Portrait Workshop Adult Art Class | Art School of SF Bay

Professional-grade art education, à la carte

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Portrait Workshop

Adult Art Workshop

Levels:

Beginner & Intermediate

$435

5 in-person classes, 10 hours

$300

5 online classes, 10 hours

Art materials are provided and included in price

Improve your portraiture skills! Students will complete numerous head studies and improve their knowledge of proper head construction. The second half of the workshop will allow students to focus on a project of their choice in whatever medium they choose. We will discuss how to create and/or select an appropriate reference photograph during class.

This portrait drawing and painting class will teach you:

Human face anatomy
Lumis method
Drawing faces alike
Painting portraits

To enjoy this course, you need to be familiar with:

Or, attend the Key Elements of Fine Arts course

All courses are offered at all studios, every 2-4 months. If you do not see a session scheduled in a studio near you, please put yourself on the waiting list for the course and location you are interested in. You will receive a notification the moment the course is added to the system.

Upcoming Sessions:

No Classes September 5th (Saturday) - 7th (Monday) - Labor Day weekend
No Class October 31st, 2026 (Saturday) - Halloween
No Classes November 23rd (Monday) - 29th (Sunday) - Thanksgiving Break

San Francisco

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Online

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Mountain View

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San Rafael

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San Jose

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Frequently asked questions about adult classes:

I am going to miss 1-2 classes. How do I make them up? Almost every student misses classes now and then. To arrange a make up, please email your studio up to 5 days in advance, we do not allow drop ins. - We offer up to 3 make ups per course/semester (1 make up for short 5-6 weeks courses) - Make ups are not guaranteed, but we will try our best. - No make ups can be scheduled after missed class. - A make up can not be rescheduled. Do I need to purchase materials? We provide the materials for the in-studio classes, there is no need to bring anything. However, it might be a good idea to purchase some art materials for practice at home. Online students neeed to purchase materials for their classes.

Refund Policy:

We are not offering refunds for new purchases. However, full credit towards future bookings or transfer to another camp/class will be offered for any cancellations made up to 24 hrs before the camp or class start.

Photos from this workshop:

Day 1: Introduction + Basic Form of Head

Introduction to drawing materials, and anatomy of the head. Step-by-step construction of the head from basic shapes. Understanding measurements from various viewpoints. Introduction to the features of the face. Differences in gender.
Materials: Charcoal or graphite, paper, drawing boards.

Portrait Workshop for all levels, beginners

Week 3: Putting it all together, Head “Types” & Characterization

Putting it all together. Studying muscles of the face as they pertain to movement + expression. Understanding how to observe rhythm, spacing, and expression. Combining construction, lighting, and expression to create characterization (aka drawing our first portraits of famous faces). Begin a longer study of your choice for the final project.

Materials: Charcoal, graphite, colored pencil, paper, drawing boards, canvas/panel + paint. Make sure to ask students about their prior experience with materials, in order to prep for next week’s lesson.

Week 4: Final Project Part I

Continuing discussion of character, expression, and facial feature variety. Note how face types can be derived of subtle differences from what might be considered the human “average”.

Studying lighting on the head & facial features. Mixing for different skin tones and hair colors. Working to establish a likeness.

Materials: Students may select their own materials. If students are not familiar with painting, it may be a good idea to draw on toned paper or with colored pencil, rather than attempt a new medium.

Testimonials:

Leila

I signed up for the portrait painting lessons with Cody Blocker. I had zero experience drawing or painting. I was able to start with zero and take it to 100 in a few sessions. Cody takes the mystery out of painting and allows you to reach your full potential! He is a wonderful teacher - very patient and supportive, and always there if you need help. I highly recommend his classes for anyone who wants to explore their creativity in a safe zone.

Shannon S.

Art School SF is simply magical. I serendipitously walked by on my way to dinner during a class and immediately fell in love. I popped in to get info and Hannah was so helpful to get me plugged in. I had already missed the first class of the portrait workshop and she found time for me to come in and get caught up. Hannah is a spectacular teacher and I have learned a tremendous amount in a short time about the many aspects of painting--anatomy, drawing, oil painting basics, color theory, etc.

A S.

Thank you so much Maria & Andrew!

I still cannot believe i was able to paint a portrait like this by the end of the class. It would definitely recommended this class if someone wants to learn oil or acrylic painting.

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