Learning how to paint a costumed model is an exciting and challenging process. Clothes add color, character, texture, pattern, and rhythm to the subject. The costumed figure does not eliminate the need to study proportions and anatomy of the body. Understanding the structure gives your the ability to visualize the form under the clothing. Fabrics can obscure the form, and at the same time, contribute additional context to the model. Clothing styles reference the time period, culture, season, and indicate if the setting is formal or informal. Learn how to depict fabrics, folds that hug the body, patterns, as well as gloves, hats, and shoes.
Who is it for
This course is suitable for the students who have already acquired basic drawing skills. Please note: no prior experience with the human body or color-mixing is necessary. Graduates of the Essential Drawing Course are welcome. To qualify for this course, if you are an absolute beginner, you need to complete 12 weeks of the Essential Drawing Course, which you can join right now or at any time.
A costumed model will maintain the same pose for 4 weeks. We encourage a large canvas (stretched or unstretched) which will require an easel, a support board, or a wall to pin canvas to. If you’ve never painted in oversized format, you will be shown how to start a large painting in a beginner-friendly approach. For those who are interested in getting portrait commissions, this is the opportunity to learn how to do it with this step-by-step guidance.
Materials:
Warm-up exercise:
- Black Blick Premium tempera paint, diluted to 60% paint, 40% distilled water
- Bristle paint brushes, variety of sizes
- Sketch paper
- Small airtight cup keep to diluted tempera in
- Cup for water
- Paper towels
- Clothes you don't mind getting paint on
Main project:
- Must-have colors: Red, yellow, blue, black, and white. Click here for a set
- Quinacridone Magenta
- Bristle paint brushes, variety of sizes
- Canvas (size is up to you)
- Cup for water
- Easel (table easel or standing easel)
- Sturdy support board, if painting on unstretched canvas or small canvases
- Mist bottle for keeping your mixtures moist
- Palette paper
- Paper towels
- Charcoal or pencil for sketching
- Sketch pad, pencil, and eraser for notes and sketching
- Gloves in your size
- Apron or clothes you don't mind getting paint on
Optional supplies: Masterson airtight palette holder (New Masteron palettes come with 5 sheets of palette paper)
You can also use oils as an alternative to acrylics.
This course is available for "remote" learning and will be available to anyone with access to an internet device with a microphone (this includes most models of computers, tablets). Classes will take place with a "Live" instructor at the date/times listed below.
Upon registration, the instructor will send along additional information about how to log-on and participate in the class.
