Summer 2026 Mastering The Portrait Block-In
In-Person Workshop | Available
Mastering The Portrait Block-In
This intensive portrait drawing workshop focuses on the foundational stage of any strong likeness—the block-in. Through guided demonstration and individual critique, participants will learn to simplify complex forms into clear, interlocking shadow and light patterns. Students will gain a deeper understanding of how thoughtful shadow mapping can unify the portrait and set the stage for confident refinement.
The block-in is the essential foundation of a strong drawing—a clear pattern of light, shadow, and simplified shapes that can represent up to 90% of the final image. By reducing the subject to two main values and organizing its major forms, artists make complex information easier to understand and ensure the drawing reads clearly from the start.
In academic practice, a precise block-in can even stand in for the sitter, allowing the artist to finish the piece without the model present. Throughout this course, we’ll use a set of guiding questions and measurements to build accurate, convincing block-ins that support every stage of the drawing process.