Join Marc Alexander for a two-day workshop covering the essentials of portrait drawing: proportion and structure, light and shadow, and rendering techniques.

This workshop will cover all the key fundamentals of portrait drawing. Under Marc’s guidance, each participant will complete a finished portrait, working from a provided reference over the two days. Everyone is welcome – from absolute beginners to practiced artists.

Dates: 19 & 20 September
Time: 9:00 am – 4:00 pm daily
Location: 48 Herschel Road, Fish Hoek
Cost: R1800 (for both days)
Lunch and refreshments included
Limited to 10 participants only

Click here to book your seat

Workshop Structure and Timeline

DAY 1 – Construction Methods & Features (19th September)

9:00 – 9:30 am: Welcome & Introduction

  • Tea and coffee
  • Meet and greet
  • Overview and goals
  • Materials check

9:30 – 12:15 pm: Instruction and Demonstration

  • Choosing a reference
  • Head construction methods and basic proportions
  • Drawing the head from different angles (front, ¾ view, profile)
  • Facial features – eyes, nose, mouth, ears: structure, placement, variation
  • Focus: shape, form, proportion, tilt, and placement, etc
  • Light demo and group sketch-along

12:15 – 1:00 pm: Lunch Break

1:00 – 3:30 pm: Own Project – Construction

  • Artists begin their portrait projects, choosing one of the provided references
  • Instructor guidance and feedback throughout the session

3:30 – 4:00 pm: Q&A and Critique

  • Group feedback and constructive critique

DAY 2 – Rendering: Two-Value Block-In, Tone & Finished Portrait (20th September)

9:00 – 9:30 AM: Warm-up

  • Tea and coffee
  • Overview and goals
  • Review of Day 1 sketches

9:30 – 12:15 PM: Instruction and Demonstration

  • Shading techniques: hatching, blending, highlighting, etc
  • Understanding light on form and two-value block-in (shadow shapes on facial forms)
  • Focus: value range, edges, material handling and control, line-quality, etc
  • Light demo and group sketch-along

12:15 – 1:00 PM: Lunch Break

1:00 – 3:30 PM: Own Project – Rendering

  • Artists render their portrait projects
  • Instructor guidance and feedback throughout the session

3:30 – 4:00 PM: Q&A and Critique

  • Artists present their final portraits
  • Group feedback and constructive critique

Required materials:

  • A2 or A3, 300gsm+ hot-pressed drawing paper
  • 2B and 8B pencils, or a clutch pencil with 2mm 2B and 8B lead
  • Vine charcoal
  • Woodless charcoal pencils
  • NT cutter
  • Sandpaper strip for sharpening
  • Putty eraser, rubber eraser, and eraser pens
  • Blending stump
  • Drawing clips
  • Fixative

Please bring your own materials or purchase them at the workshop. Standing and table easels, along with drawing panels, will be provided. The Portrait Drawing eBook, containing all workshop notes, will also be available online.

Payment details:
Bank: First National Bank
Account Holder: Alexander Art Academy
Account Number: 62833810816
Branch: 260300
Reference: Initials and Surname – Workshop
Proof of payment: admin@alexanderartacademy.com

Please note: Your payment secures your seat for the workshop.
Refund Policy: We completely understand that plans can change. If you let us know at least five working days before the workshop, we’ll gladly arrange a refund (minus a R200 cancellation fee). Unfortunately, we’re unable to offer refunds for non-attendance without prior notice. Thank you for your understanding!