ALLA-PRIMA PORTRAIT PAINTING WORKSHOP IN ROME
with KERRY DUNN
5-DAY INTENSIVE WORKSHOP | 6 HRS PER DAY | GUIDED MUSEUM TOURS | MEET ARTISTS FROM AROUND THE WORLD
MAY 10 TO MAY 16, 2026
SPACES ARE LIMITED - ONLY 16 PARTICIPANTS
$1750
REGISTER BEFORE SEPTEMBER 1, 2025 AND RECEIVE THE EARLY REGISTRATION PRICE OF $1650
Register Today with a 50% deposit! Deadline for registration and final payment: March 31, 2026
ALL-PRIMA PORTRAIT PAINTING WORKSHOP:
In this workshop, artists of all levels will learn about Kerry’s approach to painting portraits, create their own oil painting following the instructions, and have an opportunity to watch him paint along with the group. This course will entail a total of five studio days with a live model, six hours per day, supplemented by trips to museums, churches, and historical sites.
In this workshop, participants will create a new portrait painting each day from a live model, working in the alla primastyle—an approach that means "in one sitting" in French.
In Rome, Kerry and participants will tour museums and churches to experience and analyze paintings by Caravaggio and Velázquez.
Caravaggio, renowned for his dramatic style and use of chiaroscuro, employed the alla prima technique in many of his Roman paintings. This method involves applying paint directly to the canvas without preliminary sketches, allowing for spontaneous and direct expression. Several churches and galleries in Rome house Caravaggio's works, showcasing his mastery of this technique. During his time in Rome, Velázquez also employed the alla prima technique, also known as wet-on-wet painting, a style that lived on to inspire artists John Singer Sargent and Richard Schmid.
Each morning, the instructor will begin with a demonstration to introduce the day’s focus, guiding students through key concepts and offering individual support at the easel. The course is structured sequentially, with each session building on the previous one. We’ll start by developing accurate drawings to establish a strong likeness, then progress to fleshtones, form, and color, gradually bringing all elements together. By the final two days, students will integrate everything they've learned into cohesive, expressive portraits. By the end of the week, participants will not only take home four to five original portrait paintings but also a deeper understanding of the complete painting process and the principles that guide it.
MATERIALS:
Paints and medium are included. On Sunday, May 10 at 1 PM there will be a brief orientation and group meeting to get acquainted. Painting begins on Monday, May 11. May 16 will be the last day for packing paintings and a group dinner at night. Each day will be a full experience from morning to night!
Studios are located at Palazzo Velli Expo in Trastevere, Rome.
Address: Piazza di Sant'Egidio 10, 00153 Roma
kerry dunn
BIO:
Kerry Dunn is a painter firmly established in the craft of old master pursuits. Kerry graduated from Ringling School of Art and Design with a major in illustration in 1999. Kerry later studied with world renowned portrait painter Nelson Shanks (2002 - 2008) and has taught at Studio Incamminati since its inception in 2002 where he remains a popular teacher, additionally Kerry served as Artistic Director of the school during the academic year of 2024 - 2025. Studio Incamminati remains one of the bright lights among a handful of small painting ateliers within the United States where the craft and mastery of drawing and painting is studied and pursued, following in the footsteps of the old masters.
Kerry’s main focus is on painting people and using line, form and color to communicate character, storytelling and spirit.
Also areas of interest are the Figure which communicates the human condition, Still Life which depicts the objects of our lives, the occasional Landscape painting which explores the beauty of mother nature and our surroundings, and finally Illustration which is an exercise in style and creativity. These subjects often find their way back into Kerry’s main focus of painting portraits.
Kerry lives and works in ‘South Philly’; Philadelphia, PA. USA. His paintings have been shown and privately collected throughout the US and around the world.
www.KerryDunn.com
Instagram: @PaintKerryPaint
IF THE WORKSHOP IS FULL, YOU CAN REGISTER TO THE WAIT LIST
The workshops fill up quickly but sometimes last minute spots open up. Once the workshop is filled, a form will be available here for the Wait List.
PROTECT YOUR INVESTMENT - TRAVELER’S INSURANCE
Rome Art Residencies HIGHLY recommends that you obtain Traveler's Insurance to protect your investment and to cover emergency medical expenses. You should seek insurance that will cover the following:
Trip Cancellation (total cost of trip, including course fees)
Medical Evacuation ($50,000 minimum)
Emergency Medical Coverage ($25,000 minimum)
To compare quotes, you may begin here:
For USA citizens; https://www.travelinsurance.com/
For non-USA citizens; https://medical.travelinsurance.com/
Accommodations: Housing is not included in the workshop fees. If you wish to share housing with another participant, please check the box upon registration and we will coordinate the communication with others seeking the same arrangement. It is recommended that participants arrive the day before the course begins, and depart no sooner than the day after the course ends.
PAYMENT: FULL PAYMENT OR MINIMUM 50% DUE ON REGISTRATION, REMAINING BALANCE DUE BY MARCH 31, 2026.