Developing Narrative in Animal Portraiture (Online Workshop) Fall 2026 w/ Yelena Lamm

November 16 to November 30 (Mondays), 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM Eastern Time

**All sessions are live and will be recorded, students do not have to be present. All recordings will be available to students for 3 months after the final session, after 3 months the recording will be deleted.

Please check your email spam/junk folder for your Zoom invite. Our business hours are 10:00 AM through 5:00 PM. All course information and email correspondence will be sent during business hours. If students purchase a course, workshop, demo or recording outside business hours or during the weekend the course information or recording will be sent the following business day.

DEMO:

Workshop Description

Take your animal portraits to the next level in this engaging three-session workshop focused on storytelling, composition, and expression. Learn how to move beyond observation and create paintings that capture not just likeness, but personality, mood, and narrative.

Through guided demonstrations and step-by-step instruction, you’ll learn how to select and combine photo references to design more dynamic and meaningful compositions. Individual critiques will be offered after each session to support your progress.

We’ll explore how to develop a visual story from the very beginning—using thumbnail sketches and thoughtful planning to set up a strong composition. Core painting principles—values, color temperature, brushwork, and form—will be revisited in greater depth, with a focus on how they work together to create impact. You’ll also gain a deeper understanding of light: how it shapes form, directs the viewer’s eye, and enhances the emotional content of your work.

Throughout the workshop, you’ll complete one painting from start to finish, building it step by step with guidance at every stage.

By the end of the workshop, you’ll feel more confident designing and executing animal portraits that are not only technically strong, but expressive, personal, and full of life.

Workshop Outline

Week 1: Developing the Idea

Choose and combine photo references; explore storytelling; create thumbnail sketches; build a strong compositional foundation.

Week 2: Form & Expression

Refine proportions and likeness; deepen your understanding of values and color temperature; use shapes and edges to build form and convey character.

Week 3: Painting with Intention

Elevate your brushwork and paint application; use light to enhance mood and focus; bring all elements together into a cohesive, narrative-driven portrait.

Workshop Materials

One stretched canvas, board or panel, recommended size between 12”x16˝ and

18˝x24˝. I use Centurion Deluxe Professional Oil Primed Linen.

Sketching or drawing paper for thumbnails, soft graphite pencil

Small pieces of canvas or small canvas panels for color studies (can be 4”x6” - 5”x7”)

Brushes:

I recommend Rosemary and Co. Evergreen Short Flat sizes 4-12; Eclipse Fan (1.5-2”,

optional).

Palette:

Minimum 12˝x16˝ in size; glass or wood, disposable paper palette acceptable.

Medium:

I highly recommend Michael Harding Miracle Medium MM0 (replaces Gamsol) and MM1

(replaces linseed oil), if not, Gamsol and linseed oil.

Oil paints:

Ivory Black

Transparent Oxide Red

Chinese Orange (Sennelier)

Vermilion (Sennelier) or Cadmium Red Light

Alizarin Crimson

Ultramarine Blue

Viridian

Radiant Green (Gamblin)

Radiant Turquoise (Gamblin)

Yellow Ochre

Titanium White

Other items: containers for medium, paper towels or rags, easel, gloves, brush cleaning

soap (I like The Masters Brush Cleaner & Preserver.)