LEARN TO PAINT PORTRAITS LIKE A PRO!! WITH LESS THAN 100$ PER MONTH!

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Master the Art of 

Contemporary  Realist Portraiture

 

Join the START Program

Struggling with portraits that feel muddy, flat, or nothing like your sitter?

 

You’re in the right place.

 

The START Program teaches you how to create realistic, expressive portraits with depth, accuracy, and luminous skin tones — even if you’re a beginner or returning after years away.

You’ll learn a clear, structured approach that removes the guesswork and finally makes portraiture feel possible.

By the End of START

You’ll have the confidence and tools to paint any portrait (any age, lighting, or skin tone), in oil or acrylic — without fear, confusion, or endless trial and error.

And yes:
You will see a shift within the first few sessions — many students improve old paintings immediately.

What START Gives You:

A stream-only, on-demand course designed to help you:

  • understand head anatomy, planes, and proportions
  • mix clean, radiant skin tones (no more mud) 
  • paint believable likeness and expressive features
  • build portraits in structured layers
  • use colour, temperature, edges, and composition with clarity
  • create portraits that feel alive rather than flat
  • master oils, mediums, brushes & surfaces
  • practise through guided demos, practical assignments, and downloadable materials
  • select and organise strong references

All at your own pace — with LIFETIME ACCESS

🎓Inside the Program

 

REALIST PORTRAIT DRAWING
  • head construction & proportions
  • classical drawing techniques
  • multiple demonstrations using pencil/charcoal

  • downloadable references & lectures

 

 

MIXING REALISTIC SKIN TONES
  • simple method for ANY skin tone (brown, white, olive, black)
  • how to balance cool/warm
  • avoid mud & dullness
  • adapt to different light situations
  • keep a clear palette 
PAINT BEAUTIFUL PORTRAITS 

  • two complete portraits from start to finish

  • step-by-step process, composition, background simplicity

  • high professional standard

  • taught in oil (fully applicable to acrylic)

Plus: these extra BONUS modules - all included inside the START program, for FREE!

 

How to Paint Hair

Learn the fundamental guidelines that will help you choose the right colors, brushes, and mediums for any hair type — red, brunette, blonde, curly, straight, afro, etc

VALUE: 75$
MEDIUM, BRUSHES & SURFACES

Learn which mediums and brushes to use — and when.
Plus, how to prepare your surfaces, whether canvas or panel, to achieve the best possible results in your paintings.

VALUE: 55$
FOCUS DEMOS

Focus on the eyes, nose, mouth — through a series of short, practical demonstrations.
Each demo breaks down one specific feature, helping you understand structure, light, color, and edges in a simple, focused way. 

VALUE: 99$
check the FULL CURRICULUM

START = the fastest way to learn portraiture with clarity and confidence.

"This is my first oil portrait, and for the first time I was able to mix rich, luminous skin tones — without mud, without fear. I loved the process so much I can't wait to paint many more. Thank you!!"

Maria Gabriela S (NY)

"I love your explanation of the axes and plane shifts on a face and although I paint portraits your method shone a whole new approach to portrait painting. Thank you for explaining this in such a clear way" 

Janet Moule (US )

Unlock all this content and elevate your portrait skills with a simple investment of just $100 per month!

 

Join the START Program with 30% OFF!

Choose the payment package that is right for you:

 

PAY monthly

110$

4 monthly payments

  • Instant Access to all Pre-recorded Content

  • 30+ hours of video lessons

  • Multiple Language Subtitles (Spanish, French, Italian, Portuguese, Russian, Arab, Polish, etc)
  • Monthly website/social features

  • Artist Community

  • Alumni discounts on art supplies and future events

  • email support
  • Lifetime Content
JOIN NOW

PAY in full

399$

MOST POPULAR - Save 21$

 

  • Instant Access to all Pre-recorded Content
  • 30+ hours of video lessons
  • Multiple Language Subtitles (Spanish, French, Italian, Portuguese, Russian, Arab, Polish, etc)
  • Monthly website/social features
  • Artist Community
  • Alumni discounts on art supplies and future events
  • email support
  • Lifetime Content  
JOIN NOW

"From the moment I joined the school — and especially through your one-on-one coaching — everything changed for me.

You’ve helped me evolve my work to a level I couldn’t have imagined, and for the first time, I feel truly ready to seek gallery representation.

I’m deeply grateful.”

— Fritz Fostner (Germany, Master Path and One-on-One coaching)

What I wanted to express is my big thanks to you for two main things:

that I learned so much and that you give me a unbelievable great motivation to paint in every free minute / hour (beside my fulltime job)

Martina S. (Master Path)

"Many thanks for making me see and understanding painting!

