In the Light of the Masters: Portraiture through Anatomy, Gesture, and Emotion.
Portrait Drawing in the Historic Ashmolean Museum, Oxford, UK
Dates; June 5-10, 2026
COST: $1,699
1 Day at the National Gallery, London
5 Days Portrait Drawing in the Studio
Description
Whether you wish to deepen your understanding of expressive and structural portraits, sharpen your eyes and hand to the next level with a master’s feedback, or immerse yourself in an inspiring and rigorous week among motivated peers, this workshop will be an unforgettable experience. Held in the historic Ashmolean Museum studio in Oxford, this six-day workshop offers an immersive exploration into portraiture through careful observation, study of structure and light, in deep conversation with the Old Masters.
The course will begin with a private guided tour at the National Gallery in London, where participants will study masterworks up-close, discussing the techniques and principles that have shaped the language of portraiture for centuries. We will carry those lessons into the studio, and over the course of the workshop, Tyler Berry will guide participants through five days of focused portrait drawing from a live model. Each student will receive one-on-one feedback daily, and Tyler will also demo his own drawings alongside students to bring clarity to the process that you can follow.
The process of drawing an advanced portrait will be broken into stages. We will begin with the block-in, achieving a striking likeness, expression, and light effect through an intuitive and abstract start. We will then discuss ‘finishing’ a block in as its own work of art, or moving it forward to prepare for the modeling stage. After a deep discussion about form and light, we will progress to the modeling stage, where we will render our portraits through a careful understanding of light and structure. Finally, we will discuss the qualities that tie a drawing together into a completed artwork, referencing Old Master drawings with a discussion of line, shape, and balance.
There will be informative group discussions every day of the course, ranging from skull anatomy, conceptualizing light, expression and gesture, and materials and process. You will have the opportunity to learn about Tyler’s process as he explains his artworks step-by-step, and demonstrates the entire process on his own drawing throughout the class. Not only will you enjoy an uninterrupted week of drawing from life, but the lessons will directly connect you to the language of the Old Masters such as Rembrandt, Velazquez, and Reynolds.
By the end of the course, you will have refined your ability to capture likeness and human expression through a reliable and logical process, and deepen your conceptual understanding of light and form, bringing brilliance and luminosity to your work. This workshop is not merely a technical exercise, but a transformative and immersive experience that blends rigorous study with inspiration.
BIO:
Tyler trained for 4 years under the tutelage of Jacob Collins, Colleen Barry and Edward Minoff at the esteemed Grand Central Atelier, where he subsequently taught drawing for three years. He currently instructs drawing at the New Salem Museum of Art. Alongside his study, Tyler has dedicated over a decade to copying the Old Masters, which brings a unique perspective, historical depth, and a clear visual language to his instruction. This will be Tyler’s only overseas workshop in 2026.
Dates: June 5-10, 2026 (6 days)
One day at the National Gallery, London
Five days of Drawing from live model
End of class Group Dinner
Included:
One day of Museum lectures, study , critique & demos
Train and Taxi from Oxford to/from London for Museum day
Five days of Drawing in the Studio
End of class group dinner
Easels, tabourets, and chairs
Studio space in the Ashmolean Museum, Oxford
Museum Lectures:
Friday July 5 - National Gallery London
Hours: 11:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Portrait Drawing in the Studio from a live Model:
Saturday July 6 - Wednesday July 10
Hours 11:00am - 5:00pm
Lunch 1:30pm - 2:30pm
Accessibility:
Local cafes and restaurants within Oxford
Oxford Bus and rail transit
COST: $1,699.00
(Convesion Rates may vary by day)
All tuition fees are nonrefundable and nontransferable
Registration form/Terms and conditions must be completed and agreed to, or signed prior and emailed prior to attendance
Pay by Cashiers Check, Bank Bill Pay, Zelle®, Credit Card, or PayPal
We do not accept Personal Checks.
We do not accept cash.
Partial Payments are not accepted.
Pay by Zelle® at info@bacaa.org
Pay now via PayPal or Credit Card
All tuition is non-refundable and non-transferable.
Please send checks and packets to the
BACAA BUSINESS ADDRESS:
969 G Edgewater Blvd
Foster City, CA 94404|
Cost:$1,699
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BACAA STUDIO ADDRESS
345 Quarry Rd
San Carlos, CA 94070
Contact: info@bacaa.org
650-832-1544
