Service Description

Explore portrait painting through structure, light and personal expression with Rabi Alieva. In this two-day workshop, you will learn to understand the face — its proportions, planes and value structure — and use this knowledge to create expressive, emotionally engaging portraits. A clear, logical approach to portrait construction will help you gain confidence and develop your own artistic interpretations. We will explore: • Facial proportions and structural understanding • Light and shadow as tools for creating form • Strong compositions in portrait painting • Colour mixing for luminous, natural skin tones • Emotional storytelling through brushwork Day 1 — Seeing the Face Through the Eyes of an Artist We will begin with the fundamentals: proportions, planes and value structure. You will learn to analyse the head logically and simplify it into clear, understandable forms. Several portrait sketches will strengthen your observation skills and understanding of composition. These sketches will later serve as the foundation for your watercolour paintings. Day 2 — Expressive Female Portrait You will paint a female portrait using Rabi’s watercolour technique, building the painting through several transparent layers. The focus will be on transparency, atmosphere and expressive brushwork while maintaining structural clarity. You will explore how to build depth while keeping the painting fresh and luminous. By the end of the workshop, you will have gained practical tools and new techniques for creating portraits with presence and individuality. 🎁 All participants will receive a detailed PDF Portrait Guide developed by Rabi to support continued independent practice at home. About the artist Rabi Alieva is a Munich-based watercolour artist known for her structured approach to portrait painting. Her work focuses on light, planes and emotional presence. She teaches internationally and helps artists develop confidence, independence and a clear understanding of portrait construction. Her method combines classical foundations with contemporary expression and encourages participants to discover their own artistic voice. Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rabi__rabi/ 📍 Artiloft (Craft Factory, 4th floor), Albulastrasse 24, 8048 Zurich 📅 30 and 31 January 2027 (Saturday and Sunday) 🕙 Hours: 10am–1pm and 2pm–5pm each day (12 hours in total) 💰 Price for both days: CHF 380 with your own materials or CHF 410 with materials provided. Registration is required for both days. 👥 18 places. Ages 14 and over, for participants with previous watercolour experience. 🗣️ Language: English (French and German translation available on request). 🎓 A certificate of participation will be issued at the end of the workshop. Materials to bring for the “With your own materials” option Paper: Hahnemühle “The Collection”, 30 × 40 cm, cold-pressed, 300 gsm, 100% cotton. Colours: • Vermilion (Mijello) • Red Brown (Mijello) • Ultramarine (Winsor & Newton) • Alizarin Crimson (Winsor & Newton) • Cobalt Turquoise Light (Winsor & Newton) • Payne’s Grey (Winsor & Newton) • White Gouache (Schmincke) • Naples Yellow (Winsor & Newton) Brushes: • One large, soft flat brush for washes and larger areas • One medium-sized round brush (Rabi uses a brush from the “Da Vinci Rabi Alieva Set”) • One small synthetic brush for fine details You are also welcome to bring your preferred brushes and materials. Additional materials: • Sketchbook or notebook • Mechanical pencil and soft graphite pencil (8B) • Black fineliner (0.03 mm) Online registration is required due to the limited number of places.