Class Description:

You see the human face every day. But not like this.

This course gives you a comprehensive approach to portrait painting, giving you a chance to bring a portrait to life from A to Z. With two five-week poses from a live model, students will develop portrait paintings through each stage of a rigorous process. Beginning with drawing, you will learn how the concepts of contour and value set the stage for success. This study will build towards a careful observation of color and value, showing the details of how a drawing can come to life in oil paint. From canvas toning, paint handling, and color mixing to the delicate touches that make a painting a true portrait, you’ll learn everything you need to know to capture a human face vividly, systematically, and in a more lifelike way than ever before.

Summer Semester Dates:

Scheduled occurrences for the next semester of this class are as follows:

Week
Date
Time
Week 1:
5/31/2024
2 - 5 pm ET
Week 2:
6/07/2024
2 - 5 pm ET
Week 3:
6/14/2024
2 - 5 pm ET
Week 4:
6/21/2024
2 - 5 pm ET
Week 5:
6/28/2024
2 - 5 pm ET
Week 6:
7/05/2024
2 - 5 pm ET
Week 7:
7/12/2024
2 - 5 pm ET
Week 8:
7/19/2024
2 - 5 pm ET
Week 9:
7/26/2024
2 - 5 pm ET
Week 10:
8/02/2024
2 - 5 pm ET


  1. Before Class - Welcome & How to Prepare for Class

  2. Week 1 - Introductions and begin the underpainting/block-in

  3. Week 2 - Continue and finish underpainting

  4. Week 3 - Color mixing and laying-in of color begins

  5. Week 4- Laying-in of colors and modeling forms

  6. Week 5 - "Oiling Out” vs. “Wet-Into-Dry" Painting

  • $595.00
  • In-Person
  • 10 Weeks
  • Beginner to Advanced

Meet Your Instructor

Jesse Stern

Instructor

Jesse Stern grew up in Cambridge, MA, later receiving a bachelor's degree from Vassar College. He completed the MFA program at The New York Academy of Art in 2012 and now lives and works in New York City. His work has been exhibited throughout the United States and is a part of many private collections around the country. He is currently represented by Arcadia Contemporary in New York.

Achieve your artistic potential

Join us to discover traditional skills and contemporary practice