You already know that creating loose, expressive portraits in pastel is an exhilarating experience that you want to achieve.
HERE'S WHAT YOU MIGHT NOT KNOW
Even if you've gotten crystal clear about your artistic aspirations, have you taken the time to consider that:
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Learning down to earth, practical techniques will help you see with artist's eyes.
Let's face it, portrait painting can be intimidating. While creating a masterpiece may be hard, learning the techniques that will help you get there shouldn't be. As you learn these foundational techniques and discover how to see with artist's eyes, the mystery is unmasked and you'll gain powerful insight and confidence for your work. -
Having a roadmap for growth boosts your confidence and productivity.
There's nothing quite like the feeling of knowing where you are going and what you need to do to get there so that you no longer feel overwhelmed. This is incredibly energizing and leads to greater productivity as you feel motivated to continue your creative journey toward your destination. -
Working in a bolder, looser style will lead to greater impact on the viewer.
Using bold, exciting mark-making techniques and fresh color approaches in your portrait paintings will not only excite you, it will delight the viewer's senses, leading to greater visual impact and growing affirmation of your work. -
Gaining understanding leads to expressing your unique creative voice.
Whether it's the dramatic effect of light and shadow on form, subtle temperature shifts in the color of skin or framing the proportions of the face, growing in your foundational knowledge will encourage and empower you to express your authentic voice.
Even though the reasons to pursue an expressive approach to portrait painting are clear, the path to achieving it is anything but.
I want to invite you to take a journey with me and give me permission to be your guide as I empower you to create the kind of portraits you've always dreamed of.
My passion is to help artists just like you to reveal beauty through your art and develop your creative potential so you can grow and thrive.
With over 22 years as a working professional artist and portrait painter, including 10 years as an instructor and author, I've made it my mission to help thousands of students at workshops worldwide to realize their artistic goals.
Can you imagine what it would feel like to experience the joy of painting loose, expressive portraits in pastel?
I'm confident that this course can lead you there.
-Alain J. Picard
MILESTONE 1
The Painterly Way
As we set off on our journey together, we’ll define what painterly means, clarify our goals for this course and ensure that we have the correct materials to create painterly portraits. We’ll also take a look in the rearview mirror to learn from artists throughout history who have exemplified the painterly approach so that we can harness their wisdom and gain inspiration.
Milestone Highlights:
- Where Are We Going? Defining the Painterly vs. Linear Approach
- A Look in the Rearview Mirror: Examples from Art History Through Today to Harness Their Wisdom and Kindle Our Inspiration
- Study the Masters Exercise
- Pastels and Surfaces for Painterly Results
- Take the Painterly Techniques Personal Assessment
MILESTONE 2
Learning to See
Building on our understanding of the painterly style, Milestone 2 is all about establishing the visual habits and techniques that will help us to see our subject with artist’s eyes. We’ll learn about the significant role of light and shadow in sculpting form and explore the all-important topic of edges in creating a painterly portrait. A portrait study demonstration will bring these concepts to full expression.
Milestone Highlights:
- Visual Techniques and Approaches
- Common Proportions of the Head
- The 6 Elements of Light and Shadow
- Lost and Found Edges for the Painterly Approach
- Monochrome Portrait Study Demonstration and Exercise
MILESTONE 3
Designing the Portrait
Without this important milestone, you would be left wandering in confusion. We’ll cover studio setup and the important topic of lighting and posing your subject, including the four essential lighting techniques for portrait painting. Then, we’ll discover how to harness the power of strong design in our portraits using thumbnails. This will provide much needed clarity and direction to your portrait work.
Milestone Highlights:
- Studio Set Up
- Lighting and Posing Your Subject
- Designing with Thumbnails
- How to Simplify the Values and Clarify the Shapes
- How to Design Your Composition
- Problem-Solving Lesson Demonstration and Exercises
MILESTONE 4
Understanding Skin Tones
We’ll demystify this intimidating topic by learning about the six basic skin types. I’ll uncover how the temperature of light effects skin color, shifting it warmer or cooler. Then, we’ll break it all down with hue, value and intensity and organize our portrait palette accordingly. With color study demonstrations of multiple skin types, you’ll gain real clarity on how to paint beautiful lifelike skin.
Milestone Highlights:
- Understanding Color and Light
- Portrait Palette Organization
- The Six Basic Skin Types
- Color Study Demonstrations of Multiple Skin Types and Exercises
MILESTONE 5
Revealing the Portrait Roadmap
Let the unveiling begin! I’ll introduce you to an eight-step plan for developing painterly portraits from start all the way to expressive finish. Then I’ll walk you through the first six steps in this milestone with demonstrations along the way to bring each step to life.
There's so much to learn and discuss as we travel together, and you will get a Portrait Roadmap of your own to download.
