Sorry Registration is Now closed. Sign up for the waitlist to find out when we will offer again.

Master the Art of Realistic Portrait Drawing

A UNIQUE New Online Portrait Drawing Course using Color Pencil. Get Personalized Feedack and Expert Guidance from Award-Winning Artist Joe Mattus

No Other Course Like this On the Market!

Forget everything you thought about colored pencils as just a kid's art supply! These days, top artists are using them to create incredibly lifelike portraits.

Transform Your Skills and Boost Your Confidence and Make Your Portrait Drawings Come Alive.

GET ON WAITLIST

DON'T GIVE UP JUST YET...

Does this sound like you?

Are you tired of producing lackluster portrait drawings?

Do you find yourself forgetting what you learned in a portrait drawing workshop once you're back in your own studio?

I want to bring color to my portraits, but painting is just too expensive.

Do you struggle with getting stuck and feeling like you're not improving no matter how much you practice?

I do not get the support and guidance I need online.

We have the answer!

In Reference to Reproduction: Drawing a Master Copy in Color Pencil, you’ll learn about the essential tools, effective step-by-step techniques and have ongoing guidance and support to achieve stunning realistic color portraits.

Here are just a few reasons why this course is perfect for YOU...

Step-by Step Instructions

Joe Mattus' course is designed with beginners in mind. You'll receive clear, step-by-step instruction on the key techniques and approaches to portrait drawing. This means you can build your skills gradually and at your own pace.

Personal Feedback and Support

With the course, you'll have the opportunity to receive personalized feedback and support from Joe Mattus himself. This means you can ask questions, get feedback on your work and learn from a true expert in the field.

Comprehensive Curriculum

The course covers everything from selecting your materials to the technical skills and artistic concepts necessary for creating accurate and realistic portraits. It includes study of anatomy and proportions of the head and face, the principals of light and shadow, and various shading techniques.

Beginner-Friendly Materials

This course includes recommendations for beginner-friendly materials so you don't have to worry about investing in expensive or hard-to-find tools. With these materials you'll focus on building your skills.

Lifetime Access

Once you enroll in the course, you'll have lifetime access to the materials, so you can refer back to the lessons and continue to hone your skills over time.

Dan H.

I love the format of the course and, as a software engineer who works in web development, I'm astonished that you were able to build this platform. It's really intuitive easy, easy to use and well-developed. I hope others have the same experience. I'm so grateful for the wisdom you impart. Particularly with being focused on the process and less on the result.

Nicole C.

Joe is an incredible teacher and artist. He truly understands the importance of the artist journey, the setbacks, the triumphs, and the impact of the mindset throughout. He offers a compatible mentorship as an artist which is so rare to find! Not to mention the online structure he created allows you to take you time and really engage with the content without stressing about it disappearing. I can't wait to take more of his classes.

MODULE 1

The Success Path of the Mindful Artist

Drawing and painting can be challenging, but following a method practiced by artists for centuries can provide tools and assurance.

Call To Create: : Genuine passion trumps success in art.
Letting Go: Managing initial discomfort is crucial for learning.
Foundation: Realistic art demands careful planning, technique, and practice.
Proficiency: Diligent practice and focus lead to proficiency.
Mastery: True mastery demands courage, openness, and continuous learning/

In summary, an artist who follows the Success Path of the Mindful Artist can expect to experience personal growth, technical skill development, and creative fulfillment.

MODULE 2

The Fundamentals

In this module, you will lay the groundwork for your artistic journey by mastering essential techniques and understanding critical concepts necessary for creating high-quality drawings.

Understanding the relationships between points and tilts, and shapes
You will learn mark making and color matching skills
And familiarizing yourself with essential materials for creating realistic artwork with colored pencils.

Mastering these fundamentals is crucial for achieving precision and accuracy in realistic drawing and painting, forming the backbone of an artist's skill set and significantly enhancing the quality and longevity of their artwork.

MODULE 3

The Complex Grid Method

In this module, you will learn the Complex Grid Method to accurately transfer proportions, refine features using angular shapes, and meticulously detail a portrait to create depth and anatomical precision.

Learn how to use a complex grid system to accurately transfer proportions from a reference image to their drawing paper
Mastering image transfer and maintaining proportions.
Refine each feature using angular shapes, avoiding curves.

You'll gain proficiency in the Complex Grid Method for accurate proportion transfer and refining features with angular precision, enhancing realistic and anatomically precise portrait drawings.

