Limited Palette Portrait Painting

Limited Palette Portrait Painting

The aim in this 5 week Classical Method course will be to acquire the classical academic method of painting used by the old Masters and to create with the Limited Palette (black, red, yellow and white) a fully rendered portrait.

At the basis of this course, there are the painting methods that are established as both academic and classical. This workshop offers students an introduction to the fundamental foundations of academic painting using its main tools while also providing a basic understanding of the history of portraiture. Moreover, you will learn to select and prepare materials for painting, measurements and proportions, the artistic effect of chiaroscuro and improve observation skills and paint realistically.   

Our Program is divided into sessions, each session twice a week is the length of three hours, developing the same painting over 5 weeks (10 sessions). Students will also be shown examples of methods used by the old masters each lesson, and will be encouraged to research, and provide examples of portraiture they connect with. There will be a final group critique.

About the instructor Eric Drummond

After studying Art History at the University of Guelph, Eric was accepted and enrolled at The Florence Academy of Art in 2016. There he was taught to draw and paint the figure from life and compose portraits and still lifes, using the traditional methods and practices developed by the old masters. Eric works only from life. Staying true to the sight size method developed by the Academie des Beaux-Arts in Paris, France in the 1800s, he largely crafts his own materials, and hand preps his own canvases. Working from life allows Eric total creative control and interpretation of his subjects. 

Tuesday and Wednesday evenings from 6:00-9:00pm

March 10, 11, 17, 18, 24, 25, 31, April 1, 7, and 8, 2026

Instructor: Eric Drummond

Location: Good Foundation North Studio (located in the lower, accessible by stairs only)

$450 + materials

*Fees are non-refundable and non-transferrable.

*TAP Centre for Creativity reserves the right to cancel any course or workshop at any time if the minimum number of students required is not reached. In such cases, fees will be fully refunded.

Lesson 1:

In the first session students will receive an introduction that includes review of appropriate materials, supports and equipment for the exercise. The instructor will explain the goal of the workshop: to have a structured portrait painting done in the classical method. The instructor will also highlight the method by sharing the history of portraiture and master painters in each of the sessions. The instructor will demonstrate the stretching of canvas and application of paint ground. Once canvases are set, students will begin quick charcoal sketches of the composition to understand the values in black and white.  

Lesson 2:

Students will block in the portrait using raw umber and straight lines. Image will remain simplistic, just laying in the basic shape and division of light and dark. Students will simultaneously learn the proper set up of the Palette and mixing values. 

Lesson 3:

Students will begin mixing values and balancing chroma using 4-6 values. You will apply shapes in accordance with the plains of the face and contrast of light and dark. Shadow values will be lightly applied. 

Lesson 4:

Features will be more described. Background value will be applied to help the student correctly draw the contours of the face and understand space.

Lesson 5:

Creating tighter transitions between the shadow edges and halftones will be taught, using different types of brushes. The portrait will become more fully formed.

Lesson 6:

The keys will be established now that enough paint has been applied. Students can apply lightest light and darkest dark and begin to bridge values in-between. Temperature and chroma balance will be discussed as well to create harmony.

Lesson 7:

Textural elements will be discussed, like hair, and the rendering of flesh. Light refraction will be explored as multiple colors can be used in highlights to create temperature variety.

Lesson 8:

Students will carefully observe and model form, push depth of field and be encouraged to take artistic liberties with their work. Like in drawing, harmony, form, spirit and paint language should be explored.

Lesson 9:

Students will be taught the application of glazes and colour harmony. Glazing will also serve to help them with the final pass on lesson ten.

Lesson 10:

Students will apply final touches to the piece. This lesson will require far more observation than application and very fine rendering in the areas of focus to bring about a resolve to the piece.

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Material preparation is required for this course so early registration is recommended so students have time to purchase and prepare the wood palette.

These Materials are mandatory:

• Prepared Wooden Palette (must oil out palette everyday for two weeks before beginning course)

• Stretcher Bars (40x45cm)

• Primed Linen or Canvas 45x50cm (preferably order Claessens 66, if not Bijan’s Art Supplies has rolls)

• Refined Linseed Oil (Bijan’s)

• Gamsol (Bijan’s)

• Oil Cups

• Paper Towel

• Palette Knife

• Xacto Knife

• Staple gun

• Stretcher pliers

  
  

Brushes: 

Brushes hog hair from Da Vinci or Tintoretto (1 of each size and type)

• Size 6 (Flat and Filbert)

• Size 8 (Flat and Filbert)

• Size 14 (Flat and Filbert, and Wash)

If brushes cannot arrive in time, Bijan’s has a variety too. Ask for hog hair brushes.