Milestone Highlights:
- The Eight-Step Roadmap Revealed
- A Guided Tour through the First Six Stages
- Underpainting Techniques
- Scaling Up, Sketching In and Choosing Your Underpainting Method
- Massing In the Shapes and Developing Your Painting
- Lesson Demonstrations Using The Portrait Roadmap and Exercises
MILESTONE 6
The Portrait Roadmap Continued
I’ll reveal and demonstrate the final two steps in the Painterly Portrait Roadmap. This milestone is all about learning how to develop and refine your portrait without overworking it. You’ll discover how to use the Visual Dashboard to stay on track as you steer your painting toward a loose, painterly finish.
Milestone Highlights:
- How to Refine Your Painting Without Overworking It
- Using The Visual Dashboard
- A Guided Tour Through the Final Two Stages
- Lesson Demonstration Using The Visual Dashboard to Finish a Painting and Exercises
MILESTONE 7
Creating Dynamic Backgrounds
I’ve dedicated this final stage of our journey to sharing specific techniques and strategies that will help you create portrait backgrounds that support and enhance the visual experience of your work. From values and edges to color accents and design decisions, I’m going to clear away the fog and bring you much needed clarity and confidence in your approach to portrait backgrounds.
Milestone Highlights:
- Techniques and Strategies for Portrait Backgrounds
- Color Accents and Design Strategies
- Lesson Demonstration and Exercise
Weekly Live Q&A Sessions
Join me for five weeks in a row as new Milestones are released. I'll be showing up Live to expound on topics, troubleshoot your questions, clarify techniques with you and provide some roadside encouragement for your journey.
Can't make the Live Sessions? Don't worry! All Q&A sessions will be recorded and uploaded to the course website for you to easily review.
Everything Is Online.
Learn At Your Own Pace.
The Painterly Portrait Course is hosted 100% online so you can participate from anywhere and at anytime.
Go through the material each week as it’s released, or slow things down and work on your own schedule. It's up to you! With lifetime access to this course, you can't go wrong.
Here's The Timing of the Course
Registration for the Painterly Portrait Course is open through 7pm (ET) on Saturday, April 17, 2021.
The live program is five weeks and runs from Tuesday, April 20, 2021 through Tuesday, May 25, 2021.
Once the initial five weeks are complete and all content has been released, you’ll have lifetime access to the entire library of course materials and can review them as often as you like.
You're Protected With Our 100% Risk-Free Guarantee
The Painterly Portrait Course has been purposefully designed and field-tested to take artists just like you on a journey of transformation in your pastel portrait painting.
If you will COMMIT to showing up each week and doing the work, then I'm confident that you will experience visible growth in your portrait painting techniques and increased freedom and excitement in your creative process, leading to real momentum in your work.
If by 5pm (ET) on Monday, April 26, 2021 you don’t feel it’s the right fit, just submit your completed coursework and we’ll issue you a full refund. The reason we ask for your completed coursework is simple: if you do the work, you’ll get tremendous value. Please note that refund eligibility has a firm deadline.
MIRA
"Before I studied with Alain, I was looking for someone to help me return to my life as an artist. I was lost in the hustle and bustle of life, and it had been years since I dared to sit in front of a canvas and attempt to create. I didn’t know where to begin and was afraid of failure.
Alain was an ideal guide. He assisted me in my return to creating art and fostered a new love for pastels. He gave me a new grasp on the fundamentals of craftsmanship while simultaneously encouraging a looseness in my creativity that freed me from my perfectionism anxiety."
Frequently Asked Questions
What people asked before signing up for The Painterly Portrait Course:
I'm such a newbie. Is this course too advanced for me?
I've always been intimidated by portraits. Do you really think you can help me?
I'm so busy. Will I be able to get the lessons done or see any improvement in my work?
I love live and in-person workshops. How does this compare to taking a live workshop?
I'm not very tech savvy. Will I understand how to run the course effectively?
Will my access ever expire?
What if I don't get my money's worth?
Can you remind me of everything I’m getting when I sign up today?
Alain’s online courses are extremely well planned, engaging, and valuable for all levels. Alain is very thoughtful and encouraging to each participant and makes every effort to communicate clearly.
I would eagerly suggest Alain’s online workshops to anyone wanting to learn how to use the pastel medium.
- Dawn Emerson, PSA
Here’s what you’re getting when you enroll today:
The Painterly Portrait Course – $1,000 Value
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BONUS 1: Private Members Only Facebook Group
You'll be invited into five weeks of safe, exclusive, and encouraging connection with students of this course. Here you'll experience community and accountability, share your work, gain peer to peer feedback, and receive encouragement from Alain. - $200 Value -
BONUS 2: Weekly Live Q&A Sessions with Me
For five weeks in a row, as new Milestones are released, I'll be showing up Live to expound on topics, troubleshoot your questions, clarify techniques with you and provide some roadside encouragement for your journey. All Live sessions will be recorded and uploaded to the course website for you to easily review. - $300 Value
Total Value: $1,500
When you add it all up, that’s a value of $1,500.
But because I'm so excited to welcome you into The Painterly Portrait Course, I'm giving you the opportunity to enroll today and get everything for just:
OR
100% SATISFACTION GUARANTEED
Refund eligibility through 5PM (ET) on Monday, April 26, 2021.
For questions email [email protected]
ENROLLMENT CLOSES ON APRIL 17 AT 7PM (ET)