Ron Lemen
Sundays, 1–4 PM
June 7–July 12 (no class July 5)
(5 weeks, 15 total hours of instruction)
La Jolla Studio
$260/280
Ever wanted to bring a full figure to life on canvas, fabric, form, and all? This clothed figure painting class is where observation meets design, and where structure and gesture come together in a meaningful way. You don’t need to be an expert draftsman to start. We’ll ground everything in strong academic principles, from proportion, gesture, anatomy, to the behavior of light across both the human form and the clothing that wraps it. You’ll learn how to simplify complex drapery, organize folds into clear patterns, and use color and value to describe both structure and movement. These are time-tested approaches used by master painters, designed to help you see more clearly and paint with confidence.
The goal is to build a reliable foundation while keeping the process fluid and enjoyable. As the saying goes, “The master acts without striving.” You’ll learn how to construct the figure, understand weight and balance, and interpret clothing as an extension of the body, not a separate problem to solve. Some days things will click and your figure will feel solid and alive; other days you’ll wrestle with proportions or tangled folds, but each session sharpens your eye and deepens your understanding. Whether you’re new to figure painting or refining your skills, you’ll leave with stronger work, a clearer process, and a deeper appreciation for the complexity and beauty of the clothed human form.
Materials: Paints: Preferred paints in oil: Buy Directly from the DaVinci Paints website—Titanium White, Cadmium Yellow Pale, Cadmium Yellow Orange, Cadmium Red Light, Alizarin Crimson, Red Rose Deep, Ultramarine Blue, Cerulean Blue, Viridian Green, Ivory Black.
Surfaces: Canvas Pads—I use 12 x 16" and 16 x 20" but scale is up to your preference, larger means more room for brush work.
Brushes: Brushes include at least one 1/4" Bristle Flat, two 1/2" Bristle Flat brushes, one Round preferably a sable, one 1/2" Bristle Filbert, one 1/2" Bristle Bright, and 1 Fan Brush, preferably a bristle as well. We are not using any sables except to draw with to make sure that our paint application is strong and opaque which makes it much easier to see the exact color that has been mixed.
Immediately after you register, look for a confirmation email and receipt. In the week preceding the class start date, you will receive another email with more details.