Life Drawing, also known as Figure Drawing, is the practice of drawing in order to study the human figure. If you look at historic artwork, you'll find many nude drawings and paintings. These are considered life drawings. Many artists perceive figure drawing as an endless effort with limitless possibility for improvement, learning, and diversity. The range of detail in a life drawing can vary immensely. They can range from highly detailed and anatomically proportional drawings to loose and expressive sketches to gesture drawings, which show the simple form, action and pose. Some popular mediums used during life drawings are charcoal, graphite, pen, ink and pastels. For the longer poses, some may use painting mediums like acrylics or oil.
 
Location: Hilton Head Island, South Carolina
Cost: $20 for Members / $40 for Non-members
Sponsor: Art League of Hilton Head
Website, email, (843) 842-5738

This will be an Open Studio with Sue Archer as the instructor available. These classes have been set up with the intent of helping the attendees with their drawing and painting skills and to move on to finished drawings and or paintings that you personally want to do. You may work with your own references and bring in your own still life that you are working from. Each day there will be a studio still-life set up; a model’s picture(s) on the monitor; and photos of landscapes to work from. However, you will be encouraged to take your own photos of landscapes and bring them to the studio.
 
Location: Jupiter, Florida
Instructor: Sue Archer
Cost: $50 per class
Sponsor: The New Studio for the Visual Arts
Website, email, 561-295-5712

Join Art League instructor Joyce Nagel for this exciting 2 Half-Day Workshop for anyone wanting some awesome tips and tricks in painting or drawing the human portrait. Joyce will provide a demo at the beginning of the first day.
 
Location: Hilton Head Island, South Carolina
Instructor: Joyce Nagel
Cost: $100
Sponsor: Art League of Hilton Head
Website, email, (843) 842-5738

In this 2-day workshop, you’ll learn the key concepts of painting outdoor scenes with figures. The basic principle of figure painting relies on well designed, shapes of light and dark which allow for the description of beautiful form. The focus will be on achieving accurate drawing and correct values; two of the most crucial aspects of representational painting. There will be instruction on how to mix clean color in the correct value and temperature in order to create the illusion of light on the figure.
 
Location: Jupiter, Florida
Instructor: Eli Cedrone
Cost: $350
Sponsor: The New Studio for the Visual Arts
Website, email, 561-295-5712

Life Drawing, also known as Figure Drawing, is the practice of drawing in order to study the human figure. If you look at historic artwork, you'll find many nude drawings and paintings. These are considered life drawings. Many artists perceive figure drawing as an endless effort with limitless possibility for improvement, learning, and diversity. The range of detail in a life drawing can vary immensely. They can range from highly detailed and anatomically proportional drawings to loose and expressive sketches to gesture drawings, which show the simple form, action and pose. Some popular mediums used during life drawings are charcoal, graphite, pen, ink and pastels. For the longer poses, some may use painting mediums like acrylics or oil.
 
Location: Hilton Head Island, South Carolina
Cost: $20 for Members / $40 for Non-members
Sponsor: Art League of Hilton Head
Website, email, (843) 842-5738

Join classically trained artist Mario A. Robinson for a transformative 4-week masterclass that delves deep into the classical approach to watercolor portraiture. This course uniquely focuses on capturing the emotional essence and personal connections of your subjects, blending technical precision with expressive storytelling. Over the span of four weeks, Mario will guide you through a live portrait demonstration, where you'll explore every step of creating a watercolor portrait from start to finish. Beginning with the block-in stage, you will learn how to shape the structure of your portrait, focusing on value, composition, and the emotional core of the subject. Mario will help you connect with your subjects on a personal level, enhancing the depth and meaning behind each portrait.
 
Location: Web-delivered (Online)
Instructor: Mario A. Robinson
Cost: $425
Sponsor: Terracotta
Website, email

Embark on a transformative artistic journey with the acclaimed artist Mary Whyte in this exclusive six-month mentorship course, designed to elevate your artistic abilities and unlock your true creative potential. Building on the foundation of Mary's Portraiture Masterclass, this course dives deep into the intricacies of her video series, allowing you to seamlessly integrate its fundamental lessons into your own art practice. Over the course of six months, you will have 12 live mentorship sessions with Mary, where you'll receive personalized guidance and feedback tailored to your unique artistic journey. In addition to these group sessions, you'll also have two One-on-One meetings with Mary, providing the opportunity to discuss your progress, address specific challenges, and explore your career goals in depth.
 
