overview
This part-time program offers 85 hours of study, including 60 hours working from live models. It is the only art program in Australia where almost 75% of the curriculum is dedicated to live model practice.
Designed for artists seeking focused, skills-based training, the program supports steady development through multiple guided projects each week, grounded in the tradition of drawing and painting from life. The part-time format allows you to build serious momentum while balancing work and other commitments.
This program combines three weekly classes:
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Portraits Class
Mondays, 10:00 am – 1:00 pm
Portrait drawing and painting sessions working from a model. (Two portrait projects completed across the term.)
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Master Copy Class
Wednesdays, 6:15 pm – 8:45 pm
Drawing and painting studies copying historical works.
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Figure Class
Sundays, 10:00 am – 1:00 pm
Full figure drawing and painting sessions working from a model. (Two figure projects completed across the term.)
The Programs Structure and Teaching Approach
Instead of a one-size-fits-all curriculum, the program is structured around each student’s individual needs and goals. With guidance from the tutor, students select projects suited to their current level, supporting targeted skill development and progress.
Students will be introduced to three core measurement approaches used in drawing from life:
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Sight-Size
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Comparative Measurement
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Axis Measurement
The Studio and Lighting
Morning life drawing sessions are scheduled to take advantage of natural light, which provides soft illumination light and reveals form, colour, and depth. The life drawing space has a south-facing window and a skylight. South light is widely regarded as ideal for artists because it is stable, cool, and free from harsh glare, supporting accurate observation of both value and colour.
What’s Included
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Live Demonstrations: Each session includes a demonstration by tutor and artist Shulamit Lambe, with open discussion of process and time for questions.
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Individual Feedback: students receive focused one-on-one guidance tailored to their needs and stage of development. Class sizes are kept intentionally small to ensure ample tutor time and adequate feedback.
Wednesday Focus: Master Copy
The Wednesday class approaches master copying as both a historical studio practice and a key study method. Students will learn how paintings are constructed and gain insight into the artistic decisions made in the works they study.
This includes but ins not limited to:
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Composition and pictorial structure
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Value organisation and light
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Colour and palette choices
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Anatomy and proportion
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Edges, brushwork, and surface handling
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Ground, layering, and paint construction
When choosing what to copy, students select a work that aligns with their goals. Two approaches are offered:
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Study
Focus on a single element (e.g., colour, values, composition). This may be completed in one session or developed across several, with supervision and guidance.
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Reproduction (Full Copy)
A more comprehensive copy requiring careful planning and typically completed over multiple sessions, with supervision and guidance.
For beginner to intermediate students, a drawing-based master copy is recommended before progressing into painted studies.