Adult Learning | Figure Painting in Oil

 —  Every Saturday, 1.30-4.30pm (6 week course, no class on 2 Nov)

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About the course 

Develop your figure-painting skills in this series of art classes for adults. Join us for six Saturday afternoons to immerse yourself in art, meet new people and uncover the extraordinary possibilities of oil paint in depicting the human form.

What you will learn

Students will be introduced to oil painting techniques to enhance their understanding of both contemporary and traditional approaches to figurative oil painting and drawing. Beginning with drawing proportion and tonal oil painting, students will move onto long pose figure painting with an emphasis on creating volume, structure and chiaroscuro (depth of light and shade).

In addition to the technical processes employed in oil painting, students will gain a deeper understanding of the context surrounding their creation with access to Charles Goldie’s La Femme au bain [Woman in the Bath], 1898, a copy of a painting by Rene-Xavier Prinet.

In the first two sessions, students will begin drawing and painting a copy of La Femme au bain, which will be finished throughout the remainder of the course. Students will have view the original painting in the Gallery and will be provided with information in composition, light, colour and gesture.

In the third session, students will begin a long pose drawing and painting from a live nude model, which will be completed over the remaining three sessions of the course. Painting from the live model in long pose will help facilitate an understanding of anatomy, structure, gesture, tone and colour.

Painting and drawing demonstrations will be given to students throughout, with critical feedback aimed at facilitating each student’s individual needs and styles. Whether a beginner or an experienced artist long pose is a great way to learn figure painting. You will be learning from a teacher and artist with over 20 years of experience teaching figure painting and drawing.

Dates: Every Sat, from 19 Oct until 30 Nov (No class on 2 Nov).

Artwork credit: Charles F Goldie, René-Xavier Prinet La Femme au bain [Woman in the Bath],1898, Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki, gift of Mr Nicholson, 1954. 

 

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Cost
General $500 Members $450 (+ booking fee)
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About your tutor: 

Zarahn Tūwharetoa Southon (Ngāti Tūwharetoa, Ngāti Pikiao, Ngāti Pukenga, Whakatōhea) is an Auckland-based painter of Ngāti Tūwharetoa, Samoan and mixed European Jewish descent. On completion of a Bachelor of Visual Arts in 1998, Southon had several solo shows and in 2005 was awarded a Contemporary Pacific Art Scholarship, which funded a trip to study in Florence, Italy. In 2007 he was awarded a scholarship from the classical art school Studio Escalier in the Loire Valley, France. On completion, he furthered his studies with senior lecturer at Studio Escalier and pioneer of restructured Realism, Ted Seth Jacobs, in San Francisco. These periods of study in Italy, France and America were highly influential on Southon’s current practice. Described by an art critic as New Zealand’s own Lucian Freud, Southon’s artworks explore allegorical themes, portraiture and still life. He has exhibited regularly at the New Zealand Portrait Gallery in Wellington. Public institutions holding Southon’s works include the Auckland City Council and the Wallace Trust Collection at the Pah Homestead in Auckland.

Southon is currently the Te Kotahitanga delegate for his hapū of Ngāti Kurauia at Tokaanu marae, Turangi. He holds a diploma in te reo Māori and is currently finishing a degree in te reo Māori at Te Wānanga o Aotearoa.

Image credit: Zarahn Southon. 

Course outline
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Materials list
42.92 KB PDF file