Portrait Painting From Life Using a Limited Palette

In this workshop, students will explore the ‘alla prima’ technique, painting wet-on-wet while creating a life portrait. The class emphasizes the fundamentals of portrait painting and guides participants through the process of drawing and painting a portrait in a single session.

Ignacio Rojas is a visual artist and educator based in Adelaide, with a strong focus on portrait and figurative art. He has showcased his work in solo and group exhibitions throughout Australia and has been a finalist in several prestigious art competitions, including the Doug Moran National Prize, Lester Prize, Kennedy Art Prize, and Rick Amor Self Portrait Prize.

With over 15 years of experience as a professional artist and educator, Ignacio has taught painting and drawing at various institutions in Melbourne, including the Melbourne Studio of Art, Footscray Community Arts Centre, Centre for Adult Education, and Northern College of the Arts and Technology (NACT Create). He holds a Bachelor’s degree with honors from Adelaide Central School of Arts, a Master of Visual Arts from The Victorian College of the Arts, and has completed postgraduate studies in sociology at The University of Melbourne.

Using a limited palette is an ideal approach for portrait painting, as it helps maintain control over values, colors, and temperature, minimizing frustration.

Ignacio will kick off the day with a demonstration, allowing students to observe the process of painting a portrait in a short timeframe. Special emphasis will be placed on brush drawing, color mixing, values, and edges.