Paint like Picasso - Cubism Portrait - Workshop

Designed for complete beginners as well as those with some creative experience, this workshop introduces students to the key ideas behind Cubism, including fragmented perspectives, geometric shapes and bold colour combinations. With step-by-step guidance from the tutor, students will learn how to break down object shapes into simplified forms and reconstruct them in a dynamic Cubist style. Through practical exercises and a guided painting process, learners will create their own Cubist-inspired still life while developing confidence in composition and creative experimentation.

During the workshop, students will gain key artistic skills such as observational drawing, compositional planning, colour experimentation and expressive mark-making. The course also encourages softer creative skills including visual problem-solving, confidence in experimentation and creative thinking.

The session begins with a short introduction to the work of Pablo Picasso and the development of Cubism. Students will explore how traditional still life art was transformed through abstract forms, multiple viewpoints and geometric simplification.Students will observe how artists used shape, line, colour and composition to create expressive and unconventional images.

Students will learn how to analyse object shapes and simplify them into basic geometric forms such as triangles, rectangles and curves. Through guided drawing exercises, learners will practice rearranging these elements to create a dynamic Cubist composition.

Key skills covered include:• Observational drawing and structural sketching• Simplifying complex forms into geometric shapes• Exploring multiple viewpoints within one image• Planning a balanced and expressive composition

Students will then develop their own Still Life layout. The tutor will demonstrate how to divide the picture surface into bold shapes and overlapping planes, creating a strong Cubist design.