Name: Portrait Painting in Oil 6 Week Class
Start: 2026-03-25T18:00:00-05:00
Location: Lacey Lewis School of Realist Art

Master painting the portrait in 6 weeks.
Wednesdays 6-8:30 pm
March 25th - April 29th, 2026
6 Week Class
$200 Virtual attendance
$425 In-studio includes all materials
How to Start a Portrait
We will cover the basics of how to properly begin an oil painting.
Lesson 1: Imprimatura and Drawing Basics
Along with a discussion about identifying what is makes a good photo reference for a painting, we will talk about how to tackle the 'drawing' aspect of beginning a painting using a monochromatic brown and white painting to start.
Lesson 2: Foundations of Skin Tones
Here we will step our toes into the concepts of flesh tones: What colors make up different complexions and how can we mix them? I introduce a simple way to start understanding how to mix colors that represent skin.
Lesson 3: Mixing Skin Tones with Complements
This is where things really start to get fun! We'll explore a variety of ways to mix skin tones using bright, chromatic colors. I'll also share with you how I made the painting, right, with only a red, a green, black, and white.
Beyond the Basics
There's more to creating a great painting than drawing and copying skin tones. Here we'll delve into how to layer oil paint and give your image that little something else.
Lesson 4: Painting in Layers and Fat Over Lean
If we want to create a more controlled finish with greater depth of color and a more accurate likeness, we need to work over multiple sessions. Here we'll cover how to make sure that goes well and creates an archival result.
Lesson 5: How to Not Let Details Ruin Your Painting
Sometimes it seems like that fresh beginning leads to an awkward stage and it feels like the painting has been ruined. Here I'll teach you what you need to focus on to move through this middle stage successfully.
Lesson 6: Questions to Ask When Finishing a Painting
It can be hard to know when a painting is finished! This final class will show you how to push the feeling of realism, depth, and focus in the final work. This is what can give your painting that wow factor!
Learn more: https://www.schoolofrealistart.com/portrait-painting-details