Rosso Emerald Crimson

How to paint a stunning portrait

  • Recommended

    $200

    Includes personal feedback and tuition. More

  • $75

    Learn in an online classroom with no more than 20 classmates. More

Course Description

Join an online portrait painting class with artist Rosso Emerald Crimson, taught from her studio in London, and watch her create a stunning oil portrait from scratch.

If you're an aspiring artist looking for inspiration and practical guidance, this is the perfect opportunity to expand your horizons and be mentored by a world-renowned artist.

This course gives you behind the scenes trade secrets of an acclaimed artist. Rosso takes you on her journey, sharing philosophies and techniques, whilst you study painting a portrait from start to finish. You will explore an interplay of 'free style' and improvisation vs a rigorous approach to portraiture.

The flowers in the background are what allow this 'break' from a rigid approach. I'd say the way I painted the flowers resembles an impressionistic/expressive style, with a lot of 'creative' imagination at play, as well as constant consideration of basic painting principles around colour theory above all - Rosso

Rosso’s body of work is composed of classical portraiture and more accomplished figurative paintings with narratives developed around the female identity, reflecting her own life and experiences as a woman. Through portraiture and self-portraiture, Rosso explores and addresses feelings and taboos connected to gender identity, sexuality, beauty, relationships, motherhood/parenthood.

What you will learn

After talking you through the research stage, including preliminary sketches, sourcing images/models and preparing your studio, Rosso will then walk you through the creation of a realist portrait, from start to finish.

I was following Rosso for years - and to see her process is both inspiring and helpful ! Loved the course and waiting for more :))) - Emiliya

Rosso will talk you through each step of the creation process of a portrait, giving you practical advice for when taking on your own project. You will be set assignments at the end of each lesson which enable you to practise the techniques, and will receive feedback on your progress before moving onto the next stage of the portrait.

Learn and practice a lot based on what other artists have already achieved, experiment, make mistakes, plenty of them, and advance from them. Keep your art flowing, and growing. – Rosso, Artcan

You'll learn:

  • where to find inspiration for your portrait
  • how to paint with oil and which brushes to choose
  • how to prepare your panel
  • how to review your work as you paint

The course includes:

  • 6 on-demand video lessons - presented by Rosso Emerald Crimson
  • lifetime access to the videos, notes and interactive class
  • flexible classes - join and learn when and where you like
  • downloadable lesson notes
  • practical portrait painting assignments (with tutor feedback available)
  • access on your mobile, PC, Mac or laptop
  • small interactive online classroom - chat online to students from around the world and share your creative ideas

Time to complete the portrait painting class:

Every student is different but in general we think the whole course will take around 21 hours 40 minutes to complete including:

  • Video lessons: 3 hours 40 minutes in total
  • Course notes: 30 minutes per lesson
  • Your portrait painting assignments: at least 2 hours per lesson
  • Interactive classroom time: 15 minutes per lesson
  • Tutor feedback review (Expert level): 15 minutes per lesson

You'll need:

Standing/table easel, large palette, pots for turps and mediums, rags, a variety of oil paints of different sizes / grades.

Brushes: A variety of brushes, including: a. flat synthetic brushes for acrylics/oil (large to very small, for finer details) b. Pointed round (hog, sable and/or synthetic) c. Sable brushes (for finer details, later stages of painting) d. Hog brushes e. Fan brushes (optional).

Download the full equipment list.

The course is suitable for artists of all levels- from those who have never painted a portrait before to artists who want to learn Rosso's techniques.

Ready to get started?

Just add the course to your basket above - choose the 'Expert' option for personal feedback from Rosso on your portrait.

If you know someone who'd love this course then give it as a gift - just tick "This is a gift" at the checkout.

Any questions? Contact us by clicking on the orange speech symbol - we'd love to hear from you.

CPD Accreditation

Course activity has been accredited by the CPD Standards Office (CPDSO). The course equates to 21 hours, 40 minutes of CPD learning.
The CPD Standards Office. CPD Provider: 50276.

Course outline

  • Research and preparatory studies

    During this lesson you will take a tour of Rosso’s art studio, taking a detailed look at her works of art and the influences behind them.

    You will cover:

    Preliminary sketches, sourcing images/models, working from photographs to define composition, colour studies and preliminary small studies.

