Life drawing portraiture classes at Zelski Art School, Toronto

This series of nine portraiture workshops, based at the well-known Zelski Art –Toronto Art School, require no previous drawing experience and will provide you with the skills and knowledge to start tackling portraiture.

The workshops include gesture techniques and sighting methods to help the student establish the proper proportions of the head. Plaster cast copies from the Louvre of Voltaire and Cesar will serve to introduce students to light and shadow of the human head and students will also get the opportunity to practice chiaroscuro drawings of their portraits through a five-scale value. The series will conclude with a life model who will pose for the final artwork.

Topics that will be covered on the courses:

• Introduction to drawing mediums, gestures, sighting techniques, proportions

• Drawing simple shapes

• Proportions and perspectives of the head

• Practicing sighting techniques through drawing casts of classical sculptures

• Chiaroscuro drawings from cast sculptures, covering the presence of natural shadows from the eyes, lips, ears, and nose

• Female features -gesture drawings from life model

• Male features-gesture drawings from life model

• Self-portraits

• Composition and media for a three hour session with a model

Marek Zelski is the co-owner and founder of Zelski Art, he teaches private and semi-private workshops in drawing, painting, and graphics. He received his B.A and M.A. at the Academy of Fine Arts in Gdansk, Poland. He specializes in oil painting on canvas and wood using the layered technique. Fluent and confident with drawing and painting his wide range of art subjects is represented in realism, hyperrealism and surrealism.

Maria Zelska is co-owner and head instructor, currently instructing classes such as Drawing Laboratory, Anatomy, Skeleton Study, and Life Drawing workshops. She received her M.F.A and B.A at the Academy of Fine Arts in Gdansk, Poland. A practicing artist for over 20 years Maria's work has been displayed internationally in Poland, Germany, Spain, Norway, and Canada.

Anna Zelska is co-owner/director and instructor of Zelski Art. She teaches Drawing, Oil Painting, Cartooning, Portfolio Preparation and Puppet Theatre. Anna received her H.B.A at University of Toronto in Art History, History, and Visual Studies. For the past four years Anna has developed workshops and taught artists of all ages specializing in drawing and painting fundamentals for youth and adults.