Lesson 5: Beginning a Painting: Dynamic Symmetry

The Flute Player

Commonly referred to as Secret, even Sacred, Geometry there is an understructure of geometry to great paintings. The trained painter knows this as Dynamic Symmetry.

In this short video I discuss my thinking process when embarking upon a painting.

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The Flute Player

Upcoming 2021 Virtual Art Classes via ZOOM

Portrait Drawing | The Foundational Skills

Portrait Drawing - foundation skills

Online Portrait Drawing Lessons - Verna

The first, and foremost, skill you will learn is how to strike the BIG shape. This critical starting point is your foundation upon which everything else depends. You begin this course with a powerful training exercise that will literally save you years of struggle. I'm not kidding.

Having achieved this foundation skill you will learn how to accurately and consistently establish the major proportions of the head. And then proceed to learning the principles of Big Form Modeling.

The full course description and materials list.

Materials List

Thursdays, 10:00 - 12:30
Pacific Standard Time
April 29 to June 3, 2021
6 Sessions

US$317.00

Limited to eight participants.

Painting Portraits in Watercolor

Watercolor Portraits

Learn how to paint realist portraits in watercolor step-by-step with a layered process of alternating cool and warm washes beginning with a Cobalt Blue underpainting.

You will learn the various approaches of layering watercolor including wet-in-wet, dry brush, flat and graded washes and how to stipple to effect delicate blushes in the cheeks.

The full course description and materials list.

Materials List

Tuesdays, 10:00 - 12:30
Pacific Standard Time
May 4 to 18, 2021
3 Sessions

US$207.00

Limited to eight participants.

Alla Prima Portrait Painting in Oil

Painting portraits alla prima

Learn how to paint Alla Prima portraits in oil that are as fresh as hot biscuits.

In this three-session course you will complete a total of three paintings where you will learn a very efficient process of first blocking-in and fixing the composition/color scheme and then establishing the forms of the face with a succinct economy of means.

The full course description and materials list.

Materials List

Tuesdays, 10:00 - 12:30
Pacific Standard Time
May 25 to June 8, 2021
3 Sessions

US$207.00

Limited to eight participants.

Painting Portraits in Oil | Foundation to Bravura

Portrait Painting - Foundation to Bravura

In this three-session workshop you will learn how to paint a dynamic portrait in oil from a photograph.

The language of the photograph is different from that of painting. In this workshop you will learn the process of how to translate the photographic image into a painting that is much more than a mere copy of the photograph.

You will learn how to accurately block-in the big shape before fixing the facial proportions to establish both your composition and the likeness.

Learn how to construct value structures to render three-dimensional form and the practice of spotting color notes mix accurate flesh tones that breath life.

The full course description and materials list.

Materials List

Friday, Saturday, Sunday, 10:00 - 12:30
Pacific Standard Time
June 18 to 20, 2021
3 Sessions

US$207.00

Limited to eight participants.

'I've learnt more from your online workshops than I have from my previous face to face courses combined and at a fraction of the cost. Your teaching is comprehensive, yet clear and engaging.'

P. Delaney
Sydney, Australia