Description: "This course introduces students to the fundamental techniques, materials, and processes of drawing portraits. Students will explore line, contour, tone, space, form, composition, and content through a variety of portrait assignments in dry and wet media including pencil, charcoal, and oil paint. Through discussions and readings, students will also learn how humans recognize faces, why humans have evolved to look different, and the history of portraiture and its prevalence in society. Students will learn to understand and employ spatial and depth perception cues and mathematical approximations in drawing. Students will gradually learn how to draw portraits from both photographs and live models and dip their toes into the art of caricature. Students will learn the technical aspects of portrait making and will be given freedom to develop and explore their own individual style. No prior experience in drawing is required but recommended."