Portrait Drawing for Adult
Artist | Art Instructor | Founder | Snowstorm Art Studio
Catherine Snowstorm
Levels
Oil & Color Theory
Fundamentals
Level Two
Building on your foundation, the next level expands your skills in advanced portrait oil paint through the logic of color.
DURATION
12 Sessions
120 min (2 hours) each core session
+ 1 hour "The Painter’s Lounge"
Once a week
"The Painter’s Lounge" (Optional)
Schedule
Two options to choose from:
Tuesdays | 10:30 am – 1:30 pm (CST)
Thursdays | 5:00 pm – 8:00 pm (CST)
Interactive Live
Group Size
Certificate of Completion
Language
You Will Learn
Classical Foundations, Taught with Care
✓ From Form to Color
Once a solid foundation in black-and-white drawing has been laid, the next challenge is to apply this knowledge to working with color—where light, shadow, and halftones now acquire both tonal and chromatic complexity.
✓ The Science of Skin Tones
Learn to mix realistic flesh tones—and discover that skin does not possess a single color that can simply be darkened or lightened. You will gain the insight and confidence to paint portraits using the full spectrum of your palette.
✓ Classic Materials and Techniques
Working with Oil Paints: exploring their unique properties, traditional application methods, Impressionism, and contemporary techniques.
✓ Extended Anatomy & Figure Study
Continue studying human anatomy beyond the head, with special focus on hands and their role in portrait composition.
✓ From Classical to Impressionistic Approaches
At this level, we will create copies of artworks by the greatest portrait masters—both classical and Impressionist—to understand their techniques, and conclude by creating an original portrait, where you make independent artistic decisions based on a photographic reference.
Inside the Course
Certificate of Completion
The Painter’s Lounge
Optional
Pre-Session
Post-Session
How the Course Works
Materials Guide Preview.
(Image/Document) Ссылка на тот самый гайд, который ученики получают при зачислении.
Simple Professional Materials.
Upon enrollment, you will receive a comprehensive PDF Guide with names, pictures, and descriptions of all required tools.
We work with graphite, charcoal, and sanguine on paper at this 1 Level (Beginner) to build a solid understanding of form, light, and structure. This is essential foundation for portrait drawing before moving into color, which is introduced in the next Second Fundamentals level.
Session Structure.
Each 2-hour core session includes lectures, visual presentations, and intensive drawing practice, with optional Painter’s Lounge time before and after core session. 3 hours total.
Live Demonstration & Guided Drawing.
Sessions combine lecture and visual presentation with live drawing. You see every step as I draw and explain, and follow along—so you always have structure, mentorship, and clear guidance. Your work is reviewed during The Painter’s Lounge, where we discuss results, corrections, and next steps.
Visual Practice & Skill Building.
Between sessions, you’ll continue to expand your skills through focused drawing practice and curated visual references, and bring your drawings and questions to The Painter’s Lounge Pre-Session for feedback.
This is where real progress happens—strengthening your understanding, refining your eye, and building confidence through independent practice!
You’ll also be guided toward carefully selected artistic references to develop your visual awareness and learn how to study art beyond the classroom.
Digital Resource Library.
After each session, you’ll receive access to a growing collection of artist-created materials—based on the lecture content, so by the end of the course, you will have a comprehensive, structured reference book of your own.
Available for direct download from my website—no email clutter, just easy access to your materials for your personal collection.
All resources are provided in a high-quality, print-ready format (PDF, Letter format).
Session Recordings.
Recorded sessions are available for 30 days after the class, ensuring you never miss a lesson and can practice at your own pace.
Structured Lectures & Visual Learning.
Each session includes clearly structured lectures with carefully sequenced professional slide presentations, grounded in academic tradition.
A Reward for Success
My goal is to prepare you to create original portraits with confidence and artistic independence. To support this dedication, students who consistently complete their Visual Practice & Skill Building assignments will receive a $20 credit toward their next course as a token of my appreciation.
However, you gain far more than just $20: it is the invaluable experience found through trial, error, and expert guidance. Your independent work is, in fact, the most crucial element; after all, it is precisely the training that empowers you to make your own independent artistic decisions—and this prepares you to do so.
Student Transformations
Coming Soon
Frequently Asked Questions
What if I don't have talent?
What people often call "talent" is actually the result of study and many unsuccessful works left behind the scenes!
If you struggle to draw a portrait, it’s not a lack of a gift—it’s simply a temporary lack of tools, knowledge, theory, and practice. Together we will build a solid, reliable foundation for you. When inspiration strikes, you will already have all the tools to bring it to life in your creative work.
Certificate of Completion
To celebrate the progress you’ve made on this journey, I want you to have tangible proof of your success. I award a Certificate of Completion to every graduate who successfully finishes the Final Master Project. To maintain the prestige of this recognition, certificates are issued to students who:
Attend at least 10 out of 12 sessions.