Location: Web-delivered (Online)
Instructor: Mary Whyte
Cost: $2195
Sponsor: Terracotta
Website, email

Life Drawing, also known as Figure Drawing, is the practice of drawing in order to study the human figure. If you look at historic artwork, you'll find many nude drawings and paintings. These are considered life drawings. Many artists perceive figure drawing as an endless effort with limitless possibility for improvement, learning, and diversity. The range of detail in a life drawing can vary immensely. They can range from highly detailed and anatomically proportional drawings to loose and expressive sketches to gesture drawings, which show the simple form, action and pose. Some popular mediums used during life drawings are charcoal, graphite, pen, ink and pastels. For the longer poses, some may use painting mediums like acrylics or oil.
 
Location: Hilton Head Island, South Carolina
Cost: $20 for Members / $40 for Non-members
Sponsor: Art League of Hilton Head
Website, email, (843) 842-5738

Join us for a 3-week workshop designed for intermediate to advanced watercolor artists eager to master the unique art of painting on Aquabord. Aquabord offers a remarkable surface that allows artists to achieve deep color saturation and intricate detail, bringing a level of precision and vibrancy beyond what’s possible on traditional watercolor paper. The three-week structure provides valuable time between sessions, allowing students to develop their paintings, apply new techniques, and bring questions back to class. Each session will delve into advanced techniques for layering watercolor to build depth, as well as methods for creating sharp details and rich textures. Students will gain the skills to manipulate light and shadow, bringing their compositions to life on this unique surface.
 
Location: Web-delivered (Online)
Instructor: Daniela Werneck
Cost: $280
Sponsor: Terracotta
Website, email

Learn about color theory and mixing colors. Instruction will include still life, figurative and purely imaginative work. Discover ways to loosen up your brushwork through impressionistic techniques. Demos and individual assistance at each easel provided throughout the two-day workshop. Both a portrait painter and a painter of creative works, Linda Ellen was a student of Russian artist Max Heldman, her travels to Russia and the Hermitage in St. Petersburg were inspirational to her painting. She is a member of several art organizations including Oil Painters of America and Portrait Society of America. Her works are part of both private and public collections throughout the United States, Canada, South America and Europe. For more information, visit lindaellenprice.com.
 
Location: Huntsville, Alabama
Instructor: Linda Ellen Price
Cost: $400 Museum members/ $450 non-members
Sponsor: Huntsville Museum of Art
Website, email, 256-535-6372

In this 1-Day workshop, Karen will lead students through her process of drawing the portrait from the initial measurements to the final stages of refining. Using a photo reference, she will begin with teaching strategies to accurately draw the head, place the features and indicate the major light and shadow shapes. Karen will demonstrate how to define the shadow and light regions which give the illusion of form. She will show how she compresses values for a strong design and how she makes corrections throughout, achieving an unmistakable likeness of her subject. Students also have the option to sign up for Karen’s 3-Day follow-up workshop, Painting the Portrait in Pastel.
 
Location: Hilton Head Island, South Carolina
Instructor: Karen Wilharm
Cost: $175
Sponsor: Art League of Hilton Head
Website, email, (843) 842-5738

Karen will lead students through her process of painting the pastel portrait. She will begin with teaching strategies to accurately draw the head, place the features and indicate the major light and shadow shapes. Karen will then demonstrate how to identify and lay in "average colors" of the shadow and light regions. She will show how she adjusts her general color notes by mixing and layering to "turn the color dials" on hue, value, temperature and chroma to achieve the desired relationships. During the final phase of the portrait, she will introduce techniques such as scumbling, glazing and hatching as she carefully makes corrections, refines edges and creates subtle nuances to bring the portrait to a polished finish.
 
