Ron Lemen
Thursdays, 6–9 PM
January 28–March 18
(8 weeks, 24 total hours of instruction)
La Jolla Studio
$330/350
Ever wanted to capture the likeness, personality, and presence of another human being on paper? This fundamentals portrait drawing class is where observation meets structure, and where anatomy, proportion, and expression 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, perspective, and head construction to the planes of the face and the behavior of light as it moves across the features. You’ll learn how to simplify complex forms, organize facial structures into understandable relationships, and use value and line to describe volume, character, and likeness. These are time-tested approaches used by master draftsmen and painters, designed to help you see more clearly and draw 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 head, understand the relationships between the features, and interpret the face as a three-dimensional form rather than a collection of individual parts. Some days things will click, and your portraits will feel solid and alive; other days you’ll wrestle with proportions, symmetry, or capturing a convincing likeness, but each session sharpens your eye and deepens your understanding. Whether you’re new to portrait drawing or refining your skills, you’ll leave with stronger work, a clearer process, and a deeper appreciation for the complexity, beauty, and individuality of the human face.
Materials:
This list is preference-based but organized to help you find a combination of tools that work best for ease of learning and reduced frustration in the materials not working well together.
Suggestion 1: Charcoal
Generals Charcoal Pencils 4B hardness
Smooth Newsprint Purchased in reams on Amazon which is the best deal you’ll find
Pacon White Newsprint, 30 lbs, 18 x 24, 500 Sheets/Pack
Kneaded Eraser
Suggestion 2: Graphite
Pencils HB, 2B, and 4B I recommend Blackwing pencils as they are soft, easy to use and are made for the serious artist
Blackwing Pencil Sharpener
Graphite Sticks by Generals or By Cretacolor 2B
Kneaded Eraser
Plastic Eraser
Blending Stumps
Drawing Board to mount the pad onto for drawing ease
Suggestion 3: Pastels
Sanding pad
Kneaded eraser
Max students: 15