Portrait Painting - Capturing the Human Spirit

November 29th - 30th, 2025

10:00 AM - 4:00 PM (PST) 

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

Level: Suitable for Beginner & Intermediate Level

Medium: Acrylic & Oil 

Workshop Overview:

In this course, you will learn to paint portraits full of life and expression. Starting with a short painting exercise, you will learn to mix colours that convey vibrant skin tones. Building on these skills, you will create a full portrait painting from the ground up using provided reference photos, or students may bring their own. 

You will begin with an underpainting process, learning to use correct proportions and shapes to gain a sense of likeness. Step-by-step, you’ll then discover simple techniques for mixing colours as they appear in light and shadowed areas of the face. You’ll learn to add nuance to these, capturing the complexities of different areas of the face through tips and tricks about directional brushwork, colour subtleties and tonal values. As you progress through your painting, you’ll receive hands-on instruction, helping add nuance and just the right amount of detail. 

Finally, through demonstrations and feedback, students will add indications of emotion to bring a sense of meaning to their piece. 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.