LIVE ONLINE COURSE
CapTuring Character IN PORTRAIT PAINTING
with Calvin Lai, Master Artist & Mentor
Learn how to bring your subject’s character to life while honoring your unique style and artistic interpretation.
Learn How To:
Capture your subject’s essence and character regardless of your style, whether realistic, impressionistic, expressive, etc
Understand your artistic goals for each portrait and your interpretation of the subject
Go beyond rendering what you see, to capturing what you feel
Choose the best materials to bring your portrait painting to life with ease and confidence
Audience: Fine Art Painters
Mediums: Acrylic, Oil
Stage: Aspiring, Emerging
Starts: Thursday, February 6, 2025
Time: 4:00 – 7:30pm MT
Meets: Weekly for 4 sessions
Feb 6, Feb 13, Feb 20, Feb 27
$320.00
25 in stock
Price in USD
Course Description
Painting portraits can feel daunting. There are dozens of factors that come into play from your technical abilities to your materials (and knowledge in how to use them). Then there’s the question of your goals. Are you trying to achieve a classically realistic portrait or are you going for a more expressive interpretation?
When you understand the techniques, choose the right materials, and get clear on your goals, portrait painting becomes a fulfilling experience for both you and the subject you’re bringing to life on canvas.
In this course, professional artist and mentor Calvin Lai will guide you through the technical aspects of portrait painting while also empowering you to go beyond the surface—to render not just features but the soul of the person you’re painting.
Whether you’re drawn to classically realistic portraits, interpretive styles, or a mix of both, this course will help you unlock the skills and confidence to bring your vision to life.
Supply List
PAINTS
Main colors we’ll work with:
- titanium white
- yellow ochre
- cad. red light
- alizarin crimson
- tera rosa
- ultramarine blue
- cerulean blue (hue)
- burnt umber
- ivory black
Optional colors that I strongly recommend:
- cad. yellow medium
- sap green
- burnt sienna
- naples yellow light
As far as paints go, everyone has their own preferred palette. If you have colors similar to what I’ve listed it’ll work to a certain degree, but try to get the same colors I use as it will help with matching the pigments we mix.
In general I feel that if you have a darker and a lighter shade of yellow, red, and blue, a white, and a brown you can recreate a variety of colors.
The other optional colors I listed help a lot with various skin tones. The reason why those are optional is because paints can get expensive and if you’re just starting out or are on a tight budget a limited palette will at least get you going, and we may not use some of the optional colors.
BRUSHES
I mainly use flat brushes… but this is also very individual. If you already have brushes then I would say use those that you’re comfortable with, but if you want to use what I’m using, below is the bare minimum for what I suggest.
Also note that you should not use your acrylic brushes to paint with oils.
- Synthetic hair flat – size 2, 4, 6, 8
- Natural bristle flat – size 4, 6, 8, 10
- Foam brush – 2”, 3” (these foam brushes are an affordable alternative to larger brushes.
- If you can get larger size brushes I would recommend it) … and if you can just get more brushes than what I’ve listed I would also recommend that.
- The more brushes you have helps.
OTHER MATERIAL
- Palette knives: just a couple for mixing paint
- Palette
- Gamsol Odorless Mineral Spirits or Turpenoid
- Walnut oil or linseed oil
- Many jars
- Rags or paper towels
- Murphy’s Oil Soap (for cleaning the brushes after)
- 2 stretched canvas or wood panel 9”x12” (first two sessions)
- 1 stretched canvas or wood panel 12”x16” (third and fourth sessions)
Instructor Bio
Calvin Lai’s art is a mixture of medicine, meditation, and personal growth.
He found early on that drawing was something he loved, and to make a picture appear lifelike became his goal. Through constantly drawing, his work began to breath, and Calvin’s fascination with value and perspective led him to become a student of realism. Eventually he moved from where he grew up in Los Angeles to San Francisco. There he studied drawing and printmaking at San Francisco State University. In 2008, he enrolled in the Academy of Art for illustration, but began painting instead. He found that he preferred the fine arts over commercial illustration, and now works as a full time oil painter.
Since then, working from his studio, he has continued to develop and refine his oil painting skills. Lai’s work has been shown nationally in galleries, group exhibitions and juried shows. He has executed a large number of portrait commissions over the past several years, and his paintings have appeared in national and international publications. Throughout his career, Calvin Lai has expanded his focus from figurative and portraiture to encompass a variety of subjects such as still lifes to the San Francisco cityscape. Now he has no borders to what he chooses to paint, and he is driven to capture everything around him through his paints, brushes, and determination.
🎥 COURSE RECORDINGS available for 1-MONTH after the course ends!
High School, University, and College students get 20% OFF. See FAQs at the bottom of page.
LIVE COURSE FAQ
How many registrations are required for a course to start?
A minimum of 8 registrations are required. If 8 registrations are not received by the time the course is 24 hours from starting, the course will be cancelled and all registrants will receive complete refunds.
What is the maximum number of people in a course?
This varies for each course. The maximum number of registrations is decided by the instructor.
Can I get a refund?
Up until 72 hours before a course’s first session you can receive a complete refund. You can cancel your registration via the My Account portal, or by contacting [email protected].
After this time no refunds will be given (if you have extenuating circumstances you believe justify a refund, contact us at [email protected]).
Can I register for a course already in progress?
No. Once a course has started, no new registrations are accepted.
Where will my course be held?
All courses meet online over Zoom. You will need a device equipped with a camera and a microphone to fully participate.
If you have not used Zoom before, learn about how to use it here.
If you don’t regularly use Zoom, we recommend you join your first session 10-15 minutes early in case your computer needs to install or update Zoom.
How do I join my course?
You will receive a welcome email from [email protected] when you register. This email includes the Zoom link to join your course session. You will also receive 24 hour and 2 hour reminder emails before each session, and each of these emails includes the Zoom link. You can also access the Zoom link to join your course in your MastriusChat group.
Are the sessions recorded?
Yes, every session is recorded and are typically available 24 hours after a session ends. All session recordings will remain available for the duration of the course, and for one month following the last session. The recordings are viewable within the MastriusChat platform, and cannot be downloaded.
What if I miss a session?
You’ll be able to watch the session’s recording. If you have questions the recording doesn’t address, you can ask them in the chat feed of your course’s private MastriusChat group.
What is MastriusChat?
MastriusChat is an online discussion platform. You and your fellow course registrants will be assigned to a private MastriusChat group where you can connect and support eachother via the chat “feed”. Your group is also where you’ll access the session recordings. Other resources in your MastriusChat group include a link to join your course sessions, and a library your instructor can use to share resources.
What is a Navigator?
A Navigator is an artist who joins your course to ensure both instructor and registrants have an enjoyable experience. They support (as required) with technology, timekeeping, moderating questions, and between-session discussions on MastriusChat. The Navigator has also joined the course as participant, and just like you, they’re wanting to grow their skills and learn the material.
I’m not ready to register because I still have questions. Who do I contact?
We’d be happy to help!
Reach out to us at [email protected] and we’ll do our best to support you.
Get the STUDENT DISCOUNT
High School, University, and College students get 20% off ANY course (non-member price).
To claim this discount email [email protected] to enroll in the Student Program.
