Anthony has created a new art gallery in Devon from where he will be selling art and teaching. The Name of the gallery is Speculation Gallery and is located on the Old Road, Brixton, Plymouth, PL8 2BS.
There are a number of sessions available for the novice artist, or those new to oil paints, through to experienced artists.
Monday, 6pm to 8pm. Open Session. Untutored session for experienced artists to meet and create in a spectacular venue. £10 per session.
Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, 6pm to 8pm. Oil painting Workshop. details below. £20 per workshop
Saturday, 9am to 12 noon. Children’s Art Club. Details to be announced.
Saturday, 2pm to 6pm. Life Class. Untutored life class where artists bring their own materials. £20 per session.
Introduction to Workshop
Anthony has developed this course after over 30 years as a practicing portrait artist to share his experience and knowledge of using photographic references to produce portraits as if painted from life. The photograph is an excellent tool for the artist to use but it does have some very serious shortcomings that can ruin a portrait painting. It is these shortcomings that Anthony has identified and overcome to share with fellow novice and experienced artists.
The aim of this short course is to demonstrate and practice the techniques required to produce a portrait in oils on canvas from photographic references.
There are no prerequisites for this course, it is aimed at adults who have little or no experience of producing art through to experienced artists wishing to learn new techniques.
All materials are supplied during the course from reference photograph to everything required to produce a portrait in oils on canvas. Just come in comfortable clothes that you do not mind if they come in contact with paint or solvents, an apron is provided but painting in oils can be a bit messy.
Carrying on Learning
Those artists wanting to continue to develop their skills can still attend these workshops to have a the opportunity to paint a portrait on any person they wish by providing their own photographic references, or any other subject of their choice. For the reference to be suitable please bear in mind that photographs are a great source of reference material to paint a portrait and most of us at some time would have said “That would make a fantastic painting”. When choosing a suitable photograph there are a number of points that should be considered that would make it suitable.
Clarity.
The photograph needs to be clear and sharp and show enough detail from which to produce a portrait, you cannot paint what you cannot see. The greater the pixels the better.
Size.
The head of the subject needs to be enlarged to fit onto an A4 sheet of paper with a little room for shoulders.
Lighting.
The best lighting is from one source such as in daylight, flash could be used but should be diffused to reduce it’s harshness.
Pose.
For the best results the subject should be relaxed and in repose. Action shots or those where the subject is smiling do not work well in paintings but do work well as photographs. The reason for this is that a photograph captures a single moment in time whereas a painting captures the subject’s personality and implies a period of time. Any position of the head works well in a painting and sometimes the more unusual can work very well, for structural purposes an ¾ view is often considered the best.
Gaze.
Where the subject is looking is down to how you want the finished portrait to be viewed. If the subject is looking straight out of the painting at the viewer this can look assertive and the eyes will follow you around the room. This is a very good gaze for some portraits. If the subject is looking past the viewer in impression can be optimistic and looking down can look demure; both of this are easier to view as they appear to give the view permission to look at them. As would be the case in life.
I have had artists who wish to paint a portrait of their horse or pony at a second or subsequent workshop that, as the techniques can cross over, I can easily accommodate.
Contact Details
anthonyokeefeportraits.com
speculationgallery.com
speculationgallery@gmail.com
01752 881617
07522 436177