Portrait Drawing: Realistic to Expressive (in person)

Students in this course learn facial proportions, ratios, shading techniques, composition, pose, and posture. Students learn to use line, shape, value, and measuring techniques to create realistic and expressive portraits. The goal of this class is to increase students' familiarity with the diverse ways in which portraits can be created and understood.

Open to students ages 15–18. MCAD strictly adheres to these age guidelines and is unable to allow exceptions. Please review our complete Teen Policies as well as our General Policies prior to completing your registration. Covid policies and protocols are included in the Teen Policies page. 

Required supplies

First class

• pen or pencil
• notebook or sketchbook
• 18 x 24” newsprint drawing pad
• three 18 x 24" sheets of Canson drawing paper
• drawing pencils (HB, 2B, 2B)
• 2–4 sticks vine/willow charcoal (soft or medium)
• 2 square blocks of soft compressed charcoal
• one 2B graphite pencil
• one of each: soft, medium, and hard charcoal pencils (Derwent, General’s, or Cretacolor)
• erasers: kneaded and Staedtler white
• artists or masking tape

Supplies will cost approximately $75 (not included in tuition).

Optional

• ruler
• 18 x 24" drawing board
• portfolio to transport work (portfolio can be made out of 2 pieces of foam board secured with binder clips)

Registration deadline

July 28
If the minimum enrollment is not met by the deadline above, the class will be canceled on this date. Registration will remain open after this date if the minimum enrollment has been met. 

Questions? 

Contact MCAD Continuing Education at continuing_education@mcad.edu or call 612.874.3765.