Sculptural

session 3 –

July 5, 2027 – July 16, 2027

What do classical figurative sculptures and paintings have in common? This class is centered around creating figure paintings from life that are informed by the numerous great works of painting and sculpture in Rome.

Taking inspiration from these works, we will study value, color, proportion, and how to render form. Hollis will teach methods of measuring to master proportion, and focus on major anatomical landmarks, studying the way that master painters model form and make color. We will use white paint as an “eraser” to help draw the edges of the figure, as a way to completely focus on the form and drawing of the figure itself. The instructor will demonstrate several painting methods, from the use of thick and thin paint in the style of painters like Rembrandt and Rubens, to the naturalistic color and light effects of the Impressionists. Students will be encouraged to build the sense of form from the largest masses first, gradually adding more detail. In addition to painting from life each day, we will be taking several trips to museums and churches to study various works of the masters, in order to benefit from the full immersive experience of being in Rome.
In a series of 2-3 day poses, we will study the portrait in full color from various angles. We will focus on accurate measuring, experimental and interesting paint application, and how to refine the drawing in order to create interesting paintings. The instructor will demonstrate various methods of paint application, from smoother classic techniques to modern “alla prima” methods, and show the common areas in each technique. In addition to painting from live models each day, we will study portraits throughout museums in Rome on our various tours, and see how even older classical portraiture can relate to portraits made today.
From Titian to Van Gogh, we will delve into the nuances of portraiture to help each student achieve their own vision with the beauty of Rome as our backdrop.

We will study the model under high contrast lighting and pay attention to the way the light and shadow shapes reveal form and color, and experiment with the opportunities that dramatic lighting can give for dynamic paint application. Throughout the 2 weeks we will observe numerous works of master painters in Rome, both as an homage to the incredible works of the past, as well as inspiration for our own work from the model. Join us to paint the portrait in Rome!