, Spotlight, Lincraft or online art suppliers such as Art Shed Online.
