Painting the Alla Prima Portrait with David Shevlino (October 2025)

Painting the Alla Prima Portrait with David Shevlino
Join tutor and alla prima artist David Shevlino and learn to paint the alla prima portrait over 4 days.

In this class we’ll paint the portrait alla prima (wet into wet) and learn the techniques used to create a fresh, direct response to our subjects.  There will be a painting demonstration and lots of class time for students to work from live models with a different pose each day. The focus will be on economy of brush strokes, simplifying the head and seeing it in terms of basic shapes and planes described by light and shadow.  We’ll also talk about basic concepts like proportions, value, color mixing and paint application. This approach helps us to paint our subjects with greater understanding, expression and directness. 

The class will be particularly helpful for those who want to move from a tight painting style to a  looser, economical paint application.

Who is the tutor?
This course is taught by David Shevlino. David Shevlino studied at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, the University of Pennsylvania and the Art Students’ League of NY. His work has been featured in publications internationally and he has exhibited his work and taught workshops throughout the North America and Europe. He has also produced a series of instructional videos showcasing his painting methods.

How many students will there be?
This class is limited to 12 participants and is suitable for all levels. David will tailor the course to your personal needs and you can expect intensive, customised tuition.

You can find the materials list for this course here. If you have any questions, please see our frequently asked questions or contact us.