The Fundamentals of Portraiture

COURSE CODE: E2501P006

COURSE DATES: Mondays, 15th September to 24th November 2025

TUTOR: Julia Hawkins ROI NEAC

DAYS: 10

TIMES: 10:30am – 4:30pm

EXPERIENCE LEVEL: Ages 18+, Beginner +

FEE: Early Bird: £607.50 / Standard Price: £675

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

This course is a revision course for students with some experience of portrait painting. It examines fundamental aspects of portrait painting to ensure you have a comprehensive understanding of the techniques and skills required. You will analyse form and colour, consider again the handling and mixing of colour, and how it applies to portrait painting

Your tutor will support you fully throughout the course in both group sessions and one-to-one, providing regular feedback, critique and constructive advice.

Students will be able to: 

  • Develop knowledge of different stylistic approaches to portraiture, past and present, analyse the work of others and apply findings in their own work. 
  • Analyse, mix and apply colour in a practical and precise way, including for skin tones.
  • Find solutions to the problems of arranging a subject with reference to the paintings of the past.
  • Understand the structure of the head and convey depth through the use of tone and colour.
  • Understand the head in relation to the space around it and create balanced compositions. 
  • Apply safe-working practices at all times. 

Recommend booking by: August 20, 2025

All Levels

All attendees must be aged 18 and over.

This course is suitable for all levels. Students can move at their own pace depending on their experience, with as much support from the Tutor as they wish. This means an student from the following experience levels can join this course:

Beginner

Choose a Beginners course if you are looking for a broad introduction to the medium you are studying. Our Beginner courses are suitable for students with no prior experience.

Beginner +

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.

Intermediate

Our Intermediate courses are suitable for students who have considerable prior knowledge of the taught medium or have completed a Beginners/Beginners + course with the Art Academy.

Advanced

Choose our Advanced courses if you have considerable knowledge in the taught medium. You are expected to be able to work independently and have critical discussions around your work.

YOU MUST BRING YOUR OWN MATERIALS

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. Students must provide their own spirits, which can be recycled for longevity. 

We request that you bring 2 small jars (one with a lid, one without) to hold your spirit, and a few cloths rags for brush cleaning (such as an old cotton t-shirt).

Below is a list of what is currently required for the course. Please also check the ‘what to bring’ sections above. Your tutor will advise if further materials or equipment are required as the course progresses.

You will need to bring the following:

  • A4 hard-back sketchbook, range of graphite pencils from HB to 6B. Eraser. Stanley knife to sharpen pencils. Willow charcoal. Putty rubber and firmer eraser
  • Two dippers/or double dipper
  • Jam jar with lid.
  • Only odourless spirits, Sansodor or Zest-it (the Academy is a Turpentine free environment)
  • Firm flat palette (approximately A3 size)
  • Kitchen towel or rags, protective clothing
  • A number of canvas / canvas boards between roughly 16” x 12”, 18” x 24” and 2ft x 3ft (for the final two weeks)
  • Oil Paper Grained painting pad (A4 or A3) for colour exercises
  • Brushes: assorted sizes of hog long filberts and flats (Large sizes are better when painting on large formats) * No synthetic brushes please!
  • A triangular palette knife medium size
  • Oil paints: Ivory black, Raw Umber, Burnt Umber, Raw Sienna, Burnt Sienna, Red Ochre Transparent (Winsor & Newton) – optional, Venetian red, Yellow Ochre or Gold Ochre, Cadmium Red, Cadmium yellow, Alizarin Crimson, Viridian, Chromium Oxide Green, French Ultramarine, Titanium White or Zinc White.
  • * Artists’ quality paints contain more pigment, therefore retain their brilliance for longer and last longer
  • * Colours you use the most should be bought in 200ml tubes to save money (eg. white, umbers, ochres, siennas, blue)

Certain materials can be purchased from the Academy shop during shop hours. Please check in advance of your class if the item you require is available, as the Academy may not have this in stock.

 

The Academy has created an ‘Oil Painting pack’ which contains part of the basic materials necessary for this component. Please either purchase an academy painting pack following the link below or source your the individual items from elsewhere; http://artacademy.org.uk/evening-classes/materials/

An Oil Painting Pack (£75.00) contains:

  • A set of bristle brushes, both flat and round, suitable for either oils or acrylics
  • One tear off palette (9”x12”)
  • One palette knife
  • One bottle Zest-it (250ml) 
  • One 10″x 12″ canvas board
  • One 10″x 14″ canvas board
  • Two 12″x 16″ canvas boards
    8 Daler Rowney Georgian Oil paint tubes in: Titanium White, Lemon Yellow, Cadmium Yellow, Burnt Umber, Cadmium Red, Alizarin Crimson, French Ultramarine Blue, Coeruleum Blue.

Julia Hawkins

Julia Hawkins is a contemporary figurative artist based in Surrey, UK. Julia’s modern impressionist style is well recognised and her works are sought after by collectors both in the UK and internationally. Elected a Member of the Royal Institute of Oil Painters and the New English Art Club, she is a regular exhibitor at the Mall Galleries in London as well as in private galleries such as Jonathan Cooper Park Walk Gallery. Her work has been selected for the Lynn Painter-Stainers Prize and Ruth Borchard Self-Portrait Prize. Julia also shows her works with Chelsea Art Society and in Surrey.

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: £675.00.Current price is: £607.50.

E2501P006-The-Fundamentals-of-Portraiture-Julia-Portrait-of-Jeff

Artwork by Julia Hawkins

Early bird 10% off discount available until the 27th of July 2025.

Use coupon code at checkout: aa-earlybird-10%