This past autumn (2024), I embarked on a creative journey with Ben Valentine’s online Painterly Portrait Drawing class. It was an inspiring experience that pushed me to think differently about portraiture. Instead of striving for a photorealistic representation, I focused on capturing the essence of my subjects through their expressions.
During the class, I created two portraits, both of women. I found myself less concerned with achieving a perfect likeness and more interested in conveying the emotions and stories I perceived in my reference images. This shift in focus allowed me to work more intuitively and explore the expressive potential of line, tone, and texture.
I’m particularly pleased with the way the expressions turned out in both drawings. I feel I was able to capture a genuine feeling, which is what I was hoping to achieve.
This class influenced my understanding of portraiture, teaching me to prioritise capturing expression rather than striving for a photorealistic image.
I can highly recommend the classes given by Ben Valentine for anyone that wants to enrich their practice and artistic ability.
I’m looking forward to a new year artistic year!
