Portrait Drawing Live Class Replay

What’s a Live Class Replay Like?

If you’ve not taken a Live Streaming Class at Vitruvian before, you won’t know what to expect from a Replay. The excerpt above features about 8 minutes of class time in which instructors David Jamieson and Melinda Whitmore discuss the challenge of drawing freckles on a model, applicable to this portrait and to many other types of “local value” variations on the surface of an object.

This clip will give you a sense of how we teach these classes. We typically draw together in a split-screen format, with the reference photo between the two demonstration drawings. This allows students a clear view of each demo and to make easy comparisons with the model. At this point in the class, we’re discussing how to approach the challenge of drawing freckles on someone’s skin – or for that matter, drawing any “local value” variation on the surface of an object.

Oh, and by the way, we’re currently offering 40% off on this Replay, but not for long! Just use the coupon code “black-friday-40” at checkout. Don’t wait!

-David Jamieson & Melinda Whitmore
Vitruvian Fine Art Studio

This replay presents the fundamentals of portrait drawing in 8 sessions, each about 2.5 hours in length. The objective is to bring a single portrait drawing to completion in about 22 hours of instruction, using the same method we’ve taught at Vitruvian Studio for years. Topics covered will include:

Drawing Materials: What we use and why we use it.
The Drawing Process: Building illusionistic form from linear block-in to tonal rendering.
Mechanics of Light: Light is the primary subject of illusionistic artwork. The concept of how light interacts with form will be emphasized repeatedly.
Anatomy and Structure: Detailed discussion of head, face and feature structures is presented throughout the class, starting in a linear stage of drawing, and revisited during tonal value development.

This class was originally streamed live on Zoom during the fall of 2021 over 8 weekly class sessions. Recordings of those class sessions are presented here, in which Vitruvian instructors David Jamieson and Melinda Whitmore simultaneously perform an extended demonstration on-camera of the same model in the same pose. Two instructors provides students with two perspectives on drawing, and an opportunity to see how the method of drawing the same model can yield two unique results. Each video focuses on a particular stage of the drawing process, and students are encouraged to work along in real time.

A detailed photo reference of the model is available for enrolled students to draw from – the same reference the instructors are using – and supporting documentation (markups, diagrams, materials lists, etc.) are also included as needed. As such, students are able to draw the same model, from the same point of view – something not possible with traditional on-ground classes with a live model.

An excellent class. Thoughtfully laid out with manageable suggestions for each week’s work. Particularly good to have same subject with 2 different interpretations and great to hear differing techniques from two professional artists.
– Susan, Bloomington, IN

I would highly recommend this class to anyone who wants to improve their portrait drawing skills. David and Melinda are excellent teachers and I would recommend that you sign up for the critiques because these are invaluable. I have taken several classes over the internet and this was by far the best.
– Peter, Culpeper, VA

To be able to see each pencil line and brush stroke is invaluable. And the individual critique sessions made all the difference because I could ask specific questions and see my mistakes through David’s and Mindy’s kind eyes. This class gave me so much more confidence.
– Alice, Southwest Harbor, ME