Join Portland-based artist Mike Sowers for a weekend workshop focusing on the art of painting a portrait in oil. This is a workshop designed for beginners. Over the two-day workshop, participants will learn the core concepts required to execute a portrait, including:
• Simplifying dark and light shapes of the face
• Mixing skin tones
• Observing proportions
• Adjusting the drawing for greater accuracy
• Quieting the inner critic
A limited palette of colors will be used, and all materials from brushes to paint and canvas will be provided. The only recommended supplies to bring from home are a sketch pad for studies and notes, plus a pencil. We will paint from a photo reference on Saturday and from a live model on Sunday. Several handouts will be provided. If you’ve ever been intrigued by portrait painting, this will be a unique and wonderful opportunity to explore these basic skills.
Instructor biography:
Mike is a late in life, mostly self-taught painter. He has drawn all his life, but he didn’t seriously try painting until he retired from a career in business. He has taken workshops at the Art Students League in New York City as well as the Florence Academy of Art in Italy, along with studying with numerous noted contemporary artists and teachers.
He has also worked as a courtroom illustrator while living in Nashville, Tennessee. Most Recently, Mike has taught several portrait classes at Hipbone Art Studio in Portland, in addition to classes using Procreate. You can see samples of his figurative, portrait, and landscape work on Instagram: mikesowers8567.
Mike will be in Manzanita on September 14, 2024 to offer a free afternoon demonstration of his approach and to meet prospective students. In the meantime, please feel free to contact Mike with questions about the October
workshop at [email protected].
Click here to view and download workshop flyer
