There is something about the intensity of portraiture and portrait modelling that requires more than that of life drawing.
In a class run by Sandy Grant, taking place in the Botanic Gardens, I acted as portrait model on Thursday evenings for a oil painting portraiture course. During this time, the attendants would have to scrutinise my face, hair, posture, expression, and any subtle variations on how I held myself during the pose on a week to week basis, and make constant amendments to their original painting.
To quote Sandy, he suggested to everyone to consider me as “the master version” of what they were depicting, and so would have to almost disregard their painting, forcing them not to be precious about their work, but appreciate the value and process of oil painting.
One of the people who attended the course was Michael Sellar - I remember him well, and I’m sure he does me, as he was in the direct line of my vision, so unfortunately for him, he had me staring him down for the entire duration.
Michael seemed to fully embrace the process Sandy was teaching, constantly altering and looking, not merely running with his painting if he thought it looked good independently of the model’s influence.
Michael critically says he is “happy enough” looking at what he produced over the hours that was available to him. He continues to say: “it's a slow process and loved building it up over the weeks. [I] Started painting in the summer and now completed 2 short Botanics courses (both oil painting). I can see 47 problems with it, excluding the fact much is unfinished. Definitely ups and downs along the way, but I can see that's oil painting.” This is most definitely the case with everyone else who attended the course. Many were timid about the process I feel, as I would be especially under a time limit, however Michael aptly states, “[You] Need to be bold, but can't rush it either. Wouldn't be worthwhile if it was easy....”
It was interesting to see the variety of styles and finished/slightly unfinished products at the end of the course. Even with everyone studying the same object (me) over the weeks, there was a wide variety of interpretations, something which Sandy never discourages whilst teaching.
If you are interested in Art Classes in the Botanics, see the links below. http://www.artclassesinthebotanics.com/ https://www.facebook.com/ArtClassesInTheBotanics