with Fatima Pantoja
Monday 26 October 2026 – 10am to 5pm – £100 (plus bring some materials)
This workshop is suitable for Adults and older teens (16+).
Learn everything about portrait drawing and painting with one of the Portrait Artist of the Year semifinalists.
Whether you are a complete beginner or a professional artist, this workshop will be tailored to your level to ensure you get the most out of the experience. We will work in Black and White in the morning and Colour in the afternoon. Bring your own materials and boards/easels!
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WORKSHOP OVERVIEW
This workshop offers flexibility in both technique and approach. It is divided into two parts:
Part 1: Black & White (Approx. 3 hours)
Focus on dry techniques such as graphite or charcoal.
You will learn:
- How to approach a portrait
- Understanding proportions and facial structure
- Building form through shading and tonal values
You will work from photographic references during this session.
Part 2: Colour (Approx. 3 hours)
Explore colour using your preferred medium:
- Soft pastels
- Oils
- Acrylics
This session will cover:
- Colour mixing
- Basics of colour theory
- Applying colour to portrait work
A live model will be available for this part of the workshop.
Flexibility
- You may choose to stick with one technique throughout the workshop or experiment with multiple mediums.
- If you prefer, you can continue working in black and white during the second part instead of switching to colour.
- Alternative reference images will be available if you prefer not to work from a live model.
Important information
- This is a 6-hour workshop. Please bring your own snacks.
- Come prepared to get messy.
- Some materials and tools will be available to try, but you are required to bring your own supplies (see materials list).
Reference images
Fatima will provide a selection of images, but you are welcome to bring your own.
Recommended guidelines for references:
- Size: A5
- Lighting: No backlighting or flash
- Angle: ¾ view
- Beginners are advised to avoid very young faces or faces wearing make up.
Material list
For the first part of the session: BLACK & WHITE VALUES
If you are using Charcoal
- board
- easel (standing or table)
- cartridge paper. My advice is A3 or bigger.
- putty rubber/standard rubber
- buldog clips/paper clips
- masking tape
- willow charcoal
- compressed charcoal
- blender or sponge
- brush
- bits of paper (to create stencils)
- scissors
- white chalk
- white soft pastel
If you are using Graphite
- board
- easel (standing or table)
- cartridge paper pad
- putty rubber/standard rubber & sharpener
- buldog clips/paper clips
- masking tape
- graphite 2b or higher b number
- bits of paper (to create stencils)
- scissors
- white colour pencil
- brush
- biro pen
For the second part of the session: COLOUR
If you are using Oil or Acrylic
- board if you are working on paper
- canvas around A3 (no need of board)
- easel
- acrylic set / oil set (waterbased if possible)
- For acrylics, System 3 is a great brand to learn
- 2 water pots
- cloth for cleaning brushes
- palette for mixing colours
- set of brushes (min 5)
- scissors
- paper
If you are using Pastel
- board
- cartridge paper
- easel
- soft pastels set (Toison d’or / Amsterdam / daler rowney will be the cheapest I would go). If you can treat yourself to some sennelier or Jackson’s art
- sponge
- cloth for cleaning brushes
- palette for mixing colours
- a couple of brushes
- scissors
- paper bit
Cancellation policy.
Please note that a ticketing fee of £5 is included in the price of this workshop and this is not refundable in any circumstance.
If you are unable to attend the workshop and you cancel your attendance more than two weeks prior to the workshop, the ticketing fee above will be retained. If you cancel less than two weeks before the workshop no fees are refundable.
In the event of City Arts having to cancel the workshop due to participants’ numbers falling below the minimum requirement or government advice changes, we will refund the whole workshop amount.