Portraits with Aris Moore

Class Includes Lifetime Access, Online Community, Instructor Commenting, 5 Video Lessons & More!

5 Lessons – $59

Aris Moore is a creator of warm, strange and familiar beings. Her creations bring a smile of “knowingness” and in this portrait class she leads us through the invention of  new people who might be from memories, dreams or just playful combinations.

Forever Access, Pre-recorded Video Class runs: February 4-13, 2025

 

TEACHER: Aris Moore

Class Description

Portraits with Aris Moore
5 Lessons
Class Dates: February 4-13, 2025

In this class you will create a series of portraits that are inspired by and comprised of found images, collage and drawing, These will not be your typical portraits based on creating a likeness through observation… they will instead be based on creating emotion through play and reflection. Did I say play? Why yes, I did. We will approach all aspects of this class with a playful and curious spirit that will open us up to a world of possibility. I love spending time with these creations…they come to life for me and and hope the will for you!

We will explore how we can create emotion through drawing, juxtaposing images and combining different levels of reality. A cast of characters will emerge before your eyes as you move things around, layer and draw. These beings will make you laugh, think, feel, care about and ultimately believe in them. They will remind us that to create is to play and that we, as artists are capable of traveling far beyond what things look like.

Aris 

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Class Itinerary

Lessons are prerecorded and are available at 1amPT on the following schedule:

Lesson 1 – Tuesday, February 4
Lesson 2 – Wednesday, February 5
Lesson 3 – Friday, February 7

Lesson 4 – Tuesday, February 11
Lesson 5 – Thursday, February 13

Lesson 1: Cut Out & Play
In this first lesson you’ll gather your pile of photo references and take an exacto knife to them, removing faces, parts of faces, etc. Then, it’s play time! You’ll move things around and around in different combinations  and take LOTS of photos.

Lesson 2: Drawing Facial Features
In Lesson 2 we will draw eyes, noses, and mouths using a variety of media and a variety of approaches and techniques. We’ll work from reference and memory, aiming to break out of normal patterns and keep it casual and fun!

Lesson 3: Making Faces
Let’s start putting everything together to make 8-10 heads. Mix and match photograph and drawn elements to create fun and funny characters. When you start to care about her? That’s the time to glue.

Lesson 4: Adding Bodies
In Lesson 4 we will begin to create some finished portraits. We will play with combining an unreal face with a “real” body, as well as contrasting the mixed-media collage faces with simple pencil bodies. We’ll work from reference and imagination and complete a single portrait as well as a two-person portrait, with emphasis on highlighting the interaction between your characters.

Lesson 5: Head & Shoulder Portraits
Finally, you’ll mix and match all of your remaining elements and supplies to create at least three portraits. Aris will share several of her approaches and drawing techniques and encourage you to really take care of the details at the end.

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For a full list of the supplies you will need, see the tab titled “Supplies” located just under the video screen above.

Supply List

• Gather at least 10 photographic images of men, women, children etc. from different periods. They can be in color, black and white, or sepia. It will be interesting to have a range in terms of color and size. Print the portraits as large as possible on a 8.5″x11″ paper (at least two of each portrait so you will feel free to cut them up for various things). I look for different expressions. hairstyles, patterns in fabric etc.

(Note: Carla will provide a PDF with photographs upon signup that you can print out and use if desired, however using Carla’s references is completely optional.)

• exacto knife and cutting mat.

• cameraphone or camera

• About 8-10 sheets of 8.5 x 11 in. drawing paper. I work on moleskine sketchbook paper, ! like it because it is cream, very smooth and thick. Cardstock will work great as well or really any drawing paper that you already have or like. You just want it to be thicker than copy paper.

• A variety of pens, pencils, colored pencils, alcohol markers, paint markers, ballpoint pens anything you have or would like to get.

• Gather a variety of paper that you can find around the house, paper bags, post it notes, envelopes, manilla folders, tracing paper, construction papers in different colors, manila paper, notebook paper, tea-stained paper, etc.

• White eraser (or whatever you like as an eraser)

• Glue stick and scissors

About the Teacher

Aris Moore lives and works in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. She can often be found drawing in local coffee shops. Her work explores contradictions of strength and vulnerability, and attraction and repulsion, to create beings that are simultaneously awkward and unbelievable, yet familiar. Her drawings have been exhibited throughout the United States and have been included in several publications including New American Paintings and The Creative Block. When she is not drawing she is spending time with her nineteen year old twins, August and Owen and their very talkative cat Theo.

instagram: @arismoore

Nuts & Bolts

– Lessons are prerecorded and are available at 1amPT on the following schedule:

Lesson 1 – Tuesday, February 4
Lesson 2 – Wednesday, February 5
Lesson 3 – Friday, February 7

Lesson 4 – Tuesday, February 11
Lesson 5 – Thursday, February 13

– A private Facebook group and a Padlet group (for those not on FB) will be available for you to (optionally) share your artwork and enjoy and learn from the artwork of others. You may also email your teacher directly with questions or feedback.

– You will have forever access to the class videos and materials.