Realistic Oil Portraiture – Conveying Detail and Expression

Discover the vibrancy and versatility of oil paints to create an expressive portrait
Oil painting is an intricate medium for artistic expression, offering an array of opportunities for artists seeking to create vivid portraits filled with realism. Alan Coulson has made it his material of choice for over fifteen years, building a successful career by creating unique portraits filled with vivid colors and interesting details. He has received three BP Portrait Awards from The National Portrait Gallery in London and has created commissioned artwork for clients like The New York Times Magazine, The Sunday Times Magazine, Carlton Books, and more.

Discover the versatility and methodology behind oil painting alongside award-winning portrait painter Alan Coulson. Get familiar with the techniques he uses to create vivid portraits and learn the entire process step by step, without the need for any previous experience with oil paints.

Get to know Alan Coulson, see how he became a successful portrait painter, and learn about the artists that have influenced his work along the way. Discover what is taught in the course and see the materials you need.

Start off the next unit by learning about the tools and materials you’re about to use. See why Alan prefers to take his own photos of his subject and learn his techniques for taking the ideal photo. Create individual pencil sketches of an eye, nose, mouth, and ear to work on your observational skills.

Discover the different techniques for preparing your painting surface and see Alan’s methods for tracing an image. Next, learn how to set up your space and materials, including your color palette, to begin painting.

Next, it’s time to grab your brush and start painting! Work on your line and tonal washes, see how to mix colors, and learn how to create delicate fine lines. Paint shadows, move onto mid-tones, and see how to cross-reference your image throughout the painting process. Once you have your underpainting done, add highlights and other fine details to your subject.

See how Alan decides when his portraits are complete. Explore how to gain a fresh perspective of your work to be able to give it the perfect final touches. Finish the course by learning how to preserve and display your portrait, including how to share your work on social media.

What is this course’s project?
Create a unique and personal portrait with oil paints by using a photo as a reference.

Who is it for?
For anyone with an interest and curiosity in contemporary portraiture with oil paints, as well as those you like to draw or paint.

What you need
To take this course, previous experience in drawing and painting is helpful but not essential.

As for materials, you need a camera (or the camera on your phone), a laptop or tablet, a set of oil paints and brushes, oil paint dilutant, a palette, a surface to paint on (Alan will use a wooden panel), and an easel or tabletop to use as a workspace.