Amy Dury – Portraits from the Past (Online); Wednesdays, January 28-February 11, 2026

Supply List

Mediums: Oil or acrylic (Amy will work in oil)
Level: All levels welcome
Class Dates: Wednesdays, January 28-February 11, 2026
Class Times:
• 9:30 am-noon Pacific Time
• 12:30 pm-3:00 pm Eastern Time
• 5:30 pm-8:00 pm UK Time

Whether you’d like to honour someone from your past or use found photos, this course will take a look at how to make a portrait in oil or acrylic paint and is suitable for complete beginners. We will start with looking at choosing great faces and analysing the proportions of the head. We will then ease into using oil paints and mixing colours for skin tones . Looking at artist examples , we will explore brushwork and paint techniques over the three weeks together. Each session will contain a wealth of information and demos, and suggest tasks to complete at home. You can work towards completing a portrait in oils or acrylics from a favourite photograph. Join us as we breathe new life into vintage photographs and unleash your creativity on canvas.

• How to choose great faces to work from
• Analysing the proportions of the face
• Explore techniques for capturing facial expressions, gestures, and subtle nuances that bring portraits to life.
• Learn how to use line, form, and proportion to create dynamic and realistic portraits.
• Looking at Artists to inspire
• Drawing exercises to improve observational skills
• Simplifying shapes and facial features
• Using oil paints
• Mixing various skin tones
• Exploring brushwork and paint techniques