You made mixing skin tones so easily that finally I understood and my portraits now are so alive!"

Gabriela S. (US - START & Workshops)

“The school is amazing — I love the community, the exchange, and the constructive feedback we receive.

I’ve learned so much about interpreting colour, rendering the figure, and creating expressive abstract grounds. Highly recommend.”

— Justin S. (US, Master Path & Workshops)

"Rosso is able to work individually with each person and gets a feeling for what your strengths are

and help you improve in places where you are struggling"

Nicky Stefanelly (US)

"After art school, motherhood, and even spinal surgery, I thought my painting days were behind me —

until Rosso’s mentoring reignited my passion and gave me purpose again"

 Paula Michele Wagoner (Us - Master Path, One-on-One Coaching & Workshops)

"One year ago when I began, I would never have thought I would be able to paint like I do today.

You’ve given me the foundation I needed to take my work to another level. Thank you so much!"

Nathalie Fortier (Master Path) 

"Thanks a lot for your classes! I'm definetely finding my own style thanks to you! ... I always feel stuck with the background but creating texture and patterns with stencils spoke to me. Also, simplifying my palette realizing that just a touch of right colour could cool everything down changed my approach"

Saniya (Paris) - Complete Program

Here's a preview of works created by artists of any level, after learning my portrait method:

 

 

Visit the Student Gallery

FAQ 

Unlock all this content and elevate your portrait skills with a simple investment of just $100 per month

LAST DAYS to Join the START Program with 30% OFF!

Choose the payment package that is right for you:

 

PAY monthly

110$

4 monthly payments

  • Instant Access to all Pre-recorded Content

  • 30+ hours of video lessons

  • Multiple Language Subtitles (Spanish, French, Italian, Portuguese, Russian, Arab, Polish, etc)
  • Monthly website/social features

  • Artist Community

  • Alumni discounts on art supplies and future events

  • email support
  • Lifetime Content
JOIN NOW

PAY in full

399$

MOST POPULAR - Save 21$

 

  • Instant Access to all Pre-recorded Content
  • 30+ hours of video lessons
  • Multiple Language Subtitles (Spanish, French, Italian, Portuguese, Russian, Arab, Polish, etc)
  • Monthly website/social features
  • Artist Community
  • Alumni discounts on art supplies and future events
  • email support
  • Lifetime Content  
JOIN NOW

Here's the full curriculum:

  1. Fundamentals Of Realist Portraiture PART I - focus on drawing

    6 lessons
    1. Chapter Overview
    2. General Axes
    3. Planes of The Head, Light & Shadow Shapes
    4. Mapping the Planes: Adapting the Asaro Head to Your Portraits
    5. PRACTICE AT HOME: Creative Excercises & References
    6. Appendix

  2. Drawing a realist portrait

    12 lessons
    1. Before We Start: Materials and Studio Set Up PART ONE
    2. Before We Start: Materials and Studio Set Up PART TWO
    3. Drawing Irene
    4. Drawing Sarah

    1. Drawing Ella in Charcoal

      1. Drawing With Charcoal - Intro
      2. ELLA PART I
      3. ELLA PART II
      4. ELLA PART III
      5. ELLA PART IV
      6. ELLA PART VI
      7. ELLA PART VII

    2. PRACTICE AT HOME: Creative Exercises And Assignment

      1. Creative Exercises And Assignment

  3. FOCUS ON: 5 mins videos on additional drawing topics

    11 lessons
    1. Chapter Overview
    2. Drawing the Eyes - Uxua
    3. Drawing the Eyes - Esme
    4. Drawing The Eyes - Marta
    5. Recap / How to Practice Eye Studies
    6. Drawing the Nose part one
    7. Drawing the Nose part two
    8. Drawing the Nose part three
    9. Drawing the Mouth part one
    10. Drawing the Mouth part two
    11. Drawing the Mouth part three

  4. Fundamentals of Realist Portraiture PART II - focus on painting

    5 lessons
    1. Chpater Overview
    2. Understanding How Light Affects Chroma & Temperature
    3. Mastering Temperature: How Classical Painters Created Depth
    4. Concluding Notes
    5. PRACTICE AT HOME: References and Creative Excercises

  5. Mixing Realistic Skin Tones For Any Complexion

    8 lesson
    1. Chapter Overview

    1. An Effective Method to Mix Any Skin Colour

    2. Colour Mixing Demo

      1. How To Organize Your Palette
      2. One Palette For Different Skins
      3. Mixing Skin Tones : White Pale Skin
      4. Mixing Skin Tones: Olive: Light Brown Skin
      5. Mixing Skin Tones: Dark / Black Skin
      6. Concluding Notes
      7. PRACTICE AT HOME: creative exercises and assignment

