Constructive Head Painting with Glenn Vilppu
Instructor: Glenn Vilppu
Duration: 8 Saturdays, Oct 8 - Nov 26, 2016
Time: 3:30pm - 7:30pm
Full Access: $699
Online Only: $499
Location: Huntington Beach, CA
Difficulty: All Levels
Glenn Vilppu is an internationally renowned draftsman, painter, and instructor. This class will have emphasis on structure, planes, and procedure. The focus is on analyzing, not just copying, so that you truly understand the forms. In this class, you will learn value control, light direction, expression, and composition.
Full Access Participants will be working alongside Glenn from weekly rotating models. Glenn’s work will be recorded live, as well as broadcast to large displays so you can follow along no matter where you're positioned in the studio. The recordings from each class will be published within 48 hours of class ending so that you can review all material, including material you may have missed. Participants will benefit from Glenn’s generous teaching style with one-on-one critiques of your classwork.
Participants attending the class with the Online Streaming Only pass will also get access to the full video recordings from class as well as critiques. Online participants will work from high quality model photos that will be provided on the class page each week. You can upload photos of your weekly work into the class chatroom and get a full critique from Glenn during the following week's class. You can watch the recordings on your own time, and you do not have to participate in the critiques if you don't want to.
All students will receive online access to the class recording and reference images for one year. This is helpful to reinforce the principles of each week, and to catch any concepts you may have missed the first time around.
Also included with your enrollment in this class is FREE access to our Drink and Draw sessions! Drop in during any Sunday session to draw world-class models while enjoying great wine, snacks and music. Practice your drawing skills, and mingle with fellow students and the Art Mentors staff.
See below for more information, including the instructor’s bio, a materials list, and a rough class syllabus.

Glenn Vilppu is an internationally renowned draftsman, painter, and instructor whose books and DVDs are used by universities, art schools, and independent students around the world. Glenn is also a founding member at New Masters Academy. Glenn has had at least 20 one-man shows and is represented in collections throughout the U. S., Canada and Europe. Glenn’s approach to teaching drawing has become the standard for professional artists, often imitated by numerous teachers and applied by the tens of thousands. Glenn has a BFA and MFA from the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena where he was an instructor for thirteen years. Glenn also served as Director of the Character Animation Dept. of the California Institute of Art. In addition, Glenn ran his own school for five years where he taught all subjects relating to art. Currently, Glenn teaches on-site at New Masters Academy, the University of California Los Angeles, Film and Video School’s Animation Workshop, and the American Animation Institute where he also teaches his private Saturday classes. Glenn has been giving annual lectures at the Ringling College of Art and Design for more than seven years as well as sketching tours of Europe for the past 16 years. Two to four months of the year are devoted by Vilppu to seminars throughout the world, from Greece, Sweden, and Italy to India and Japan. Vilppu has also been the artist in residence at the Savannah College of Art and Design in the United States and La Coste, France. At the age of 40, Vilppu brought a unique and innovative approach to traditional figure drawing and composition into the Animation industry for over 20 years on both feature and shorts for all of the major studios. He also taught at all of the major studios, as well many game and special effects studios.
Limited Palette in oils. Colors include: Alizarin, Ultramarine Blue, Cadmium Yellow Light, Titanium White (M. Graham & Co brand recommended).
Water soluble oils or Graham walnut based oils (ALKYD medium).
Odorless mineral spirits (Gamsol brand, please)
Sealed containers for mediums and solvents
A roll of paper towels (Viva brand)
Brushes: A variety of sizes are recommended, ranging from 1 to 12, Bristle brushes, round brushes, a flat brush for painting large areas, and sables (Rosemary & Co series 279 and Filbert brushes are recommended).
Palette knives of various sizes
A palette (preferably glass with neutral grey beneath it)
Glass scraper
Any canvas board or stretch canvas can be used, around 12×16 in size
Easel: Mobile French easel
Sales are non-refundable, but in some cases we can switch a student’s enrollment in a class that has not yet started to another class of equal or lesser value. Art Mentors reserves the right to cancel, limit enrollment, substitute instructors or models, reschedule or modify a class with notice to enrolled students. If a class is canceled, enrolled students will be given a refund. If an instructor is unable to finish a class term, a refund will be given to students at a pro-rated amount.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Q.Is this class online or in-person?
A.This 8 week class takes place live and in-person in our Huntington Beach studio. We will be recording the class and students will get online access to the recording for a full year. We also sell a online-only option for students who can’t make it in person.
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Q.As an Online-only student, can I watch the class happen live?
A.The class is not streamed live. It is recorded and then published with in 48 hours of class ending. You submit your drawings for critique the week before each class. Students will have access for one whole year after the release date.
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Q.How advanced do I need to be to take this class?
A.This class is for all levels, from the total beginner to the working professional artist. There’s no better time to learn good drawing habits!
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Q.Is there an age limit on who can attend this class?
A.Because we will be working with nude models, students must be 18 years of age or attend with a consenting parent.
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Q.Is the Online-only option of the class interactive?
A.Yes. Online-only students will get access to each class recording the day following the class and have access to all videos for one full year. Students can also get critiques and feedback from the instructor. Critiques are recorded during the live class and can be viewed on the following week.
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Q.I live in California. Should I attend in person or Online-only?
A.Students attending in person will get the most out of this class, including one-on-one feedback and critique with Glenn.
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Q.What's the maximum class size?
A.We’re capping the in-person class at 20 students to ensure that everyone gets enough personal attention. There is no limit to online-only sign ups.
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Q.$480 is a lot for me to pay at once. Are there payment plans?
A.Yes, we offer a payment plan. Contact us for details.
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