About your tutor:
— Every Saturday, 2–5pm (6 week course, no class on 7 Sep)
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About the course
Develop your figure-painting skills in this series of art classes for adults. Join us for six Saturday afternoons to immerse yourself in art, meet new people and uncover the extraordinary possibilities of oil paint in depicting the human form.
What you will learn
Over the six-week course, you will learn about contemporary and traditional approaches to painting the figure in oil paint. Beginning with drawing from printed copies using the traditional plumb line method for proportion, students will also be introduced to structure and anatomy in two sessions dedicated to drawing and painting from the live nude model. Students will complete one painting for the remainder of the course.
In addition to learning about the technical processes employed in Renaissance and Baroque Italian oil painting, students will gain a deeper understanding of the context surrounding the works’ creation through a supplementary guided tour with Gallery curators.
Painting and drawing demonstrations will be given to students throughout, with critical feedback aimed at facilitating each student’s individual needs and styles.
The course is suitable for all levels. Whether you’re a beginner or a confident painter, join us in the studio to flex your creative skills and learn some art history along the way. The course will also include a guided tour by one of our Gallery curators.
Dates: Every Sat, from 3 Aug until 14 Sep (No class on 7 Sep).
Image credit: Zarahn Southon
'The oil figure painting course at the Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki was an incredible experience! Learning new techniques in a relaxed social setting with the guidance of our tutor Zarahn Tūwharetoa Southon was wonderful. I particularly enjoyed Dr Sophie Matthiesson’s curator’s talk discussing Ceseri’s painting of 'Susanna and the Elders’' and Guido Reni’s 'Saint Sebastian'. Thanks to absolutely everyone involved in making these amazing classes possible.'
— Marisca, Adult Learning | Oil Figure Painting Term 1 participant
- Date
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- Location
- Classroom/Studio
- Cost
- General $500 Members $450 (+ booking fee)
Zarahn Tūwharetoa Southon (Ngāti Tūwharetoa, Ngāti Pikiao, Ngāti Pukenga, Whakatōhea) is an Auckland-based painter of Ngāti Tūwharetoa, Samoan and mixed European Jewish descent. On completion of a Bachelor of Visual Arts in 1998, Southon had several solo shows and in 2005 was awarded a Contemporary Pacific Art Scholarship, which funded a trip to study in Florence, Italy. In 2007 he was awarded a scholarship from the classical art school Studio Escalier in the Loire Valley, France. On completion, he furthered his studies with senior lecturer at Studio Escalier and pioneer of restructured Realism, Ted Seth Jacobs, in San Francisco. These periods of study in Italy, France and America were highly influential on Southon’s current practice. Described by an art critic as New Zealand’s own Lucian Freud, Southon’s artworks explore allegorical themes, portraiture and still life. He has exhibited regularly at the New Zealand Portrait Gallery in Wellington. Public institutions holding Southon’s works include the Auckland City Council and the Wallace Trust Collection at the Pah Homestead in Auckland.
Southon is currently the Te Kotahitanga delegate for his hapū of Ngāti Kurauia at Tokaanu marae, Turangi. He holds a diploma in te reo Māori and is currently finishing a degree in te reo Māori at Te Wānanga o Aotearoa.
Image credit: Zarahn Southon.
Materials list
42.92 KB PDF file
Course outline
468.46 KB PDF file
