Portrait Workshop with Jason Arkles
In July, I participated in a portrait workshop taught by Jason Arkles (http://jasonarkles.com/) at his studio in the heart of Florence Italy. I arrived on a Saturday evening and waded through crowds of touriests to my AirBnB accompanied by the view of this sunset.
![](http://www.belfineart.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/1stDaySunset.jpeg)
The workshop began Monday morning and ran from 9AM-12PM and 1PM-4PM every day thru Friday. Our model’s name was Irene. She is a model, photographer, and seamstress (https://www.instagram.com/cuordibambola/?hl=en). Here she is at the very beginning along with our armatures, in one of the dresses she designed and made.
![](http://www.belfineart.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Day1.jpeg)
We began by making an egg shape on a cylinder.
![](http://www.belfineart.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Day1Egg.jpeg)
Turning both Irene and the clay model, we centered the head on the post and developed the profile.
![](http://www.belfineart.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Day1Profile.jpeg)
Then, turning frequently and working on different angles, we made the large shapes of the portrait.
![](http://www.belfineart.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Day1End.jpeg)
In the evenings, I went home to my AirBnB along the Arno. This was my view walking home.
![](http://www.belfineart.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/ViewOfHills.jpeg)
I had a classmate for this workshop. Her name is Jill. You can check out her work here (https://www.instagram.com/jill_moss_studios/?hl=en) Here’s Jill working on the 2nd day.
![](http://www.belfineart.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Day2JillWorking.jpeg)
Jason worked alongside us, demonstrating on a smaller scale model. Jason was a serious teacher. Very serious.
![](http://www.belfineart.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Day2JasonBeingSilly.jpg)
After making the big shapes, things started getting kind of messy and frustrating for me around day 3. Also lopsided.
![](http://www.belfineart.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Day3Front.jpeg)
![](http://www.belfineart.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Day3-3Quarters.jpeg)
But, it started pulling together by day 4, and my portrait started looking like the model.
![](http://www.belfineart.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Day4Front.jpeg)
![](http://www.belfineart.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Day4WithJill.jpeg)
Day 5 was spent developing the smaller forms, cleaning up the surface, and changing aspects of the portrait that were very bothersome. Here she is, all the way around.
![](http://www.belfineart.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Day5InRound-1-1024x143.jpg)
![](http://www.belfineart.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Day5Front.jpeg)
![](http://www.belfineart.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Day5-3Quarts.jpeg)
![](http://www.belfineart.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Day5Profile.jpeg)
My last evening in Florence, there was another gorgeous sunset.
![](http://www.belfineart.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/GoodbyeFlorence.jpeg)