Expresive Portrait Painting Summer 2025

All skill levels are welcome! This course aims to equip artists with essential tools to practice and refine their drawing and painting skills.
Throughout the course, I will cover elements of design and composition, likeness and proportions, value, structure, and of course, color!
We’ll start by reviewing your tools and setup (a supply list will be provided). Then, we’ll explore various approaches to oil painting, including techniques used by the old masters. Each student will receive personalized attention based on their level of skills and individual interests.

I will demonstrate my process live during the course, and daily feedback will be provided. Students will receive tailored assignments to enhance their skills and will be guided through each stage of their oil painting, from initial steps to complete portrait.

Konstantin Rudnichenko is a Ukrainian artist based in NYC. He studied at the Art Students League of New York. His paintings are represented in numerous public, private and corporate collections. Through his works he depicts the very essence of the subject capturing exquisite likeness and luminosity. Konstantin is deeply influenced by the old master’s works serving as both a foundation and source of inspiration for the artist’s distinctive style. He remains deeply committed to his craft, continually refining his technique while exploring new avenues of artistic expression.

Items marked with asterisk(*) are optional

[Paints]

Gambling, Windsor Newton, Old Holland or other professional grade
Lead white (RGH brand, Michael Hardings or Blockx)*
Titanium white ( regular Titanium or Quick drying Titanium)
Cadmium Lemon*
Cadmium Orange *
Cadmium Red
Cadmium green *
Alizarin
Viridian Green *
Ultramarine blue
Cerulean Blue *
Raw Sienna
Burnt Sienna
Raw Umber
Mars Black (or Ivory Black)
Van Dyck Brown (Gambling) *

[Supports]

Hand Held mirror
Surface Board, Canvas or Primed paper: Cotton or Linen toned gray (Golden Neutral Acrylic Gray works well) ( sizes depending on the composition something like 11×14 16×20 18×24 etc.)
Palette Knife (trowel type)
Palette cup
Solvent: Turpenoid
Medium: linseed oil
Palette: grey or Natural wood color ( not white)
Brush cleaner Can or Jar with coil
Grey View finder
Brushes: Robert Simmons ( Trekell, Silver or other high quality brands) Bristle Filbert brushes #1 #4 #6 #8 #10. Trekell Legion filbert/round #4 couple brushes.

[Drawing Utensils]

Willow thin Charcoal, kneaded eraser
White Nupastel*
Small Sketchpad (toned gray) *
Small hand held mirror