Location: Hilton Head Island, South Carolina
Instructor: Karen Wilharm
Cost: $480
Sponsor: Art League of Hilton Head
Website, email, (843) 842-5738

Join celebrated artist Lorraine Simonds for a three-day immersive workshop that will guide you through the fundamentals of portrait painting with a focus on capturing the personality, emotion, and essence of those closest to you. Whether painting children, adults, or seniors, Lorraine will show you how to bring your subjects to life through careful observation and expert technique. Each day of the workshop will focus on a different age group. Lorraine will demonstrate how to work from photographs, incorporating color, atmosphere, and subtle techniques to reflect the individuality of your subjects. Throughout the workshop, you will have the opportunity to apply these skills in your own work, with time dedicated to personalized feedback from Lorraine to help you refine your portraits.
 
Location: Web-delivered (Online)
Instructor: Lorraine Simonds
Cost: $280
Sponsor: Terracotta
Website, email

This workshop is designed for the painter who has at least a basic command of the watercolor medium, the serious beginner to the advanced student. After Tony's demo, he will work with students individually and can adjust based upon each students' individual needs. Students will have the opportunity to work from supplied photos, or their own if they wish, during the workshop.
 
Location: Hilton Head Island, South Carolina
Instructor: Tony Armendariz
Cost: $450
Sponsor: Art League of Hilton Head
Website, email, (843) 842-5738

Life Drawing, also known as Figure Drawing, is the practice of drawing in order to study the human figure. If you look at historic artwork, you'll find many nude drawings and paintings. These are considered life drawings. Many artists perceive figure drawing as an endless effort with limitless possibility for improvement, learning, and diversity. The range of detail in a life drawing can vary immensely. They can range from highly detailed and anatomically proportional drawings to loose and expressive sketches to gesture drawings, which show the simple form, action and pose. Some popular mediums used during life drawings are charcoal, graphite, pen, ink and pastels. For the longer poses, some may use painting mediums like acrylics or oil.
 
Location: Hilton Head Island, South Carolina
Cost: $20 for Members / $40 for Non-members
Sponsor: Art League of Hilton Head
Website, email, (843) 842-5738

Life Drawing, also known as Figure Drawing, is the practice of drawing in order to study the human figure. If you look at historic artwork, you'll find many nude drawings and paintings. These are considered life drawings. Many artists perceive figure drawing as an endless effort with limitless possibility for improvement, learning, and diversity. The range of detail in a life drawing can vary immensely. They can range from highly detailed and anatomically proportional drawings to loose and expressive sketches to gesture drawings, which show the simple form, action and pose. Some popular mediums used during life drawings are charcoal, graphite, pen, ink and pastels. For the longer poses, some may use painting mediums like acrylics or oil.
 
Location: Hilton Head Island, South Carolina
Cost: $20 for Members / $40 for Non-members
Sponsor: Art League of Hilton Head
Website, email, (843) 842-5738

Fresh, beautiful flowers in the studio will be the inspiration for the beginning of this dynamic workshop — progressing to the head and figure. Through a series of quick and fun drawing and painting exercises, students will develop a more loose and natural approach, giving all an opportunity to be more spontaneous and expressive in their paintings. In our approach to the head and figure, we will learn to express translucent flesh tones, while focusing on the gesture of the person. Painting children will also be covered. We will work primarily from photos (you can work from mine — ones I will demo, plus extra that may interest you). Please feel free to bring your own photos also — ones that inspire you!
 
Location: Glastonbury, Connecticut
Instructor: Janet Rogers
Cost: $1144 + Materials fee
Sponsor: Artists Rising Creativity Retreats
Website, email, 860-916-0514

Join renowned artist Patrick Byrnes for an engaging 3-session workshop, designed to focus specifically on the early, essential stages of self-portrait drawing. This course emphasizes the critical foundations—proportion, structure, and the subtle interpretation of light and shadow—that set the stage for a successful portrait. Whether you’re new to portrait drawing or looking to refine your approach, this workshop will help you build confidence and precision from the ground up. Patrick’s step-by-step approach ensures you develop these skills effectively. The course offers a blend of live demonstrations and interactive Q&A, making learning both immersive and accessible. In addition, you’ll receive personalized feedback tailored to your individual progress, addressing specific challenges while reinforcing your strengths.
 
Location: Web-delivered (Online)
Instructor: Patrick Byrnes
Cost: $295
Sponsor: Terracotta
Website, email

Students will develop sculptural skills, learn how to work with different sculptural materials, learn about the history of sculptural arts, and learn to incorporate basic principles of aesthetics into sculpture. All levels welcome. All materials included. Classes are offered on Saturdays.
 
