Portrait from Life: Painting and Drawing with Ivan Loginov (Oct 2026)

Portrait from Life: Drawing & Painting with Ivan Loginov

Course Description

Portrait from Life is an intensive four-day course in drawing and painting led by Ivan Loginov. The course approaches the portrait as a complete artistic statement, where the head, figure, and surrounding space are understood as a single, interconnected whole.

Working consistently from a live model, participants focus on pose, proportion, silhouette, and spatial relationships. Particular attention is given to how these elements contribute to the structural clarity and expressive strength of the portrait, beyond surface likeness.

Teaching follows a deliberate, structured process — from careful observation and analysis through to a resolved, finished work. Participants develop their ability to perceive form clearly, understand its construction, and organise it coherently within the picture plane.

The course is rooted in the traditions of the Russian realist school, with close attention to observation from life, anatomical coherence, and refined tonal and colour relationships. Core professional aspects of portrait practice are addressed, including composition, spatial organisation, tone, colour, and the expressive presence of the model.

By the end of the course, each participant will complete two finished portrait works.

The course is taught in English and is open to all levels. It will be particularly valuable for artists with prior experience in drawing and painting who wish to deepen and systematise their understanding of classical portrait practice.

About the Artist

Ivan Loginov is a painter and teacher working within the tradition of Russian realist painting. His practice is grounded in close observation from life, strong structural thinking, and a deep engagement with form, tone, and colour. Alongside his studio practice, Ivan teaches internationally, sharing a rigorous yet thoughtful approach to classical drawing and portrait painting.

Materials

This list is a guide to help you prepare for the course. If you are missing some items, please don’t worry! Alternatives can be found and materials shared where possible.

Painting

Canvas

• Fine-grain canvas on stretcher

• Recommended size: 40 × 50 cm to 60 × 70 cm

• Minimum: 40 × 30 cm | Maximum: 50 × 60 cm

• Square or rectangular formats are both suitable

Painting Equipment

• Palette

• Palette knife

• Double dipper for mediums

• Brushes: a range of large and small sizes, bristle and synthetic (including fan brushes)

• Rags or paper towels

Mediums

• Odourless thinner (e.g. Sansodor or equivalent). Turpentine is not permitted in the Studio

• Linseed oil

Oil Paints

Your usual palette is suitable, at least 15 colours recommended

Suggested colours:

• Titanium White

• Lemon Yellow

• Cadmium Yellow

• Light Ochre

• Raw Sienna

• Cadmium Orange

• Cadmium Red

• Burnt Sienna or Burnt Umber

• Raw Umber

• Mars Orange Transparent

• Van Dyck Brown

• Viridian

• Cobalt Blue

• Cerulean Blue

• Ultramarine Blue

• Ivory Black or Mars Black

Underpainting Materials 

• Wide brushes or roller (Raw Umber studios can provide) 

• Acrylic paints (white, ochre, sienna, umber, black)

• Jar for mixing acrylics with water (Raw Umber studios can provide) 

• Paper napkins

Drawing

Participants may choose to work in one of the following approaches:

• Graphite with wet sauce

• Graphite with toning

• Charcoal

Paper

• Smooth, texture-free drawing paper

• Recommended size: 40 × 50 cm to 50 × 60 cm

Drawing Equipment

• Sketchbook

• Graphite pencils (B–8B)

• Charcoal pencils (please avoid wooden stick charcoal)

• Soft brushes (for wet sauce technique)

• Eraser

Creative freedom is encouraged, and participants are welcome to experiment with alternative materials and techniques.
Please note: watercolour is not supported in this course.

How many students will there be?

There is a maximum of 12 participants, and the tutor will customise the course according to your individual needs.

Studio Access & Parking

The studio and car park open at 9:30 am each day. We kindly ask that you do not arrive before this time, as staff will be preparing the space.

We close at 5:30 pm, so please ensure you are packed up and ready to leave by then. Thank you for helping us keep everything running smoothly! 

If you have any questions, please see our frequently asked questions or contact us.