Composition with Portrait and Figure

COURSE CODE: E2403P19

COURSE DATES: Fridays 25th April – 13th June 2025

TUTOR: Carl Randall

DAYS: 8

TIMES: 10:30am – 4:30pm

EXPERIENCE LEVEL: Beginner +

FEE: £545

LOCATION: Bankside Campus, 185 Park Street, SE1 9BL

Explore a variety of exciting approaches to compositions featuring portraits and figures. Observational/academic exercises are balanced with imaginative, unusual and creative projects, often looking at the figure & portrait within environments. You’ll gain a broad and varied understanding of figurative painting, portraiture, design and composition, monotone and colour painting techniques, the use of acrylic or oil paint, as well as preliminary sketching. 

Students will be able to:

  • Analyse the work of others and apply findings to your own work 
  • Apply the rules of perspective in the creation of paintings, as well as some experience of distorting space.
  • Create a narrative in figurative painting.
  • Apply compositional skills in painting the figure within a context.
  • Create paintings that explore a theme or idea through experimentation with composition and combinations of  imagery/ motifs.
  • Apply safe-working practices at all times.

Recommend booking by: April 23, 2025

Beginner +

All attendees must be aged 18 and over.

Choose a Beginner + course if you are looking to hone your skills, focus on a specific subject area and build your confidence. These courses are suitable for those with some basic skills in and knowledge of the taught medium, but still follow a structured path with guidance from the tutor.

You will need to bring your own painting materials to the class, which you can store at The Art Academy for the duration of the course.

If you do not have your own materials, we recommend you order one of our Painting Packs when booking. You can purchase this at the checkout. Once ordered, packs will be available when you arrive for your first class. There is also a mini shop in the Academy that supplies the basics such as canvas boards, paints, Zest-it etc. (card purchases only)

The Academy is a white spirit and turpentine free environment and only odourless spirits, such as Zest-it or Sansodor, are permitted on the premises. These can also be recycled on site. If you are using oil paints you must bring 1 small jar with a lid to hold your solvent as this should be reused each week. If you want to dispose of your solvent please speak to your tutor as these cannot be poured down the sink and must be disposed of correctly.

Please also bring an apron or old clothing to wear.

    The Acrylic Pack contains:
  • A set of acrylic brushes, both flat and round
  • One tear off palette (9”x12”)
  • One palette knife
  • One 10″x12″ canvas board
  • One 10″x14″ canvas board
  • Two 12″x16″ canvas boards
  • Eight Daler Rowney (system 3) tubes of Black, White, Cadmium Red, Sap Green, Ultramarine Blue, Yellow Ochre, Burnt Umber, Cadmium Yellow

    The Oil Pack contains:
  • A set of bristle brushes, both flat and round
  • One tear off palette (9”x12”)
  • One palette knife
  • One bottle of Zest-it (250ml)
  • One 10″x12″ canvas board
  • One 10″x14″ canvas board
  • Two 12″x16″ canvas boards
  • Eight Daler Rowney 38ml Georgian oil tubes of Titanium White, Cadmium Yellow, Lemon Yellow, Alizarin Crimson, Cadmium Red, Ultramarine Blue, Coeruleum Blue and Burnt Umber

Please note that pack contents are subject to change at the discretion of the Academy at any time.

Please be aware that depending on the course structure, you might need to purchase extra canvas boards, on top of the ones provided in the pack.

Carl Randall is a graduate of The Slade School of Fine Art (BA Honours Fine Art Painting), the Royal Drawing School (the Drawing Year), and Tokyo University of Fine Arts, Japan (MFA and Doctorate in Painting). He has exhibited several times at the National Portrait Gallery’s Portrait Award (2024, 2013, 2012, 2002), and was their Travel Award winner in 2012, where he had a display of 16 Japan-themed paintings. He has also exhibited numerous times at The Royal Academy of Arts Summer Exhibition (2019, 2013, 2009 2012); The Royal Society of Portrait Painters Exhibition at the Mall Galleries (2024, 2020, 2018, 2017, 2012), and at Flowers Gallery London (every year 2017-present). He has had solo exhibitions in London and Tokyo, and has taken part in Art Fairs in Switzerland, Japan, London, Turkey and Taiwan. Carl has work in the collections of The Royal Collection (commissioned by HRH King Charles), University College London Art Museum, Tokyo Geidai Art Museum Japan, and Foundation Carmignac Paris. He is also the winner of The Sunday Times Watercolour Competition and The Nomura Art Prize Japan, as well as several other awards. His work has been featured on the BBC World Service and CNN. 

https://www.instagram.com/carlrandallartist/

Bankside Campus

185 Park Street,London SE1 9BL

tel: +44 (0) 207407 6969

This is our new purpose built accessible campus. Find more information here

Nearest Tube/ Rail: London Bridge or Southwark (both a 10-15 minute walk).

Please note that London Bridge has two exits, the most direct route is to follow signs to “Borough Market”.

Students are welcome to use The Hub during break times, where you can prepare hot drinks and/or food. You must bring your own keep-cup, water bottle or food container to the Academy as mugs, glasses, and containers will not be available in our Bankside campus.

Tea and coffee will be provided by the Academy and is available from the island unit at the end of The Hub.

Terms and Conditions

  • By booking onto one of our courses you agree to our Short Courses Terms and Conditions.
  • You will need to have paid in full before the first session of your class. Your place is not guaranteed until we have received full payment. Please book early in order to guarantee your place on the course.

Materials & Equipment

  • If you purchased a pack online this will be given to you on the first session of your course upon your arrival. Packs can be booked on our Materials Page or on this page when you book the course
  • Please don’t wear your best clothes as there is always a chance you will get messy. If possible bring an apron or overalls.
  • All artwork at the Academy MUST be taken home at the end of each session where possible, with the exception of oil paintings and sculpture works.
  • We cannot store materials at the Academy, so please take these to and from your sessions.
  • Please ensure that your mobile phone is switched off or is on silent during the class.
  • Health and Safety Guidelines will be provided to you a week before the start of your course.

Concessions and Discounts

We offer a number of concessions and discounts, please find more information on what we offer here.

Gift Vouchers

If you would like to purchase a gift voucher to be used on our courses then you can purchase these here.

Original price was: £545.00.Current price is: £490.50.

Composition in Portrait and Figure elective image of artwork by Carl Randall

Artwork by Carl Randall