Selfie Portrait
Art Subjects | Explorations of Oneself
The beauty of you.
Join us for a 2-hour hands-on painting workshop exploring one of the most studied subjects in art: the self. During this Painterly class, we’ll share a simplified approach to painting self-portraits (re: don’t be afraid of this class!) and set students loose on a playful journey to interpret—either figuratively or more abstractly—what they see in their own depictions. Example compositions will be provided to guide the process + stoke your imagination.
(Please note: Students will be asked to share one selfie prior to class which they will use as the foundation of their work. This selfie will be overlayed + adhered to the canvas to aid students with the rendering process.)
-
Before there were selfies, there were plenty of self-portraits. While much more painstaking to create, artists paint self-portraits to explore their identity, express emotions, practice technique, and leave a personal mark in their work. It's a way to reflect on themselves both psychologically and artistically.
-
Self-portraiture has long been a powerful tool for self-exploration and artistic legacy. Artists known for painting self-portraits include:
Frida Kahlo – Used self-portraits to express pain, identity, and personal symbolism
Vincent van Gogh – Created many self-portraits reflecting his emotional and mental states
Rembrandt van Rijn – Painted over 80 self-portraits, documenting his aging and evolving style
Albrecht Dürer – Early master of the self-portrait in the Renaissance era
Egon Schiele – Known for raw, expressive self-portraits with distorted forms
Lucian Freud – Painted intense, unflinching self-portraits over decades
-
Guided group demonstration
Personalized instruction
Premium 12 x 16 gallery wrap canvas
Workshop guide
Shared class supplies (brushes, paints, etc.)
Fresh, frameable art compositions
Deeper understanding of art history
-
AGES | All ages welcome but 13+ is recommended to benefit the most from instruction.
PREREQUISITE | None. No prior artistic skill required, either.
ARRIVAL | Please allow an extra 15-30 minutes for mingling to ensure you are settled when instruction begins.
ATTIRE | Heavy-duty canvas aprons are provided for class, but because accidents happen sometimes, we do recommend wearing clothes that you don’t mind getting a tad messy.
-
TO BOOK | Click here to book a painting event at the location of your choice. Once your booking is confirmed, a 25% non-refundable deposit is required to secure your event.
RESCHEDULING + CANCELLATION POLICY |72-hour notice is required for a 75% refund of prepaid class bookings; bookings may be transferred to a future class before the 72-hour notice timeframe by contacting events@painterly.co. If cancellation or a request to rebook occurs after 72- hours before the start of class, no refund will be provided regardless of reason (note: this policy enables Painterly to protect our artist instructors, who are directly impacted by last-minute cancellations).
