Struggling to Create Realistic Portraits? Here’s How You Can Master It.

You’ve spent hours trying to capture a likeness, but something always feels off. Maybe the proportions don’t quite match, or the shading flattens instead of bringing your subject to life. You admire the effortless realism of master portrait artists and wonder:

“How do they do it? And why do my portraits look nothing like that?”

If you’ve ever felt frustrated by your progress or unsure how to improve, you’re not alone. The truth is, portrait painting isn’t about talent—it’s about learning the right techniques. And that’s exactly what we teach in the Academy Portrait Painting Course.

Previous Graduates Recent Work

Step 1: Fixing the Root Problem – Learning to See Like a Master

Many artists struggle because they guess rather than measure. In the first part of the portrait painting course, you’ll develop precision in drawing using classical methods.

• Learn Sight-Size and Comparative Measurement to eliminate guesswork
• Understand the essential role of tone in creating a three-dimensional effect
• Train your eye with the Asaro head model to simplify complex forms

By the end of this stage, you’ll finally understand why past portraits didn’t work—and how to fix them.

Step 2: Adding Colour Without Losing Structure

Ever painted a portrait that looked great in black and white, but turned muddy when adding colour? That’s because many artists jump into colour without first mastering tonal relationships.

• We solve this by building a strong foundation before introducing the Full-Colour Palette.
• Learn the Alla Prima technique used by master painters for a fresh, vibrant finish.
• Study modern masters of colour application and apply their techniques to your own work.

Watch Louis’s Full demonstration portrait of Lisa all episodes HERE

Step 3: Confidence & Artistic Growth

By the end of this 40-week portrait painting course, you’ll not only be painting realistic, expressive portraits, but you’ll also gain the confidence to work independently—whether in a studio or with live models.

Imagine the moment when you finish a portrait and see the likeness staring back at you. No more frustration, no more struggling—just a clear, proven process that works.

This Course Is for You If…

• You struggle with proportions and want to stop relying on guesswork
• You want to learn a structured, professional approach to portrait painting
• You’ve hit a plateau and need a clear path forward

Ready to finally master portrait painting?

Before & After: Judith Booth’s Transformation

Judith Booth joined the course as a relative beginner. Below is a drawing she did before starting, alongside her final portrait—a testament to her incredible progress.
Through dedication and disciplined practice, she followed the course structure, completed every assignment, and achieved remarkable results. Her transformation speaks for itself.

Testimonials

The Portrait Painting Course is thoughtfully divided into two essential parts: Tone and Colour. The first part of the course covers Tone is divided into, Drawing and Tone.

In the second part of the Portrait Painting Course, we’ll dive deep into the theory and practical application of colour. You’ll explore the Full Colour Palette, which is perfectly suited to the Alla Prima style of painting, known for its fresh, vibrant finish.

Studying masterpieces is the fastest way to build a strong visual vocabulary. This term, we’ll be focusing on some of the modern masters of the Alla Prima technique, providing invaluable insights into handling the complexities of a full palette.

By learning from these masters and applying their techniques, you’ll begin to develop your unique style as a portrait artist.

The next step is tone, we will be learning how to observe and describe 3-dimensional form without the distraction or complexity of colour.
Simplification is key, we start by using the model of the Asaro head as an armature to break down the features of the face into simple geometric planes. Training the eye to accurately compare the tonal relationships of each plane is crucial to painting a convincing portrait.
All images below are taken from Louis Smiths demonstrations in front of the class when delivering each lesson.

The secret to a successful painting is measuring tone and colour in that order.
First we start with the Sight Size technique which is copying the reference like for like. Once we are comfortable with this measuring technique we then progress to comparative measurements based on proportional units of measurement, this method is used when observing the model from a distance.

Timetable Portrait Painting Course
19th September 2026 – 17th July 2027
Saturdays, 9.30-4.30
Total of 37 Weeks Tuition

1st Term 19th Sep – 24th Oct | Half Term | 7th Nov – 19th Dec 2026
Christmas Break
2nd Term 9th Jan – 6th Feb | Half Term | 20th Feb – 27th March 2027
Easter Break
3rd Term 17th April – 29th May | Half Term | 12th June – 17th July 2027

Cost, £975 per term (3 terms per course)
Deposit , £200 and the remaining balance of £775 is to be paid 3 weeks before the start of the Academic Year. Details will be sent in the confirmation email.

Meet Your Instructor: Louis Smith

A classically trained portrait artist with years of experience studying in Florence, Louis has helped countless artists break through their creative struggles. With live demonstrations and hands-on guidance, you’ll gain the skills that took master painters years to discover—delivered in an easy-to-follow, structured program.
See his work at: louissmithart.com