The Drama of the Human Face

What are the challenges for today’s portrait painter? How do you capture a likeness and character from within the traditions of portraiture in an ever-changing world, where technology and social media impact on how we perceive and portray each other?

Kim Spooner tackles these issues with an introduction to the history of portraiture and contemporary practices, and leads a lively discussion about Australian portrait prizes, including the Archibald and National Portrait Gallery Prizes. In the NAS painting studio Kim guides you in developing a likeness and impression of a portrait subject, with step-by-step procedures from initial studies to finished paintings.

There are opportunities to draw and paint from live models as well as photographs of subjects of your own choice, finding the character and proportions unique to each individual. Learn contemporary and traditional painting techniques with oils and acrylics, as well as how to use various mediums. The course is designed to be broad and diverse in approach, responding to each student’s skill, style and aesthetic, while focusing on the fundamental skills of painting.