12 – 15 October 2026
Cours en anglais / course in English
To register, please click here.
COURSE DESCRIPTION
This 4-day portrait painting workshop is perfect for artists of all levels. You will produce a single finished portrait based on close observation of the live model. Allan will give focused demonstrations of specific topics, as well as plenty of individual 1:1 guidance. Allan will understand and support each individual student’s goals, style and aspirations. He will also introduce you to great drawings and paintings from the past and present to illustrate the concepts involved.
In this workshop, there will be a focus on the studio as a creative community. For example, Allan will lead:
- Group discussions of a painting by another artist you particularly admire (please bring along an example)
- Constructive group discussions of your work at the end of each day: often, one person’s successes or struggles can illustrate a point that is pertinent to the group.
What will I learn?
- How to create a portrait painting from start to finish
- An understanding of basic concepts of construction and ways of looking is required to create a portrait.
- An understanding of basic anatomy in relation to shape recognition
- The importance of drawing
- Tonal values, colour temperature, shape and edges
- An understanding of palette organisation, basic colour mixing and laying down of paint
- Which brushes to use when, and how
Course structure
Day 1 – Drawing
On the first day, you will create a series of drawings in charcoal and pencil to provide the preparating for painting. You will focus on:
- Planes
- Modelling of form
- Inclusion of detail
- Achieving a likeness
- Producing a finished drawing, ready for day 2
Day 2 – Painting
On day 2, you will transfer your drawing to a canvas and start an underpainting. You will carry on learning about the topics introduced in day one, and also about:
- The principle of fat over lean
- How to organise your palette
- Basic colour recognition, colour mixing and paint handling
- The different components of colour: value, chroma and saturation
By the end of day 2 you will have a solid foundation for the next two days of painting
Days 3 and 4 – Painting
On the final two days, you will bring your painting to a conclusion. Along the way, you will continue to apply and deepen the concepts you have learned so far, but you will also:
- Learn how to evaluate your painting and come up with a plan of action
- How to best implement the plan given the constraints you have
- How to bring your painting to a conclusion
ABOUT THE TUTOR
Allan Ramsay has studied at the Glasgow School of Art, the Edinburgh College of Art and at the Art Students League of New York. He is a 1st prize winner of the John Player Portrait Awards at the National Portrait Gallery, London (since the BP Portrait Award, and now the Herbert Smith Freeholds Portrait Award).
He is also a recipient of The Elizabeth Greenshields Foundation Award, an international award for figurative painting
He has held portrait workshops at The National Portrait Gallery, London; Glasgow Museums and Galleries; Glasgow School of Art and Wimbledon School of Art, Raw Umber Studios and West Dean and Renaissance College Hong Kong
He has exhibited regularly at the Royal Society of Portrait Painters, The Royal Academy London, The Royal Scottish Academy and has completed portrait commissions for numerous institutions, including the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge and The National Portrait Gallery, London.
His work will also be included in the forthcoming Scottish Portrait Awards 2026 at The National Galleries of Scotland
This class is limited to 8 students.
The price for this course is CHF 620.-
For further information, please contact us at info@studiovaldus.com
To register, please click here.
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