MODULE 4

Traditional Method

In this module, I'll teach the versatile traditional Block-in technique using a photo reference, rooted in Charles Bargue's drawing course.

Measuring top, bottom, and quarter points to establish the Block-in method for facial feature placement and gradual refinement.
You will learn how to get the basic dimensions and shapes of the subject emphasizing the use of light and linear lines.
Addressing drawing issues early, refining systematically with accurate measurements and subtle corrections for realism..

After this module's demonstration, you'll adeptly apply the traditional Block-in technique, mastering precise measurements and sketching techniques for realistic drawings

MODULE 5

The Transfer Process

In this module,I will teach a detailed method for accurately transferring original drawings onto surfaces like watercolor paper or canvas, using specific materials such as compressed charcoal and a colored ballpoint pen.

You will learn how to accurately and cleanly transfer original drawings onto surfaces like watercolor paper or canvas..
You will understand a detailed, step-by-step method involving specific materials and techniques, such as using compressed charcoal and a colored ballpoint pen, to achieve a precise transfer.
You will learn how to make necessary adjustments to the transferred image, such as darkening light lines with a pencil or lightening dark lines with an eraser, to ensure the final image is perfect for further artistic work.

After this module, you will be able to accurately and cleanly transfer original drawings onto various surfaces such as watercolor paper or canvas using a detailed and meticulous process.

MODULE 6

Modeling Basics

In this module, I will teach essential modeling techniques, including veiling, hatching, and stumping, to achieve accurate and proportional drawings and create lifelike portraits with depth and realism through layered shading and precise detailing.

You will learn essential modeling techniques for accurate and proportional drawings.
You will learn various modeling techniques such as veiling, hatching, and stumping to achieve realistic results in drawing by understanding and practicing these methods.
Create realistic portraits by darkening the background with multiple layers and maintaining clean edges.

After this module, you will be able to produce lifelike portraits by skillfully rendering proportions, using various shading techniques, and achieving depth and realism with layered tones and precise details.

MODULE 7

Main Color Pass

In this module, I will teach the step-by-step process of transitioning from the linear block-in to meticulously building up the main color pass of a portrait.

Master the technique of layering thin coats of various colors to accurately replicate the subject's colors and achieve depth and realism in the portrait..
Develop precision in color selection and application, including using specific colors for different facial areas and making adjustments with lighter or different colors.
Learn to use tools such as a mal stick to prevent smudging, an electric eraser for corrections, and hatching techniques to create gradual shifts in planes and values.

After this module's demonstration, you will be able to skillfully layer colors to replicate your subject accurately, choose and apply colors precisely for different facial areas, and utilize essential tools and techniques to create lifelike portraits.

MODULE 8

Finishing Touches

In this module, I will teach you the techniques and considerations involved in the final pass of a drawing. We will focus on making finishing touches and objectively comparing your drawing to the subject.

Learn techniques to increase the vibrancy and chroma of colors, especially around the eyes and lips, using specific colors like alizarin and crimson, magenta, and ultimate ring blue..
Focus on emphasizing the structure of facial features, such as the eyelids, lips, and subtle plane shifts in the face, using tools like dark gray, burnt sienna, and an eraser for modeling and cleaning up.
Understand how to balance light and dark areas to create depth and realism, including darkening the iris, the side of the face, and the ear, while maintaining a cool, low chroma look.

After this module's demonstration, By mastering these techniques, your portraits will have a lifelike quality and a polished, professional appearance.

STILL UNSURE?

✨All who register from the waitlist will be afforded a coupon code for a 20% Discount 🥳

GET ON WAITLIST

NICE TO MEET YOU!

I'm Joe Mattus

From a young age, I learned that I could use my artistic talent to express myself in new and exciting ways. I can’t wait to help you uncover your inner creative.

Everyone has an artist inside. Some of us just need a little more help bringing that inner artist to life. Once you discover that side of yourself, you are free to be unapologetically you.

I believe my drawings and paintings not only make the world a better place, but they also shape the people who experience them in beautiful ways. Through online education, I can help you make your own impact on the world around you.

Whether you are a beginner or you are just looking to learn a new technique, I look forward to taking this creative journey together.

He’s not only an amazing artist but also an excellent teacher. I am confident that working with Joe has brought my work to a new level.

~Bob S

I highly recommend learning from Joe Mattus. His expertise and guidance have been invaluable to me, and I am confident that they will be for anyone who has the pleasure of learning from him.

~Andrea R

"I really like Joe's style of teaching. It didn't matter how much improvement I needed Joe always found something about my portrait to feel good about. That was my motivation"