Portland Community College | Portland, Oregon

This will be an in-person figure painting class and we will be working from live unclothed models through direct observation.  Attendance is required.  We will meet twice per week for three hours--students need to stay for the entire session.  Typically, a class starts out with a short lecture by the instructor including a demonstration or slide presentation, but the bulk of each session will be devoted to working from the live models.  There is generally a short break mid-session, followed by another short talk or follow-up demonstration.  The class is structured to emphasize student-based learning, with the instructor working one-on-one with each student to meet course requirements and to encourage that student's pursuit of individual goals.

The class will focus entirely on painting the human form and learning direct observation skills.  We will explore a variety of techniques, subjects and historical/contemporary styles within the figure painting discipline. Understanding color relationships with respect to skin tones and learning proportions will be central components to all assignments.  Students will have outside homework projects related to figure anatomy and there will be one final independent painting project to be completed outside of class.  A link to the supply list and some figure painting examples is included below--that list is general so there may be additional items added for the coming term.  There is also a link to my personal website.  I am an abstract artist, but I am still inspired by the human form!

Course Supply List and Painting Examples

http://markrsmithstudio.com

We will be working through the D2L course platform on this course.  Students will need to submit assignments via the class website, and uploading digital image files from their smart phone cameras. I will work with students to create alternate methods if necessary.  Remember, I'll be there with you the whole time  and will be offering direct feedback while you are working on your paintings in addition to the formal assignment submissions.