Location: Bryan, Texas
Cost: $35 per class or $140/month
Sponsor: Degallery
Website, email, +1(979)704-3090

Join Alison for a week of joyful exploration of Place, in the beautiful city of Cortona in the heart of Tuscany. In ancient squares, by fountains or in cafes, Alison will show you simple ways to capture buildings and include figures in your sketches. Overlooking vineyards and far off hills, we’ll explore how to simplify the scene to focus on important elements and create depth. Drawing and painting on loose pages rather than in a watercolour journal, allows us to loosen up and have fun with experimental techniques and a variety of media. We’ll work with watercolour, pen, ink, marker, on different papers, to create images, which we will curate into your personal concertina art book of your Cortona experience.
 
Location: Cortona, Italy
Instructor: Alison Watt
Cost: From US$3,850.00 All-inclusive except airfare
Sponsor: Toscana Americana Workshops
Website, email, 978-407-7127

Join international artist and art educator Wendy Artin at Atelier Clos Mirabel in South West France for a week-long painting workshop. Enjoy painting instruction exploring the finer details of nature through wet washes and colour, light and form. All levels are welcome from complete beginners to professionals. We will spend 5 mornings painting the live model for 2 hours, with poses ranging from 30 seconds to 20 minutes. After personally picking a still life subject from the gardens of Atelier Clos Mirabel, we will paint preparatory sketches and work on longer paintings, experimenting with wet on wet, edge control, composition, shadows, and colour. There will be one free day mid-week for visiting the surrounding area or painting on one’s own.
 
Location: Pau, France
Instructor: Wendy Artin
Cost: 1595€ to 2895€ for accommodation + tuition fee & model fee
Sponsor: Atelier Clos Mirabel
Website, email, +33.6.79.59.04.91

Fresh flowers for each student at beautiful Dillman's Resort will be provided to inspire all for this energetic and enlightening workshop, in which we will explore watercolor in a spontaneous and intuitive way. Learning how to interpret Flowers - then the Head and Figure will be featured as Janet provides pathways to learning for all levels. The studio will be available 24/7 for students. Janet will also provide photos and drawings of her demonstrations of the head - students are welcome to paint what she paints or paint from their own photos. The goal of this workshop is to discover the magic and intuition of capturing life in our paintings!!! - and having fun all the way!!!
 
Location: Lac du Flambeau, Wisconsin
Instructor: Janet Rogers, AWS
Sponsor: Dillman's Bay Resort
Website, email, 715-588-3143

Sicily – It's on everyone's bucket list, with colorful sunsets, olive groves, vineyards, and picturesque villages with narrow streets, a never ending range of restaurants and cafés, blue skies and beautiful nature, it’s a painters paradise… And it will be our home for 7 days. The workshop is hosted by the retreat center Salinara. Our daily watercolor routine will include daily demonstrations by Gary, along with time for individual instruction. Afternoons will vary between painting time, exploring the region on your own, or possible one of the many activities offered through Salinara – on designated days Gary will conduct group critique over cocktails before the evening meal. Limited single rooms for a supplement.
 
Location: Marsala, Sicily, Italy
Instructor: Gary Tucker
Cost: From $2300
Sponsor: Salinara - Art Farm | Retreat Centre
Website, email

This course will focus on using colour in figurative painting to create atmospheric and expressive paintings. You will work from a life model, participating in exercises based in colour theory. You will try out techniques such as painting on a coloured ground and making colour paintings from black and white drawings. This foundational work will sharpen your observational skills and deepen your technical understanding of colour. Beyond these technical elements, we will explore how to use colour to express something of our inner lives. We will take inspiration from art history by studying artists such as Gwen John, Lynette Yiadom-Boakye, Sargy Mann, Pierre Bonnard, and Milton Avery. Throughout the course, you will benefit from personalized feedback and group discussions.
 
