Portraiture Drawing for Beginners
Explore the art of portraiture in this beginner-friendly drawing course in Sydney. The human face offers endless variation, emotion and expressive possibility, and this course will help you build the skills to observe, sketch and represent it with greater confidence.
Whether you are drawing for the first time or already have some experience, you will develop practical portrait drawing techniques through guided tutorials and sessions with a life model. You will study the structure of the head and face, learn how light and shadow create form, and practise ways to capture expression, character and presence.
This course includes three tutorial sessions and three life model sessions, giving you a balanced mix of instruction and practical observation-based drawing experience.
Course Content
- Geometric equivalents of the head, neck and shoulders, including cranial masses and facial structure.
- Monochromatic colour, colour temperature, light and shadow to create convincing 3D forms.
- Observing facial features, expression and hands interacting with the head and face to strengthen portrait impact.
Schedule & Pricing
- Course dates: 31 August 2026 to 28 September 2026.
- Class time: 6:30 PM to 9:00 PM.
- Course fee: $389. Consider enrolling in two or more drawing courses at checkout to receive 15% off your total enrolment fee.
Materials
- Option 1: Purchase a full materials kit at enrolment checkout and collect it from the front office.
- Option 2: Uncheck the materials kit at checkout and bring your own materials using the Portraiture Drawing Materials List.
Details
You will learn
- Understand the anatomical structure of the human face and head.
- Practise portrait drawing techniques using observation and life-drawing skills.
- Use light, shadow, form and expression to create stronger portraits.
You will get
- Three guided tutorial sessions focused on portrait drawing fundamentals.
- Three sessions with a life model for practical observation-based drawing.
- Step-by-step support to build confidence in drawing faces, features and expression.
Appropriate for
Beginners and students with some drawing experience who want to develop portrait drawing skills.
Preparation
What to bring
- A purchased materials kit or your own materials from the supplied portraiture drawing list.
- Closed-in shoes for class safety.
- Old clothes suitable for artmaking; long hair should be tied back.
What to wear
Old clothes, closed-in shoes; long hair tied back
Your Teacher
Sydney Community College
38 reviewsSydney Community College is a registered charity with a voluntary Board of Directors.
The College has a mission to offer innovative continuing adult education and training programmes that support individual efforts and facilitate sustainable social change.
We do this by:
- Providing quality continuing adult education opportunities for people to build practical and theoretical skills and develop knowledge;
- Leveraging from and developing community capacity and inclusivity;
- Developing innovative affordable and accessible skills training programmes;
- Partnering with like organisations to deliver learning opportunities for disadvantaged individuals and communities;
- Partnering with all levels of government to deliver education policy objectives.
Cancellations & Refunds
If the organiser cancels the class:
You are entitled to a full refund.
If you can't attend the class:
You’re welcome to send someone in your place.
OR
- A refund can be requested 10 days before class starts. An admin fee of AU$45.00 applies.
Terms & Conditions
At Sydney Community College, we know that plans can change unexpectedly. Whether it’s a shift in your schedule, a family emergency, or just a change of heart, we want to support you in the fairest way possible.
At the same time, we’re a not-for-profit organisation that commits resources to running each class—so last-minute cancellations can significantly impact our ability to offer quality, affordable programs.
That’s why we’ve created a simple, transparent policy that balances your need for flexibility with our need to plan and deliver courses sustainably. Our cancellation policy offers two clear options, depending on when you notify us:
Cancel More Than 10 Days Before the Course Starts – You can choose to receive a full refund, minus a $45 administration fee OR a non-refundable credit note valid for 12 months for the full value you paid for the course. This credit can be used towards any future course at the College.
Option 2: Cancel Within 10 Days of the Course Starting - You’ll receive a credit note valid for 12 months for 50% of the course fee you paid for the course. This credit can be used towards any future course at the College.
Please note that both refund and credit options are only available before the course begins. Once the course has started—or if you decide to withdraw after it has commenced—no refunds or credits can be issued. If you need to cancel your enrolment, just email us and we’ll take care of it based on the timelines above.
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Portraiture Drawing for Beginners
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