  6. Creating Impactful Portraits I : White & Pale Complexion

    23 lesson
    1. Overview of the lesson

    1. Before We Start: Surface, Composition & Transferring Our Drawings

      1. How to Start Your Portrait- Irene
      2. Tracing Your Drawings
      3. Transferring Your Drawings

    2. Before We Start: Creating A Colour Stusy Using The Zorn Study

      1. Color Study Intro
      2. Zorn Palette: Mixing Demo
      3. Color Study Irene Part I
      4. Color Study Irene Part II

    3. Start Painting: Blocking-in

      1. IRENE PART ONE - Blocking In
      2. IRENE PART TWO - Adding More Definition

    4. Phase Two: Get the Likeness Right

      1. Intro: Rendering
      2. Using The Mirror
      3. Rendering Part I
      4. Rendering Part II

    5. Pushing the Portrait Further: Finer Details and Rendering

      1. Pushing The Portrait Further: Intro
      2. Pushing The Portrait Further: Remix Your Colors
      3. Pushing the Portrait Further: Oiling Out
      4. Pushing the Portrait Further: Irene - Final Push

    6. Finishing Touches: Adding an Abstract Background & Varnishing Your Work

      1. Finishing Touches: Background
      2. Finishing Touches: Varnishing Your Work
      3. Finishing Your Work: Concluding Notes Irene

    7. Appendix:

      1. A Review of Oil Paint MEDIUMS
      2. PRACTICE AT HOME: creative exercises and assignment

  7. Creating Impactful Portraits II : Olive & Brown Complexion (model: Sarah)

    15 lessons
    1. Before We Start: Preliminary Thoughts on Composition
    2. Before We Start: Mixing Skin Tones for Light Brown/Olive Complexion

    1. Let's Start Painting: Blocking-in

    2. Painting Phase Two: Modelling

      1. SARAH MODELLING PART I
      2. SARAH MODELLING PART II
      3. SARAH MODELLING PART III

    3. Painting Phase III: From Modelling to Rendering

      1. From Modelling to Rendering - Intro
      2. From Modelling To Rendering Part I
      3. From Modelling To Rendering Part II
      4. From Modelling To Rendering Part III
      5. From Modelling To Rendering Part IV

    4. Painting Phase 4: Chest, Dress, Hair

    5. Painting Phase 4: Chest, Dress, Hair

      1. Chest
      2. Bodice
      3. Hair

    6. Final touches & Backgrounds

      1. Final touches & Backgrounds

    7. PRACTICE AT HOME: creative exercises and assignment

      1. PRACTICE AT HOME: creative exercises and assignment

  8. BONUS module: Painting Hair

    15 lesson
    1. Chapter Overview

    1. General Guidelines and Color Palette For Different Hair Types

      1. Hair Colour Palette
      2. Color Palette And Focus Points

    2. FOCUS DEMO: Painting Blonde Hair

      1. Painting Blonde Hair

    3. FOCUS DEMO: Painting Bangs

      1. Bangs - Intro
      2. Bangs - Part I
      3. Bangs - Part II
      4. Bangs - Part III
      5. Bangs - Part IV

    4. FOCUS DEMO: SHORT HAIR & BALD STYLE

      1. Intro
      2. Bald Hair Part I
      3. Bold Hair Part II
      4. Short Hair Part I
      5. Short Hair Part II

    5. PRACTICE AT HOME: Creative Exercises And Assignment

      1. Creative Exercises And Assignment

  9. Conclusion

    1 lesson
    1. Course Recap

  10. APPENDIX: ART SUPPLIES & STUDIO TOOLS

    4 lesson
    1. A Review Of Oil Paint Mediums

    1. Brushes & Brushwork

      1. Brushes - Intro
      2. Brushes - A Review
      3. Brushwork
Enrol now

Hi, I'm Rosso.

I’m a painter and the founder of RossoArtSchool.

Portraiture has always been my greatest passion and the main reason why I return to the canvas every day.

Over the past sixteen years, I’ve explored every stage of this craft: from copying and classical realism to developing my own expressive style. Along the way, I’ve experimented with countless techniques, tools, and materials — learning what truly works.

Through the START Program, I share the same foundations that shaped my own journey. You’ll learn the essential principles of portraiture — structure, proportion, light, color, and composition — in a clear, step-by-step way that truly works.

I now share my work and teaching with a community of over 188K artists and art lovers on Instagram — and through my school here.

Read my bio here

RossoArtSchool is proudly sponsored by :

With just $100 per month, you’ll finally learn the skills and principles that will transform the way you approach portraiture — for life.

JOIN TODAY

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