Workshops

Sketching a Portrait: From Rome to Delhi

Whether through Mughal miniature painting or Greco-Roman sculpture, the capturing of someone’s “essence” through a portrait has intrigued artists and audiences across human history. This hands-on drawing workshop at the Royal Ontario Museum offers a fun, inclusive environment to explore these Mughal and Classical portrait traditions, while learning (or perfecting!) your sketching skills.  

The session begins in the classroom, where we dive into the world of Mughal miniature painting to learn its history and practice the precise line work and symbolic detail used to convey royal status. We will then shift to rules of proportion and shading to create three-dimensional depth. To wrap up the experience, we will move into the Greco-Roman galleries to apply our newly gained drawing skills and sketch the portrait busts. No drawing experience necessary!  

Participants to bring: Any sketchbook, Drawing Pencils (2B and 4B recommended)