Mastering Skin Tones in the Portrait With Cara Bain, AFCA

Date: Saturday, December 5th, 2026

Time: 10.00 AM - 4.00 PM (PDT)

Location: Federation Academy on Granville Island, 1310 Johnston St, Vancouver, BC V6H 3S1 

Suitable for Beginner & Intermediate Level

Workshop Overview:

In this course, you will learn to paint portraits with vibrant skin tones full of life and expression. Starting with a short painting exercise, you will learn to mix and apply colour tiles that convey a simple, three-dimensional head. 

Building on these skills, you will create a full portrait painting from the ground up using provided reference photos. So as to focus on skin tone development, rather than getting lost in drawing and proportions, we will start by tracing the portrait photo onto our surfaces with transfer paper. 

Then, step-by-step, we’ll explore simple techniques for mixing paint, reflecting a diversity of skin tones and colours. We’ll take into consideration how light and shadow impact colour and the importance of values in conveying the form of the face.

Along the way we’ll add nuance, capturing the complexities of different areas of the face through tips and tricks about directional brushwork, and colour subtleties. As you progress through your painting, you’ll receive hands-on instruction, helping add nuance and just the right amount of detail. 

You’ll come away from this workshop with the tools you need to paint your own captivating portraits!

About the instructor - Cara Bain, AFCA: 

Cara Bain has a passion for capturing the people and places that surround her. Her art communicates complex ideas through the human form, and she is known for her expressive landscapes and unique use of oil paint with copper patina in her figurative work. Her art explores the connections people find with themselves, with others, and with their surroundings.

For nearly two decades, Cara has had a passion for capturing the faces of those around her. Known especially for the expressiveness of her portraits, her work encourages viewers to find intrinsic beauty in everyone they see. She is endlessly enchanted by the breathtaking landscapes of British Columbia, painting both ‘en plein air’ and in the studio. Her goal is to share the profound emotions she experiences when immersed in these natural wonders — feelings of tranquillity, invigoration, and awe. Through her landscape paintings, she strives to convey the energy, peace, and wonder that nature instills in her.

Since 2016, Cara has been an art instructor, teaching and inspiring adults, teens, and children to build a solid foundation of technique and express their creative ideas. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Visual Communication and has 20 years of experience in fine arts, including numerous exhibitions in the greater Vancouver area. Through painting and teaching, Cara Bain continues to inspire and evoke a deeper connection to the world, capturing both the majesty of nature and the complexities of the human spirit.