Portraiture – an introduction – 4 weeks

Start Date: Saturday 6/09/2025 (Weekly)

Time: 10:00am

Duration: 2.5 (total 10) hrs

Price: £280.00

Ability: Beginner

Tutor: Rachel Labovitch

Tickets Available: 5

About this course

Sat mornings for 4 weeks starting Sat 6th Sep - Sat 27th

Learn the Basics: An introduction to Portrait Drawing

Join artist and experienced tutor Rachel Labovitch for a welcoming and practical 4 week course designed to introduce you to the art of portrait drawing . 

Aimed at those with some drawing experience that would like to explore and develop techniques of portrait painting and help to build a toolkit of graphite and charcoal techniques, a better understanding of facial anatomy, and the skills to create portraits that feel alive and full of personality. 

Rachel is a skilled portrait artist known for her expressive work and approachable teaching style. She brings warmth and expertise, helping students grow their skills and creative confidence, at our inspiring studio in Twickenham. You will receive step by step instruction & guidance, practice of techniques with group and individual feedback.

The 4 sessions will focus on working from photographs and ref supplied.

WEEK 1: FOUNDATIONS OF THE HEAD

  • Exploring the basic structure of the head
  • Understand facial structure by studying the skull from different angles
  • Using graphite to render contour and light and dark

WEEK 2: PLANES OF THE HEAD

  • Toning paper using charcoal and reductive drawing technique
  • Studying planes and contours in the structure of the head 
  • Basic proportions of the face in relation to the skull
  • Applying knowledge to studies of the head in different orientations

WEEK 3: DEEP DIVE INTO FEATURES

  • Basic drawing of features, eyes nose and mouth
  • Examine features and common problems that occur
  • Practise drawing features in different orientations in relation to the skull
  • Guidance and troubleshooting 

WEEK 4: CREATIVE DIRECTION

  • Final portrait in charcoal
  • looking at hard and soft edges
  • Work with layering techniques and tonal transitions
  • Enhance depth, expression, and facial form
  • Receive individual feedback and group critique

What You’ll Learn:

  • Graphite and mark making skills
  • Core drawing skills for portraiture
  • Proportions and structure of the human face and head
  • Expressing different facial features
  • Charcoal techniques
  • Graphite and mark making skills

Whats Included : all materials to make a start.

What to bring : A3 cartridge paper sketch pad and some pencils, rubber, if you can.

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Reviews

“Taking the time to learn in the inspiring environment of Colne Road Studios was such a treat! The group was welcoming and supportive and Rachel is an extremely talented and generous teacher, sharing her skills and knowledge to give us fresh perspectives and a wealth of useful advice and feedback. I felt my ability and interest in drawing had been revived after many years dormant, learning how to observe as well as how to draw. I would encourage anyone willing to pick up a pencil to have a go, and have already signed up to Rachel’s next course!   “CB  March 2025

‘I decided to do the Drawing for Beginners class at Colne Road Studios as I have recently started painting for the first time since school and felt that doing a beginner drawing class would aid me with this in looking at image and form.  That and the fact that I hadn’t picked up a pencil to draw since I was a teenager.   The course exceeded my expectations.  The group were lovely and from very different backgrounds – some beginners, some already dabbled, and a couple were professionals who used drawing in differing forms in their careers.  Rachel Labovitch is an exceptional tutor.  She is informative in her teaching approach bringing in examples of other artists as we went along meaning that new or well-known works of art were discussed and techniques explored.  She is positive, supportive and very encouraging.   I left each class feeling inspired and even did ‘homework’ during the week to practice what I’d learnt – something I didn’t do at school.  I would highly recommend this course to anyone and everyone – if you think you can’t draw, you’ll be proved wrong and you’ll start to notice the world around you with fresh eyes.’  LA Feb 2025

 

Can I park nearby ?

A CPZ is in force from Mon to Sat 8.30 – 6.30pm
Limited paid spaces available in surrounding roads with Ring Go cashless Parking

Max stay 4 hours during operational hours

Holly Road Car park, behind Marks & Spencer TW1 4HF

Mon to Sat – 8am to 6.30pm.
This car park is accessible and free to park in outside of these hours. Max stay 4 hours during operational hours – walking to the Studio approx 9mins

Are your courses just for adults or do you offer any courses for children ?

At the moment the courses at Colne Road Studios are designed for adults over the age of 18 . The aim is to create a relaxed  environment, provide  a bit of an escape and switch off from every day responsibilites. We are not able to accommodate children in our classes, nor do we provide children’s classes at this time.

Enrolment deadline

To secure a course, please book at least 8 days before the listed course start date.

Any course with no bookings 8 days prior to it’s start date will then be removed from the website .

Courses with fewer than 3 participants may be cancelled, with 5 days’ notice given to those who had enrolled.

You will be notified by email if this happens, unless you would like us to text you  instead, but please let us know.
A refund for the full course value will then be made.
Please bare with us .    This might take 5-10 days to come through.

Where is my course taking place ?

100 Colne Road Twickenham TW2 6QE. map ref

WHAT3WORDS : location kind.cook.honest

What is your refund policy?

All of our longer courses are exchangeable up until 28 days prior to the start of the course. After this, you are able to change your booking to a different course for a £20 admin fee. Please note that from 14 days prior to the start of the course, your booking is non-refundable and non-exchangeable.

Our refund policy is strict because it enables us to pay ourselves and our tutors a fair wage, and remain accessible as a studio.
Every time we are asked to to accommodate a refund request, we would be forced to lower our staff wages or increase our prices – both of which we really want to avoid. We hope you understand that this is why there are no exemptions to our refund policies.

What if the course is cancelled by Colne Road Studios ?

Courses with fewer than 3 participants may be cancelled, with 5 days’ notice given to those who had enrolled.

You will be notified by email if this happens, unless you would like us to text you instead, but please let us know.
A refund for the full course value will then be made.
Please bare with us . This might take 5-10 days to come through.