Wednesdays
Portraiture in Oil with spencer brady
Portraiture in Oil is a monthly class for students who want to develop their skills painting from life. Each month, students create a new portrait from a live model holding a sustained pose, with the same easel position each week.
You’ll begin by establishing accurate contours on the canvas, then move into defining major light and dark shapes and gradually refining details to capture likeness and expression. The goal is not only technical accuracy but also the subtle beauty of chiaroscuro and the expressive qualities that bring a portrait to life.
Portraiture can be so much more than achieving a physically accurate representation of a person’s likeness. It can be a glimpse into that person’s entire world. For me, building observational skills from life has been invaluable in bridging the gap between likeness and that larger world, and in expressing the beauty in the faces around us.
Individualized feedback is an important part of my process and is given at multiple points throughout the class. I paint alongside my students from start to finish to demonstrate the principles and concepts I teach. Support is always available.
2026 Monthly Portrait Painting Class
Spencer’s Philosophy
Art is a deeply human expression—a way of discovering ourselves and our place in the larger tapestry of life. By simply observing and appreciating beauty—the subtlety of a portrait, the contour of a figure, the play of light on form—we connect with something greater. Nature, after all, is our greatest teacher.
While I take my craft seriously, I try not to take myself too seriously. As Elizabeth Gilbert reminds us, “Only when we are at our most playful can divinity finally get serious with us.”
As a teacher, I see myself as a guide along your artistic path. Your goals, strengths, and challenges shape my approach. I aim to provide thoughtful, personalized feedback so that every student feels supported in their unique journey.
About the Instructor
Spencer Brady is a classically trained painter with a lifelong passion for the arts. After visiting Florence during a painting and drawing study abroad program, he fell in love with the city of Florence, and decided he simply had to live and study there. In 2018, he began his studies at Charles H. Cecil Studios in Florence, Italy, where he was rigorously trained in the sight-size method, emphasizing precision, proportion, and the study of light and form. Spencer has exhibited internationally, including in “Cuatro Miradas” in Villa de Leyva, Colombia—a group exhibition showcasing four contemporary artists from around the world. As an instructor, Spencer is committed to helping students build strong foundational skills while cultivating self-confidence in a supportive and focused environment. Spencer loves walking his dog, cooking good food, and driving with the windows down!