Location: Pau, France
Instructor: Katy Papineau
Cost: 1595€ to 2895€ for accommodation + £350 tuition fee
Sponsor: Atelier Clos Mirabel
Website, email, +33.6.79.59.04.91

Join Celia Liberace for an immersive week focusing on portraiture and figure drawing. Create your own totally original artwork and discover a beautiful area of South West France. For the first half of the curriculum, we will focus on the portrait, weaving together classical and contemporary techniques to observe and represent form. The second half will focus on the figure, during which students will learn how to capture the gesture of a pose and build upon this impression while considering anatomical structures. Instruction involves the intersection between academic fundamentals – including perspective, light, shadow, volume, and geometry – and Celia’s own methods of loosening and guiding both the mind and hand.
 
Location: Pau, France
Instructor: Celia Liberace
Cost: 1595€ to 2895€ for accommodation + tuition fee
Sponsor: Atelier Clos Mirabel
Website, email, +33.6.79.59.04.91

Storytelling versus Story Painting? Or maybe not versus? Let’s tell your story in a painting. In this class, we will learn how to tell your story, convey atmosphere, and feel, and understand colors, lines, focal-point, framing, and depth. You can add (or deduct) from the painting that will tell your story! Let us hear your tale! an ongoing class and instructions. From the prehistoric images in the caves to Edward Hopper... from the bible in pictures to the most modern painters of our times... We will set our subjects in 4 meetings. If you miss a class there will be a recording available.
 
Location: Web-delivered (Online)
Instructor: Tali Farchi
Cost: $125 for 4 meetings
Sponsor: Artist Table
Website, email, 0031624903316

An international group meets online via Zoom every Wednesday (check your time zone). Short and long poses, from 5-10 minutes and 20-30 minutes. Each week I invite a new model to pose. There is always some music in the background that I'm sharing too. 2 hours session. No instruction. At the end of the session, we show each other the work. Friendly atmosphere, everyone is welcome!
 
Location: Web-delivered (Online)
Instructor: Open session hosted by Tali Farchi
Cost: $15 per session
Sponsor: Artist Table
Website, email, 0031624903316

In this masterclass, world-renowned portrait artist Mary Whyte gives a comprehensive guide to mastering the skills of painting portraits in watercolor. This course will take you through each step on how to create a successful portrait, setting you on the path to creating your best work ever. Mary Whyte begins this course with a full demonstration, showing her process from beginning to end. The demonstration is followed by six focused learning modules, breaking down each stage of developing not only a successful portrait, but a painting with emotion that will endure. The course was filmed in Mary Whyte’s studio in Charleston, South Carolina.
 
Location: Web-delivered (Online)
Instructor: Mary Whyte
Cost: $215
Sponsor: Terracotta
Website, email

In this video course, artist Rosso Crimson will demonstrate using a combination of classical painting skills, preliminary studies, and imagination to develop a full figure painting in oil which departs creatively from the initial photographic references. Rosso will share her creative process and techniques with you as she paints. The course was filmed in Rosso's studio in London, England and includes one complete painting demonstrations for a total 3+ hours of video lessons.
 
Location: Web-delivered (Online)
Instructor: Rosso Crimson
Cost: $99
Sponsor: Terracotta
Website, email

Learn from the world's top watercolorists filmed in their studio and Plein-air on locations worldwide. Explore a range of techniques and weave dazzling new styles into your paintings through immersive video lessons, live workshops, and personal feedback. Engage with the artists live during weekly Zoom workshops. Instructors will take you behind the scenes as they create original works and answer your questions about their method and creative process. Hone your skills with thoughtfully designed projects and get feedback on your work from professional artists. Connect with a community of like-minded learners across all levels from around the world.
 
Location: Web-delivered (Online)
Instructor: 20+ top artists
Sponsor: Terracotta
Website, email

In this video course, Stephen Zhang demonstrates the integrated process of applying watercolor techniques to build the human form. This course was filmed in Stephen's Studio and includes two complete portraiture demonstrations, as well as exercises and projects for you to practice and demonstrate your learning. This course is for artists at all levels who want to learn to display the human form through watercolor portraiture. Whether you are looking to develop your skills in brushwork and watercolor foundations, painting the human form, or understanding how to create flow in your work as a watercolorist, Stephen will cover it all in this course!
 
Location: Web-delivered (Online)
Instructor: Stephen Zhang
Cost: $99
Sponsor: Terracotta
Website, email