The Portrait en Trois Crayons
Instructed by Tyler Berry and Chelsea Bard
July 14-18 2025 Dedham, UK
By Tyler Berry
We are pleased to announce the return of our five-day drawing intensive retreat exploring the portrait in three colors held in the beautiful village of Dedham UK.
July 14-18 2024
The Assembly Rooms, Dedham Village, UK
Designated as an “Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty” in Essex, Dedham Vale has attracted many famous artists to live and work across the centuries, including Thomas Gainsborough, John Constable, and Alfred Munnings. We will be drawing deep inspiration from this beautiful and timeless location during this week-long drawing intensive. The village has ample cafes, pubs, hotels and B&Bs, all within walking distance of our historic studio at the Assembly Rooms. And, as daylight stretches into the evening, why not join us after the workshop as we paint and draw the “Constable Country” landscape, or, just take time to enjoy the many activities Dedham has to offer, such as beautiful walks, boating and the great local restaurants.
Tuition
Tuition is £750 and includes five days of instructed drawing time. A deposit of 50% will reserve your spot, the remaining 50% is due by June 14.
The workshop will run from 10am-5pm daily, with an hour’s break for lunch.
Places at the workshop will be offered on a first come, first served basis. Once the course is fully booked we will be creating a waiting list for any places that may become available.
We have included a materials list and information on local accommodation and amenities at the top of the page. The tuition fee does not include accommodation, food or travel, but we are happy to help you with any questions regarding accommodation or the workshop. We are organizing this workshop with the generous help of our friends Merlyn, Andrew, and Leo Bignell who are local to the Dedham area. If you have any questions regarding accommodations or amenities you may email Merlyn at merlyn.b.bignell@gmail.com.
Tuition is payable via PayPal, check, or credit card. Please see our cancellation policies at the bottom of the page.
Please Contact Us with any questions.
By Chelsea Bard
The Portrait en trois crayons
Dating back to the Renaissance, the tradition of chalk drawings in three colors has elevated portrait drawing to a beautiful and finished art form. Over the five-day retreat we will explore the fundamentals of drawing the expressive portrait in brown, black, and red pencil and learn how to draw our own finished portraits from the live model. Artists of every level are encouraged to join.
After welcoming the workshop with light refreshments and coffee, the first day will begin with a series of 20-40 minute sketches culminating in a three-hour fully-realized block in. We will spend the day discussing the fundamentals of blocking in with comparative measurement, how to achieve likeness through accurate shadow shapes, and reliable approaches to beginning a drawing with structure and light in mind.
The rest of the workshop will be dedicated to completing two portrait drawings from the live model. Each pose will be a full two days, and we will build upon our block ins into a fully expressed investigation of the portrait and light. We will continue to discuss form, structure, expression and materials throughout the week. The information will build fluidly through the week, and this workshop will allow the opportunity to sit with and practise these ideas alongside the guidance of two young professional artists.
Both Chelsea and Tyler will demo every stage of the process and discuss the similarities and differences in their approaches. Every student will get personal, individualized feedback on their work each day from both instructors.
What you will learn
A flexible process to reliably achieve a likeness at the start of your drawings and build out from a solid structural foundation
Anatomy of the skull and how to draw portraits with solidity and weight
A conceptual understanding of light and form that bring luminosity and realism to your drawings
The structure of features and how they convey gesture and expression
An exploration of different drawing media and their different moods and effects
A study of Old Master drawings and the secrets they have taught us that dramatically improve our own work
Meet the Instructors
Chelsea Bard
Chelsea Bard is an American visual artist, most known for her figurative work. A native of New England, Chelsea obtained a BFA from the Hartford Art School in Connecticut before pursuing a classical foundation in painting and draftsmanship at the Grand Central Atelier in New York City. Bard’s widely acclaimed work hangs in collections throughout North America, Europe, United Kingdom, Australia and Japan including at the Stobart Foundation and The New Salem Museum and Academy of Fine Art. She now lives and maintains a studio in New York City.
Tyler Berry
Tyler Berry (b. 1994) is a figurative artist raised in New England. Upon receiving his BFA in 2016 he worked as an animator in Greece and Poland on the feature film Loving Vincent. During this formative year, he immersed himself in the work of the Old Masters, studying and copying in the museums of Europe.
His work hangs in collections internationally, throughout the US, Europe, Japan, and China, including the New Salem Museum of Art in Massachusetts. He is the recipient of numerous awards, including first place in the Salmagundi Club annual drawing competition, and has participated in group shows throughout New England, New York City, and Europe, notably at the Salmagundi Club and Sotheby’s in NYC, and the MEAM in Barcelona.
Dedham Village
Join us after class for several nights painting and drawing in Constable Country - the beautiful idyllic countryside landscape that has inspired artists for centuries. We will have plenty of sunlight for three to four hours after class.
There are many options for accommodation, including Dedham Hall, The Marlborough and The Sun Inn, as well as Airbnbs. We have included a list of local accommodation, dining, and activities at the top of the page. You may contact us with any questions regarding accommodation.
Manningtree train station is a 10-minute drive (please book a taxi, a list is available) to the Assembly Rooms and trains will take you directly to London in an hour where you have access to several world-class museums.
The Sun Inn
The assembly rooms
Address: High Street, Dedham, Essex CO7 6HJ
This workshop will be held at the Dedham Assembly Rooms in the elegant Hewitt Hall. This fully renovated 18th-century venue space includes restrooms, a fully-equipped kitchen and dining area and a large studio with high windows and ample natural light.
Easels, drawing horses, taborets, and drawing boards will be provided.
Flatford Mill
Cancellation Policy
If a workshop is cancelled due to an unforeseen circumstance or emergency, we will notify you immediately and you will be fully refunded. Our financial liability is limited to the total amount of tuition paid.
If you must cancel because of an unforeseen circumstance beyond your control, please contact us immediately and we will plan accordingly. If cancelled by the participant before May 31, 80% of your deposit will be refunded. After May 31 your deposit will not be refundable. The remaining balance from you is payable by June 14. If the remaining balance is not paid by June 14, your spot may be offered to someone on the waitlist. After June 14, fees paid are non-refundable.
Students attending this workshop agree to follow common courtesy studio etiquette and respect their models and peers.