  • Preparing to paint

    Learn how to organise your working space, including the preparation of your panel/support. Rosso will talk through the pros and cons of canvas and aluminium panels, how to prime, how to apply washes, gliding and finally applying metal/gold leaf to your painting.

  • Sketching and blocking in

    Learn how to scale up from preparatory sketches. This will include grids, drawing/transferring, freestyle and sketching onto panel.

    Next Rosso will demonstrate how you can organise your palette including paint selection; colour mixing, brush selection; medium selection; tool selection.

    Finally you will learn the art of sketching in and blocking in.

  • Painting the portrait

    This lesson will focus on development of the portrait, including how to paint eyes, colour choice and development of your subject.

  • Painting the background

    Learn how to paint a background with intricate detail to compliment the composition of the portrait. Rosso demonstrates how painting flowers allow a 'break' from a rigid approach to portraiture.

  • Finishing the painting

    In this final lesson, Rosso will finalise the whole composition with the choice of a background colour and application, which enrich and harmonise the entire subject (both portrait and flowers) as well as 'framing' the painting as a whole.

Choose how you want to learn

  • The Expert option

    Recommended

    Develop your learning further with marked assignments and personal tuition from Rosso Emerald Crimson

    • Start course whenever you like
    • 6 weeks tutor access for personalised assignment feedback & coaching
    • 6 assignments marked by Rosso Emerald Crimson
    • Certificate of completion and CPD hours
    • Online classroom with up to 20 classmates
    • 6 lessons with expert videos & notes
    • Group chat & direct message with tutor & classmates
    • Lifetime access to videos, notes & classroom
    Learn more
    $200
  • The Peer option

    Discover the benefits of group learning in an online interactive classroom of no more than 20 people. Get the most from shared knowledge and community study

    • Start course whenever you like
    • Practise what you learn with your peers
    • Online classroom with up to 20 classmates
    • 6 lessons with expert videos & notes
    • 6 course assignments
    • Group chat & direct message classmates
    • Lifetime access to videos, notes & classroom
    Learn more
    $75

New
Buy this course for a business or group

You can now buy this course through your business or organisation for individuals and groups up to 20

Meet Rosso Emerald Crimson

Rosso Emerald Crimson - Art & Design
Rosso Emerald Crimson is an award-winning portrait artist who brings intimacy and character to her colourful paintings.

Italian born, Rosso has lived and worked in London since 2004. She graduated in Political Science in Italy then obtained an MA in International Communications and Human Rights at City University in London (UK). She worked in marketing and advertising before changing her career direction to the visual arts.

Deeply fascinated by classicism, Rosso attempts to emulate a contemporary version of realism which, while rooted on classical painting techniques, departs from the mere representational approach. The female figures are predominant in her paintings and are placed within timeless spaces made up of dreams, childhood memories and pure fantasies. Painting mainly with oil, she adapts her process according to her thematic subjects and her mood, varying from a quick energetic and spontaneous "alla prima" painting style, to more carefully planned compositions which are built in layers over time.

Rosso is primarily a self-taught artist. Her artistic accolades include winning the “Jackson Open Painting Prize 2019 (JOPP2019)” for the Portrait/Figure category; the “The Harbour Gallery Award” and “The Artist's Exhibition Award” (TALP Open 2019); “The Holly Bush Emerging Woman Painter Prize 2017” and the “Emerald Winter Pride Art Award” in 2016.
She was twice selected to participate in “Sky Portrait Artist of The Year”, in SEASON7 aired in 2020 and in 2019. She has exhibited across London in venues including the Mall Galleries, Bloomsbury and The Strand Gallery. Her work has been featured in various UK national magazines (Artists and Illustrator; The Artist’s Magazine), and her painting, ‘Young Climate Rebel’ was the front cover image for the September 2019 issue of Arena Magazine (Australia).

Website: www.rossoart.net
Instagram: @rossoartist

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Awards & Accreditations

  • CPD Accredited (provider 50276)
  • Good Web Guide
  • Red Herring Winner
  • Education Investor Awards 2021 - Finalist
  • Royal Horticultural Society
  • Digital Education Awards 2023 Winner for Digital Health and Wellbeing Learning Product of the Year
  • Digital Education Awards 2023 Winner for Adult Home Learning Product of the Year