Successfully complete all core "Visual Practice & Skill Build-ing" assignments.
Each certificate is uniquely numbered and officially registered in the studio database, serving as a lasting testament to your progress and the pro-fessional skills you have mastered.
The Digital Studio Fund
By joining art sessions, you agree that high-quality images of the artwork you create under my guidance become part of the "Digital Studio Fund". I reserve the right to feature these images on the studio’s website, in my port-folio, and on social media.
Physical Ownership: Your physical artwork remains entirely yours to keep, and cherish.
Digital Legacy: Sharing your work is a way to inspire others by showing what is truly possible through dedication and professional guidance. It serves to celebrate your transformation and document your artistic growth.
Class Structure
These are online instructor-led, small-group sessions limited to a maximum of 15 students. This intimate setting allows me to give you the personal attention and feedback you need to truly grow. We will meet for a set number of live online sessions, working together to build your skills from the ground up.
How will I know where my mistakes are if I can't see them myself?
This is my favorite part of online learning! You will send photos of your work during the session, at the end of each class, and before the next lesson. I make precise digital corrections directly over your photo. You see the "before and after" on your screen, understand the reason, and then independently apply those changes to your paper.
This guarantees that the final portrait is 100% created by you, but with a clear understanding of professional principles.
Protecting Our Creative Workspace
I have personally hand-drawn every diagram, anatomical scheme, and presentation slide we use (inspired by the great masters like Gottfried Bammes, Jenő Barcsay, and anatomy book by Professor Ken Ashwell, but adapted specifically for my teaching method). These materials are my gift to you for your personal development. To protect the integrity of the mentorship, please remember that recording or distributing these materials outside of our classes is strictly prohibited.
What if I draw slower than everyone else?
In art, being "slow" or "fast" does not determine quality or success. What a deliberate, slow-paced artist can achieve is often beyond the reach of a "fast" one, and vice versa. Every creative process is a unique form of meditation, deeply connected to your individual character. Every temperament is valuable and unique, your unique character is your strength.
If you ever feel you need more time, we have the Post-Session Painter’s Lounge after class, where we stay and finish everything together without any rush.
The Legacy of the Master’s Studio
As an instructor dedicated to the traditional academic approach to drawing and painting, I honor the ancient traditions of the great Art Ateliers. Histori-cally, there is a profound "Master’s Right": works created under a teacher’s mentorship were considered part of the institution's legacy, often remaining in the academy’s permanent collection to showcase the institution's method.
I embrace this heritage, but with a modern, student-centered twist. While many institutions physically keep student works, I choose to preserve only the "Digital Legacy".
Respecting Your Identity
When I showcase the work of my students, I treat it with the same respect as a gallery exhibition, typically including the artist’s name, dimensions, and technique.
However, I understand that some may prefer to remain anonymous.
Your Choice: If you would prefer your work to be displayed with-out your name (as an "Anonymous Studio Work"), please let me know before our sessions begin.
Standard Practice: Unless otherwise requested, I will proudly credit you as the creator of the work alongside its technical details.
Do I need expensive equipment?
No, we start with the basics: graphite, charcoal, and paper.
The only technical requirement is a good monitor (computer or tablet). Learning from a phone won’t work because you need to see every nuance and the clarity of the lines.
A stable internet connection is key for our live video sessions.
Cancellations & Refunds
Life happens, and I understand that.
If you need to cancel, you can receive a full refund as long as you let me know at least 7 days before our first session.
For later cancellations, a credit toward future art classes may be issued at my discretion.
Once our sessions begin, I cannot offer refunds, but you will have full access to all recordings for 30 days to catch up at your own pace.
Meet Your Guide
Catherine Snowstorm
MA – Master of Arts
BFA – Bachelor of Fine Arts
BA – Bachelor of Arts
Hello! I’m Catherine Snowstorm, an artist with a lifelong passion for fine arts and years of academic study. With three degrees in Fine Arts (MA, BFA, and BA) and a heart for teaching, I’ve focused on creating a space where precise technical skill and creative freedom grow together.
My goal isn't just to teach you how to paint a portrait or landscape, but to guide you through the transformative process of your mastery. I believe that the demanding path of diligent practice, paired with an honest heart, is what leads to the ultimate reward: knowledge and skills that become your tools for self-expression—allowing you to speak of what truly matters to you through art.
This journey requires dedication, and every hour spent at the easel is an investment in your creative power—the ability to create what you once thought impossible, to go where others might not have the courage to pursue. This commitment helps you find the confidence and clarity to express your own unique artistic voice.
Thank you for visiting—I look forward to connecting with you through art...