2. Portrait Painting with Brian Rolfe | Tuesday 9-11am
PORTRAIT PAINTING WITH BRIAN ROLFE
Day: Tuesdays
Time: 9-11am
Skill Level: Intermediate - Advanced
Medium: Acrylic, Charcoal & Pencil
Term: 14 April - 23 June 2026
About the Class
"Art has become a way for me to express those emotions which cannot be explained by language."
In this portrait painting course, Brian Rolfe introduces a calm and intuitive approach to creating expressive portraits through layered techniques and background-led composition.
Students will explore how vibrant backgrounds, thoughtful mark-making, and careful attention to space can bring a portrait to life. Brian’s approach focuses not only on the face itself, but on the relationship between the subject and the surrounding space, allowing the work to feel dynamic and full of character.
Throughout the course, you will be guided through both drawing and painting processes, gradually developing a portrait that balances structure, expression and atmosphere.
This class is suitable for intermediate to advanced artists and offers a supportive environment to explore portraiture while developing your own creative process.
What You’ll Learn
Throughout the course students will explore:
• Mark-making, layering and process-led painting techniques
• Drawing the structure of the face using charcoal or pencil
• Composition and how to position a portrait on the canvas
• Contrast, colour balance, and working with light and shade
• How to create interest through background textures and colour
• Techniques for linking the portrait with its surrounding space
Materials to Bring
Canvas
• 70cm × 50cm canvas (or closest available size)
Paints & Mediums
• Primary colour acrylic paints
• Plascon Scumble Glaze (available at hardware stores or Jackhammers)
• Gala Texture Paste (Fine Grain)
Tools
• Thin charcoal sticks or a 6B pencil
• 10–15cm plaster scraper/applicator (hardware store)
• 5–10 paint brushes (various sizes)
• Cleaning cloth
• Palette
Class Fees
Our classes run in 10-week terms, giving students time to properly explore techniques, experience growth and complete meaningful work.
R450 per class
R4 500 per term
Payment options
• R1 500 per month (3 monthly instalments)
Pay the first instalment online to secure your spot. The studio will invoice the remaining two instalments and send friendly reminders when they’re due.
• R4 500 once-off
Your booking reserves your place for the full 10-week term.
Missed Classes
We totally get that life gets in the way sometimes, and while we would love to run make up classes for each class, it’s really hard to find gaps in the timetable to do that so we have come up with a plan!
Each member will get 2 free tokens to use during the time for any other (suitable) class to use if they have missed a class. This a great way to explore other mediums too! We just ask that if you have missed a class to make use of one by mid term and one in the 2nd half of the term so we can ensure you get your class of choice and space out class numbers (keeping to max 12 per class). Please reach out to Georgina to arrange and make sure the class you want to do is suitable for your skill level and that there is space in that class. We will remind everyone on our class groups when term starts. Happy Painting!