Course Description
Christina is one of my former dance students who is currently studying with the Boston Ballet. She is a fierce and expressive performer and commands the stage. I have done a sketch of her on newsprint in the past, but it didn’t quite capture her essence, so I thought this would be an excellent opportunity to create this portrait. I wanted a strong, young female image to use as inspiration, and Christina graciously gave us her photo.
In this lesson, we will be exploring charcoal and the many different effects you can create using this beautiful medium. I will also walk you through how I create a portrait using a reference photo. We will begin by using soft charcoal to establish the relationships between the features. We will move to create a “scaffolding” of the face and head to develop the portrait further. I will share how I combine classical portrait techniques and more expressive techniques and marks to create a beautiful and soulful portrait.
Immediate Access
$42.00
About the instructor
About Me Renee Mueller
Thank you for choosing to take my class, I'm so thrilled and honored that you're here. I want to tell you a little about me. I hold a BFA from the University of Michigan where I studied Art History, Dance, and Choreography.
I danced professionally and had the honor of teaching dance at the University of Michigan's Musical Theater and Theater Departments. Most of my life has been spent in the dance studio and the theater. Because of this, I have had the privilege to work with many talented dancers, costume designers, set designers, lighting designers, and musicians. One of the many things that I learned from this experience in the performing arts was to honor your ideas and devote yourself to a subject. Also, to share, support, and collaborate.
Once I decided to "exit stage left", it was challenging to find another creative outlet. Like many of us, I loved to draw, paint and create as a child, but never really invested a tremendous amount of time in cultivating that practice. About 10 years ago I began drawing again and decided to commit to a daily practice. I was challenged and inspired!. So, I continue to practice, experiment with materials, and allow my ideas to guide me through the process.
When creating art, I draw upon the many methods I learned as a dancer, choreographer, and teacher. Research, gathering inspiration, honoring my point of view, and sharing ideas. It is my hope that by sharing my creative practices, my process, techniques and what inspires me, you will find something that works for you.