Gertrude Herbert Institute of Art

Unlock the secrets to striking, realistic portraiture in an oil painting class designed to accelerate your skills and build your confidence. If you have ever wanted to capture the true essence of a person on canvas but didn’t know where to start, this class provides the clear, actionable roadmap you need. Whether you want to paint family members or simply elevate your studio practice, mastering the portrait is a major milestone for any artist. This class gives you the foundational toolkit to do exactly that. We will focus intensely on the core pillars of portraiture: establishing solid proportions, achieving a true-to-life likeness, and mixing accurate skin tones that pop. By working with two completely different live models, you will train your eye to adapt to different facial structures and features in real-time. You will leave this class not just with a finished painting, but with the practical skills and confidence to approach any portrait.

*Is this class right for me? If you already have some oil painting experience under your belt and are ready to take your skills to the next level, you’re in the right place! Because this is an intermediate-to-advanced class, we ask that students have a basic working knowledge of oil paints before enrolling.