.jpg)
ADVANCED PAINTING
3rd Year
In Advanced Painting, students apply the comprehensive Riley Method they have mastered thus far to create a thoroughly believable and succinct impression of the figure in real space. By effectively utilizing the principles of structure, rhythm, gesture, body types, edge quality, chroma, hue, value, focal point, and theme, students are equipped to create a painting that is both realistic and expressive.
The Riley Method emphasizes the importance of proportion, anatomy, and foreshortening, which students use to render realistic flesh in believable hues, with a sense of balance and weight. Students incorporate all their knowledge of anatomy and materiality to represent the forms and demonstrate a proficiency in using color and keying the values associated correctly. They use the full palette taught in the studio, with a full range of pigments and mediums.
The key learning objectives in Advanced Figure Painting are to create a real sense of the figure in an environment in paint, using all the skills learned through the program. A sufficient knowledge of all the objectives allows the student to graduate.
Overall, this course challenges students to bring all their acquired knowledge and skills to create a realistic, believable and satisfying work. By mastering the Riley Method and applying it to advanced figure painting, students are equipped to create paintings that are not only technically proficient but also truly original and engaging.
PORTRAITURE AND STILL-LIFE
3rd year
At SSCA, students are given the opportunity to work with a range of materials, lighting setups, and compositions as they develop their skills in still life and portrait painting. Students are encouraged to creatively arrange their still lifes, with guidance provided as needed, and are allowed to explore a variety of themes according to their interests. The course begins with a thorough explanation of the SSCA process for creating realistic paintings and drawings, including a technical demonstration on mixing colors, organizing the palette, preparing mediums, and working directly from the live model.
In the portrait course, students are expected to convey the character of their subjects as their primary focus. The course begins with two hours of theory and drawing, designed to improve students' visual understanding of three-dimensional form. Students are introduced to a limited palette and soon discover its wide range of hues and harmonious unity. Projects range from three to ten minute drawings, eventually leading to the development of a structured plan for a painted portrait.
In the afternoon, students return to work with the live model, learning the essential points of classical portrait painting, including rhythm, lighting, and the illusion of three-dimensional form and space. This class helps to fine-tune students' approach to painting from life, whether they are experienced or complete beginners. The knowledge and confidence gained in this course is applicable to all forms of artistic expression. Students will use the sight-size method of measurement, as well as other drawing methods including Riley and Loomis.
Key learning objectives in Portraiture include: the ability to create an engaging composition in a portrait, a likeness of and replication of the character of the subject, an effective painting technique, and the demonstration of a strong understanding of classical portrait painting techniques.