Capturing Likeness: A Portrait Drawing Intensive

Capturing the subtle details of the face requires strong observational and drawing skills, and learning to draw portraits becomes much more achievable when broken down into key components. By understanding these foundational principles, you’ll be able to enhance your portraits and enrich your sketchbook with greater confidence.

In this two-day workshop Yvonne East introduces the essential proportions of the head and face, exploring popular methods used by illustrators to structure and refine facial features. She will guide you through observational drawing techniques that help establish accurate proportions while also developing an understanding of gesture, tone, and form. As you refine your skills, you'll learn how to capture the nuances that bring a portrait to life—whether it’s the soft fold of an eyelid, the tilt of a nose, or the way curls frame a face.

Perfect for students looking to strengthen their portraiture skills, this workshop provides a structured yet expressive approach to drawing the human face.

* NAS Short Courses are open to students of ages 16 years and over. The NAS Art Club is open to students from ages 15 years and over. 

* Drawing and painting short courses may be held in upstairs studios. If access to stairs is not suitable, please contact us at short.courses@nas.edu.au 

* What to bring? Please refer to the list of required materials in the Art Materials field below. 

Yvonne East is an award-winning artist, whose artworks have been hung multiple times in major prizes and institutions across Australia including the Archibald Prize, Dobell Drawing Prize, Portia Geach, Black Swan, Kennedy, Doug Moran, Darling, Rick Amor, Adelaide Perry, and Percival Award Exhibitions. and the permanent collection of the National Portrait Gallery. She holds a Bachelor of Visual Arts, Master of Fine Art and Bachelor of Psychology degrees. She was awarded the Deans Merit List and Chancellors Awards seven times at the University of SA and the University of NSW. A seasoned educator and lecturer at the University of New South Wales Art + Design since 2015, Yvonne has authored and presented numerous workshops and mentorships for schools, community groups, and government clients since 2009. A graduate of psychology, Yvonne combines cognitive psychology research with her own art practice and drawing and painting workshops to provide inspiring and robust educational experiences.

Students must supply their own art materials, please refer to the list below.

• A2 or A3 drawing paper (a good quality cartridge paper will be sufficient)
• Graphite pencil 2H, HB and 2B
• Coloured pencils (three to four colours)
• Kneadable and nylon erasers
• Willow and compressed charcoal and charcoal pencils
• Sketchbook or notebook
• A4 print or photocopy of a person you would like to draw
  

Enclosed footwear is essential in all studios on campus.