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APPLICATIONS OPENSPRING TRIMESTER DATES: 25 September to 9 December 2023
CLASS SCHEDULE: Mondays & Thursdays 19:00 to 22:00 STUDY LOAD: 6 lesson hours per week, 66 instructed hours total INSTRUCTOR: Mischa Tranquilli LANGUAGE: English LIMIT: 11 students maximum TUITION COST: € 595 (Tuition includes model costs, but does not include course materials. See materials list below.) |
This course emphasizes a traditional indirect approach to painting the portrait from life, beginning with a grisaille palette and gradually expanding to the exploration of a full color space.
Duration
Year 1: grisaille & limited color palette | Year 2: full color palette
Duration
Year 1: grisaille & limited color palette | Year 2: full color palette
ABOUT THIS COURSE
Examples of student work during the Fall 2022 Trimester & color demonstrations from the instructor. This is a new course at DARA - more student work to be added soon!
Course Description
This course explores a traditional indirect approach to painting the model from life. An indirect method means the painting is built up in layers, and allows painters to employ different textural and optical effects that are unique to the oil painting medium.
Portrait studies completed in this class last for a duration of between 12 to 24 hours per pose. Alongside longer academic studies, students also complete shorter alla prima studies in order to design the composition, value and color schemes of their larger works.
In-depth demonstrations are provided throughout the trimester, alongside one-on-one individual instruction.
First Year, Trimester 1
The first trimester focuses on the successful transition from drawing to painting, working exclusively with a warm / cool grisaille.
This is a slight variation on a true grisaille, in which paintings are completed in a monochrome grayscale. Working with a palette of very muted blue and brown tones serves as an introduction to color temperature, and provides a helpful step between drawing in grayscale and painting in full color.
First Year, Trimesters 2 & 3
From the second trimester onwards, students progress to working with a limited color palette of titanium white (or lead white), ivory black, yellow ochre, and cadmium red. This traditional palette traces back to ancient Greece, and has been famously used by painters such as Velazquez and Zorn.
In spite of its limited size, this palette is capable of mixing a wide range of naturalistic flesh tones, and provides a good introduction to the basics of color theory. Trimesters 2 and 3 focus extensively on strategies for successful color mixing of naturalistic flesh tones.
Second Year
Starting from the second year, students work with an expanded color palette. Focusing on larger portrait paintings of 24 hours duration each, students explore strategies to effectively work within a full color space, and consider greater optical effects which can be achieved through the use of both opaque and transparent pigments.
All work in this class is taught using comparative measurements.Course Materials (Trimester 1)
The following materials are required for participation in this course.
Buying supplies at DARA?
Items on the list marked * are available to buy at the atelier.OIL COLORS:
All oil colors should be Artist/Professional quality. No “student-grade” paint please.- Titanium White or Lithopone White (Lead white is also suitable if you have prior experience with it.)
- Ivory Black
- Raw Umber
CANVAS- 4 canvas, size 24 x 30 cm. Fine-weave cotton or linen.
- ***5 canvas, size 10 x 15 cm
- ***5 canvas, size 24 x 30 cm
*** For the items marked with stars, it's better to use either canvas paper or loose/unstretched canvas that can be taped to a drawing board.
* Loose sheets of oil-prepared Belgian linen are sold at DARA.
MEDIUMS- * Linseed Oil
- * Gamsol
PAINTERS TOOLS- Palette, medium/large size
- 1 palette knife, diamond shape
- 2 metal palette cups
- 1 roll painters tape
- Paper towels
- A container to rinse brushes in. An airtight brushwasher is the best choice, but a clean & empty glass jar with a lid also works
- Optional: knitting needle
- Optional: gloves
- Optional (but strongly encouraged!): small hand mirror
BRUSHES- At least 1-2 round bristle brushes, medium to large size
- A variety of filbert bristle brushes, small to large sizes
- A variety of round sable or synthetic-hair brushes, in small to medium sizes
- A variety of filbert sable or synthetic-hair brushes, in small to large sizes
Financial Aid
Student Discount
Are you 21 years old or younger OR are you studying full-time in a university or other accredited school during the trimester?
If so, you qualify for a 10% student discount off the cost of any part-time course at DARA.
To claim the discount, please email a copy of a valid photo ID which includes your date of birth, or your current student card to info@dutchartatelier.com before the start of the trimester.
Please note that the student discount is for part-time study courses, and does currently not apply for workshops.
Funding For Creative Professionals
You may be eligible for funding for your studies at DARA from Werktuig PPO (permanente professionele ontwikkeling, or “continuous professional development”) if the following applies to you:- You are employed by a Dutch company or organization in the creative or cultural sector.
- You are a self-employed freelancer in the Netherlands in the creative or cultural sector.
How can I check if I am eligible?
Businesses within the creative or cultural sectors are categorized by SBI code.
The list of eligible SBI codes can be found here.
How does this funding scheme work?
Werktuig PPO finances one-third of the total cost of the course, with the remaining amount to be contributed by you or your employer.
Are you interested in enrolling in multiple courses at DARA? Werktuig PPO offers a maximum contribution of € 2000 in funds per 12 months.
How can I apply?
Apply online at: https://werktuigppo.nl/
Applications must be submitted by students. DARA is not affiliated with Werktuig PPO and cannot apply on a student’s behalf. Questions regarding this funding scheme may be emailed to info@werktuigppo.nl
Can DARA students apply for the STAP budget?
Not at this time.- FAQs about this CourseQ: Is this course suitable for beginners?
A: No, this course is intended as a follow-up to portrait drawing, and is not suitable for beginners.
Q: I would like to join this course, but I never followed portrait drawing classes at DARA. Can I still apply?
A: Yes, applications are open to everyone. Taking portrait drawing classes at DARA first is not required.
What is required is a sufficient level of technical proficiency with model drawing as a prerequisite to joining this class. When submitting an application, there will be an opportunity to upload examples of your portrait drawings (from life only - not from photos) so that these skills can be assessed.
Q: Why does the application say that I should not show drawings made from photos?
A: Please show drawings that demonstrate your ability to accurately describe proportion, form, and structure from direct observation of a 3D environment.
Q: Does this class teach the sight-size method?
A: No, we work using comparative measurements.
Q: Do students work from photographs?
A: No, we work from real models. Working from photographs is not taught in any course at DARA.
Q: Can I use water-mixable oils?
A: The instructor does not use this type of paint, but students who prefer to use water-mixable oils may do so.
Q: Why does the materials list say that I should not bring Student paints?
A: Student quality paints perform very differently from professional quality. The volume of pigment is diluted with paint-extenders and fillers, which weaken the strength of the color and are not good for the painting's longevity. To learn a craft properly, we feel that it's important to use the correct tools.
Q: Why does the materials list say that I have to use Gamsol? What is Gamsol?
A: Gamsol is a type of odorless mineral spirits (OMS) produced by Gamblin. It is of a higher quality than other common brands of OMS and has been refined to the extent that it produces virtually no odor.
For safety reasons, Gamsol is the only type of solvent allowed inside the building. We sell Gamsol directly at DARA in case it's not available in your local art store.
Q: I want to take this class, but I will probably have to miss some lessons. Can I still apply?
A: Please make sure you can attend at least 80% of the lessons before you sign up. (This means missing no more than 4 lessons per trimester.)
For FAQs about DARA in general, click here.