Portrait drawing w/ live model
Improver Course · 4 Weekly Classes
Date and time
Tuesday, 8. September 2026, 15.30
Further dates
Overview
Improver
Some prior experience is recommended.
DE & EN
Our Instructor speaks fluent English and German.
Studio Zürich
4 × 2.5 hours
Weekly classes over 4 consecutive weeks
Multi-day Course
A structured learning journey over multiple sessions, where you'll learn new techniques and develop a solid foundation in the chosen art form.
Guide: Valeri
Valeri is our Kursentwicklerin & Kunstlehrerin
Description
Master the face in four weeks — one line at a time.
Want to draw portraits that actually look like people? This four-week course is here to help you understand the structure of the human face — and give you the tools, techniques, and confidence to draw it like a pro.
You’ll work with a variety of materials including pencil and charcoal, and each session will focus on a specific element of portrait drawing: structure, features, proportion, light and shadow, expression.
Each class includes a short demo & discussion, followed by guided exercises — first from photo reference, and in the final week, you’ll draw from a live model right in the Studio.
Suitable for ambitious beginners and anyone looking to build a solid foundation in portrait drawing.
✏️ What to Expect
A deep dive into portrait drawing fundamentals — over 4 evening sessions
- Explore different media: pencil, charcoal, pastel, and sanguine
- Learn facial construction, anatomy, gesture & expression
- Weekly drawing exercises from reference images
- A full live model session in the final class
- Feedback, support & gentle critique throughout
💡 What You’ll Learn
- Basic face construction: skull shapes, symmetry, planes
- Drawing key features: eyes, nose, mouth, ears, hair
- Shading and light techniques to create depth
- Proportions, structure & expression
- How to capture likeness & personality
🎯 Is This Course Right for Me?
If you’ve done our Introduction to Drawing Course, or have basic drawing experience, this is your next step. You’ll build a strong foundation for portraiture and grow your skills week by week.
More Infos
Basic drawing experience is recommended, but not required.
If you’ve already completed our Introduction to Drawing Course, this is the perfect next step. If not, don’t worry—your instructor will guide you through the fundamentals while helping you build confidence week by week.
Throughout the course, you’ll work with a variety of traditional drawing materials, including graphite pencils, charcoal, sanguine and other professional drawing tools.
We’ll introduce each medium step by step and explain when and why artists use them, allowing you to discover your own preferences along the way.
No. We provide all the materials and equipment you’ll need throughout the course.
If you already own high-quality art supplies or would simply like to learn using your own brushes, paints or other materials, you’re very welcome to bring them along. Otherwise, just turn up and we’ll take care of the rest.
Yes!
The final session of the course is dedicated to drawing from a professional live model.
This allows you to apply everything you’ve learned during the previous weeks while experiencing one of the most traditional and rewarding forms of artistic practice.
To make transport easier, we’ll keep all of your artworks and practice pieces safely stored in your personal folder throughout the course.
At the end of the final class, you’ll receive everything you’ve created during the course, including your finished projects and all your practice work.
The date shown during booking is the first class of your course.
All remaining classes take place on the same weekday, at the same time, over the following consecutive weeks, and normally at the same location.
Should there ever be an exceptional change of location, everyone in the course will be informed well in advance.
Our courses are generally scheduled on consecutive weeks, including public holidays. We find this creates the best learning experience and helps everyone maintain momentum.
Unless stated otherwise in the course description, classes will take place as scheduled, even if one of the dates falls on a national or public holiday.
Don’t worry.
If the same course is offered again and there are free places available, you’re welcome to join the missed class. Simply let us know by email beforehand.
In many cases, an even better option is to attend one of our Studio Classes. There, you can continue working on the project you missed while receiving support from the tutor. As Studio Classes are designed for independent projects, the tutor will assist you alongside the other participants working on their own artwork.
Our courses are taught by highly trained, active artists who combine their own artistic practice with teaching at Paint It Easy.
They’ll guide you through the course, share their knowledge and techniques, and help you develop your artistic skills in a relaxed and encouraging environment.
To ensure plenty of individual attention, our courses are limited to a maximum of 12 participants.
There is no homework.
That said, as with any creative skill, the more you practise, the faster you’ll improve. If you enjoy creating between classes, we can only encourage it!
Our courses are all about developing your creative skills, but we wouldn’t want to lose the Paint It Easy atmosphere.
Tea, coffee and water are always available during your classes, and before the very first session we usually celebrate the start of the course together with a glass of Prosecco—or a non-alcoholic alternative.
Cheers!
The natural next step is joining one of our Studio Classes. Studio Classes are designed for hobby artists who want to continue developing their skills while working on their own projects in a creative community. Your tutor is there to support and guide you whenever needed.
If you’d like to explore a different artistic medium, you’re also welcome to join one of our introductory courses. Or, if you’d like to continue in the same medium, our intermediate and advanced courses are the perfect next step in your creative journey.
What are PIE multi-day course?
Learn art in 4-6 weeks for sustainable learning
Learn more about PIE multi-day courses
Further dates for this PIE multi-day course
Private event
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