Hi, I'm Rosso Emerald Crimson

Artist and founder of Rosso Art School

I paint oil portraits on textured, abstract grounds in mixed media. I started painting over 17 years ago, and today I teach artists how to bring portraiture and abstraction together in their own work.

It all happened by accident

In 2014 I trained in classical methods at the London Atelier of Representational Art. After that, I spent years looking for a balance between the rigorous atelier method and a more intuitive, expressive way of painting.

My style did not come from theory books. It came from years of experimenting, failing and trying again, until one day, while I was covering up yet another painting of my daughter that wasn’t working, things finally clicked.

The texture, the energy, the spontaneity and the harmony I had spent years looking for were right there in front of me.

How I teach

Certain classical principles are essential for strong painting, in any genre. But your voice does not come from blindly following rules. It begins with risk: with questioning, digging deeper and experimenting.

That is why my teaching rests on two forces: the classical principles that anchor us, and the fearless exploration that moves us forward.

I don’t offer a single correct way to paint. I share my own method, my thought process, and what sits behind each decision in a painting.

How Rosso Art School began

I began teaching in person in 2018, in the United States, the UK, Italy, France and Spain. In 2020 I started teaching online, and my first Zoom workshops brought together over 100 artists from around the world.

In November 2024, I founded Rosso Art School to bring everything together in one place. Over 550 artists have now enrolled, and their work, questions and progress continue to shape how the programmes evolve.

What makes a portrait convincing?

Download my free portrait guide. It shares the principles that shaped my work over 17 years of studio practice.