Portraiture and Anatomy with Luca Indraccolo (Jul 2025)
Do you feel that your portraits aren't convincing, or feel slightly "off"? Drawing or painting a portrait is hard, but if you understand the underlying structure and build on that scaffolding then you'll be giving yourself a head start.
That's where this brand new 4 day workshop with Luca Indraccolo comes in. You'll learn the fundamentals of anatomy within the context of drawing or painting a portrait. As well as producing a single, complete portrait by the end of the course, you will learn:
- About the overall structure of the skull and head
- The planes of the head
- The anatomy of individual features
- How to use anatomy to draw or paint a convincing, structurally sound, lifelike portrait
The focus of the workshop is hands-on learning. Luca will teach with his usual style of informal, anatomical chats and demonstrations. On the first day you will carry out a series of small charcoal studies to learn the basics of anatomy of the head and features, before pulling what you've learned together in a complete, single portrait over three days.
You may use either charcoal, charcoal and chalk, or oil paints for the final portrait. Whatever medium you decide to use, Luca will personalise his tuition. As well as gaining anatomical insights, you will improve your skills in the medium of your choice, learning:
- How to create a portrait from start to finish
- How to transfer your anatomical knowledge into drawing or painting
- The importance of gesture and anatomy in portraiture
- The importance and principles of drawing, values and edges
If you decide to paint, you will also learn:
- The role of colour
- How to mix colours and paint realistic flesh tones
- Which brushes to use when, and how
Who is the tutor?
This course is taught by Luca Indraccolo. Luca was born in Naples and trained in Florence and London. He currently lives and paints in Malta. You can see more of his work on his web site.
"Luca is incredible - great tutor, clear and inspiring." - Cathy Forrest
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.
Materials list
You will need these materials for the sketching component of the course. In addition, if you would like to paint for the final portrait then you will also need the materials list here.
If you have any questions, please see our frequently asked questions or contact us.
