MANY PEOPLE CAN DRAW, BUT FEW DARE TO TAKE ON THE CHALLENGE OF A PORTRAIT OUT OF FEAR THAT THEY MAY RUN INTO DIFFICULTIES

That is why technique and a thorough understanding are so important. There was a clear demand for the portrait workshop held in conjunction with Cervezas Alhambra, which turned out to be a huge success.

The workshop took place on Friday, 8 July, and for over an hour and a half, 22 participants attentively listened to me talk about portrait techniques. The event was part of the activities organised by Jardín Cervezas Alhambra Málaga at La Térmica until Sunday, 18 July.

What did the portrait workshop involve?

The portrait is one of the most common art forms used in the History of Art. It is found in works that tell a story and in pieces that simply feature a face.

In the workshop, we looked at the basic steps of a portrait, from creating a structure using a simple numerical geometry with a circle, triangle and square, to outlining it to add volume so that the face we wish to depict is clearly identifiable.

The workshop began by delving briefly into the History of Art to understand the different contexts in which portraits have been created, from the pre-classical period to contemporary artists such as Luc Tuymans, Alex Katz and Amy Sherald. By doing so, we were not restricted to the merely academic understanding of what a portrait should be, which can often be frustrating and lack creativity.

Afterwards, each participant created their own version of the chosen portrait, using each other as models and giving free rein to their creativity. The students used special paper for drawing by Canson, and other fine art supplies such as Lyra graphite and coloured pencils, for an all-round artistic experience.

More events at Jardín Cervezas Alhambra Málaga

Thanks to everyone who took part in the workshop for the great experience!

Fotografías de J. Carlos Santana