Introduction Video:

-----Class Description --------

What if you could use your art to connect with your audience in a fun and deeper way? What if I told you it was as simple as learning to implement mood in your art?

Fantasy Portraits with Feeling: Expressive Faces for Beginners is a class where I teach you how to easily level up your portrait art by pushing your expressions, implementing character design techniques, and including fantasy elements to better connect with your audience by expressing emotion and including a storytelling element in your portrait art.

In this class, we will cover:

A brief history of Portrait Art and what makes a Portrait Piece compelling
Psychology of colors and how different colors bring different feelings to the viewer
Research and Planning and how to set your portrait up for success
Drawing faces with techniques on how to create unique faces from photo reference and pushing expressive facial features
Implementing fun fantasy elements and how to get inspiration
Painting techniques and how to implement what you’ve learned so far

I will be completing the start-to-finish process for this class on my iPad using Procreate, but feel free to use traditional canvas or paper, or any other digital drawing program!

I’ve created a workbook to help you follow along. In addition to the workbook, I’ve also created a drawing challenge designed to help you practice implementing the techniques you learned in class and to help you get out of your comfort zone

This class is for anyone interested in diving deeper into storytelling through portrait art and leveling up their artistic skills.

I can’t wait to see what you come up with!

---------CLASS PROJECT-------------

For your class project, you will create an expressive fantasy portrait and upload it to the project gallery in the Project & Resources section. This can be a portrait of a human or a fantasy creature.

Be creative and most importantly, have fun!

Materials:

Use your favorite drawing/painting medium. This class is created an iPad Pro with Procreate but can be implemented in any drawing program or art medium.

Getting Started:

Think about the mood, feeling, and story you want to convey. Do you want your portrait to read as happy, sad, or possibly angry?

Select references, my favorite free stock photo site unsplash.com

Pick a color palette. Think about color and the feeling that you want your piece to convey. Would an analogous palette get your mood across better than a complimentary one? Are warm colors more suitable than cold? Play around here with different pallets and pick the one you think better overall suits the feeling you want to come across.

Sketch your thumbnails keeping expression, texture, and style in mind.

Refine your sketch keep going until your sketch is the way you want it. There is no wrong answer on how many times this process may be needed. Refine until your portrait is clean and clear enough to start painting.

Add color & value paint out your piece using the steps you learned in class. Keep in mind your light source and your story.

Upload to the project gallery:

Now that your project is completed, share it with the rest of the class by uploading it to the “Your Project” section!

Have fun and if you have any questions, please let me know! I’m here to help!

For more inspiration and practice, check out the Expressive Fantasy Portraits 30-day Instagram Challenge located in the Projects and Resources section.

---------OUTLINE------------

Introduction:

Talking Head

5min

Intro Lead: Have you ever wanted to create more dynamic paintings that resonated with your audience but you weren’t sure where to begin? Do your current Portraits fall flat and leave something to be desired? Do you struggle with expressions, and creating details that make your portraits unique?

Who this class is for
Who I am
What I teach you in the class
What I’m Using/What the Students will need to get started

Your Project

Slides & Text/Voice Overlay

1-2 Min

What the class project will be
How to follow along
What to keep in mind
How to upload to the Project Gallery

Why Portrait Art

Slides & Text/Voice Overlay

1-2 min

A way to capture a person before photography
- Used as a record
- Used as a way to convey personality
Modern v. Ancient Portraits
- Types of clients
- Growth of portraits over time
Self Portraits
- Sub-group
- Self-Revelation
- Symbolism

Portrait Studies - What to Keep in Mind

Slides with Text/Voice Overlay

1-2 min

There should not be “neutral” portraits. We want our portraits to tell us about the subject, things to include:
- What is the subject portrayed next to or in front of?
- What objects does the subject carry or have around them?
- What clothing does the subject wear?
- What is the body language or expression of the subject?

A Look at Famous Portraits

Talking Head, Slides & Animation with Voice and Text on Slides & Popup fun facts

10-15 min

The Arnolfini Portrait By Jan van Eyck, 1434
Portrait of Madame X by John Sargent Singer, 1883-1884
Self-Portrait with Thorn & Humming Bird by Frida Kahlo, 1940

Psychology of Color

Slides with Voice & Text Overlay - Popup fun facts

6 minutes

Intro Note: Perspeceptions of color can be subjective and can differ depending on the viewers’ cultural background, preferences, and situational factors.

Colors to go over:

Black
White
Red
Blue
Green
Yellow
Purple
Brown
Orange

Finding References

Screencast with voice overlay

10 min

Gathering References for the portrait
Gathering References for the Fantastical Elements
- Unsplash, Pixabay, Pexels
- Finding the right reference
- Using Pinterest
- Organizing Reference
- Sites to look at

Using References

Screencast with voice overlay

15 Min

Using references
- How to “take” from different reference photos to create something unique
- Notes on the ethical use of reference

Pushing Expressions

Slides with Voice Overlay & animation

How to push expression for character design & review of body language
Expressions to review:
- Happiness
- Anger
- Sadness
- Contentment

Sketching

Screencast & slides with voice overlay

15 Min

Basic Face Proportions
Sketching the face
Including fantasy elements

Finalizing

Screencast

15 min

Linework & Clean Up
Tips for creating clean work

Painting

Screencast with Voice Overlay

15 Min

My painting process overview (i.e. what we are going to do.
Steps:
- Base colors
- Shadows
- Highlighting
- Finals

Note on the Challenge

Talking head Video

3 min

Where to find the challenge
How to complete the challenge
Uploading to social media

Conclusion

Talking Head Video

2min

Summary of class
- Importance of conveying the story in portraiture
- Color Psychology
- Adding in fun elements
- Expressions
- Class takeaways/key points
Next steps
- Project Upload
How to continue improving
- challenge

Candice Barbosa

Artist

5

110