Unlock Your Inner Artist: Master the Art of Portrait Drawing
Your transformation lies before you...let me be your guide
You create art because it ignites a profound joy—often beyond words—infusing your life with direction, purpose, meaning, value, and accomplishment, and orients you towards the good. It fosters a deep bond with your inner self, with life, and with eternal truths at your core.
In this portrait drawing course, you'll channel this creative energy by mastering the art of capturing a human face—each one a gateway to profound truths and connections. Through guided techniques and practice, you'll transform simple sketches into soul-stirring portraits, amplifying your sense of purpose, joy, and empowerment with every line drawn.
Chris Petrocchi teaches masterfully expressive portrait drawing
I teach portraiture and figure drawing, with over 40K students taking my online courses. I have also been an in person instructor at several prestigious art institutions in Northern California such as the Academy of Art in SanFrancisco, San Jose State University, the Bay Area Classical Artist Atelier and the Walt Disney Family Museum. It's my passion, so much so I wrote a book about it called "Essence: discovering the art of the portrait". That's over 25 years of my life, and it has been great living my dream.
I remember it so clearly when it all came crashing down. It was the terrible moment in my mind when I lost all hope and believed my art career was over. All because of a devastating experience of being blinded in one eye because of a rare condition called NAION, an "eye stroke" where sudden vision loss in one eye occurs due to a lack of blood flow to the optic nerve. That hit way too close to the bone, and as I was reeling from disbelief this one thought crowded my mind: how could this condition rob me of my lively hood by taking away the very thing I needed to perform it, my sight? Well, it almost did just that.
I didn't give up - It was literally Do or Die.
There was a glimmer of hope, however small, coming from somewhere deep within, and I knew that this connection was literally my lifeline. I just needed time. It was from that point on I would know that I was not someone who gave up on dreams so easily. I all I needed was courage, prayers and a little support from friends and loved ones.
I can admit now that I was scared because I was wasn't sure if I would ever be able to draw again. It was bad.
It was during that challenging time of facing my fears and working hard to regain my skills that I developed a framework that helped me climb out of the dark pit of despair and get my drawing skills back on track.
I call this framework SCAF(F)OLD. It's really a mindset that that guides you through the drawing process stands for:
SEE, CONSTRUCT, ACTION, FORM, OBJECTIVE LIGHTING and DESIGN
This SCAF(F)OLD framework is proven and tested by me. It got me out of that place where I didn't know if I could ever draw again and losing my career, to being able to gain the confidence to draw again professionally AND draw better than ever.
My SCAF(F)OLD approach is designed to help you use as leverage to climb up and out of any portrait drawing obstacles or anxieties you may find yourself faced with. It's a practical, step-by-step way that is rooted in the First Principles method of solving problems used for centuries by the likes of Aristotle, Johannes Gutenberg and Elon Musk (Tesla).
If you are just starting out drawing portraits this will help you start fast. If you are already an artist with some experience this is how you grow your skillset to continue your artistic visions or professional career.
Here is some of what you'll get with my
easy to follow portrait drawing system...
LEARN TO SEE WITH THE ARTISTIC GENIUS INSIDE YOU
You need to know the first big obstacle facing any artist occurs at the level of interpreting what it is we see. The second big obstacle for the beginning drawer is related to value.
Here is how you overcome these things:
- understanding how the brain interferes with seeing like an artist and countering that with the simple secret of squinting and comparing
- learning to make crucial value distinctions that make your drawing go way faster
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begin perceiving the simple black and white puzzle pieces that interlock to make a picture
...and more
FROM UNREAL TO REAL
Creating solid, believable drawings look alive comes from setting your drawing up well at the beginning building your confidence sky high.
You'l do this by:
- constructing from the inside out
- using the general to specific method
- mastering the planes and rhythms of the head
and more...
CREATE PORTRAITS THAT FEEL ALIVE WITH MOVEMENT
In this module you will discover the gestures that make up the head and how this concept will:
- give your drawings structure and LIFE
- empower you to draw much faster than before by using two powerful design ideas
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enable you to make good clear drawing statements that keep the attention of your viewers
- design and redesign on the fly
...and more
DRAW LIKE A SCULPTOR
The secret concept you need:
- turn 2D shapes into 3D forms
- how to construct in a solid foundation and the simple forms you need to know
- the distinction between form and structure that keeps your drawings looking integrated and whole
- become a sculpting drawer
...and more
CAPTURING LIKENESS AND SOUL
This is where it gets exciting as you:
- analyze the anatomy and structure of the eyes, mouth, nose and ears
- Understand the relationship between structure and form
- use repetitive, focused training on each feature in 5 different positions to lock in the gains you make
...and more
YOUR TRANSFORMATION REALLY BEGINS HERE
This is where the change you really want begins to take shape.
- explore the deep motivations for drawing portraits, back story, character and other ideas that make your portraits ring true
- your confidence and self respect grows as you see yourself truly doing your best work
- put all of the concepts together as a force multiplier
- use the First Principles method, the secret to getting better faster the pros use
...and more
CREATE DRAMATIC PORTRAIT ART WITH LIGHT
Orchestrate your portrait so all the elements come together in a compelling way to delight and entertain yourself and your viewers.
Your confidence grows as you:
- compose all the elements to create movement, interest and "layers of revelation" for the viewer
- craft lighting set ups for maximum emotional impact
- create focus with framing that catch attention
...and more
DESIGN WITH PRECISION
I am going to teach you how to:
- leverage design basic to work smarter NOT harder
- use the 80/20 principle
- style and how to develop it
- explode several drawing myths
...and much more
This course is unlike most any other course out there
And this is the really cool part...
If you want to prepare for a life as a professional artist You'll have the opportunity to work, just like a pro and choose from one of three professional client briefs and get you a killer portfolio piece that attracts attention and gets eyes on your social media.
What people are saying about the course...
I regard myself as an exceptionally unexceptional draftsman but can already sense some improvement in the way I'm tackling portraits. You're getting a LOT of information from a guy who knows what he's doing. And the demos - from blank sheet of paper to finished, fully rendered drawing - are both highly informative and inspirational. I'm not sure you can ask for more than that from any instructor. This course is a keeper! Many Thanks, Mr P for putting this together.
– Sam P.
Chris is a very approachable teacher, which can be hard to find. Chris pushed me outside my comfort zone, and taught me new techniques I still use professionally. I was pretty set with my process; Chris taught me a new approach that saved me time and effort without sacrificing quality. It was always clear that if you really wanted to learn, he really wanted to teach you.
– Josh T.
An Excellent Course. I was Impressed by Chris's Level of Knowledge, Experience and Expertise. This course has differently give me knowledge that will help me improve my work and help me integrate into work with Charcoal.
– Dotty M.
When you sign up for the course you'll also get 3 AWESOME BONUSES!
BONUS #1
In depth portrait demonstration on the Front Planes of the Face
Features and benefits
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Crucial training you can't do without that simplifies and blends both planes and rhythms of the head making the block in process much easier
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Shows and communicates the powerful idea of building your drawing so it has maximum impact on the page
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Emphasizes connection and integration of all the parts to convey believability
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Insightful ideas on how to draw each feature of the face with a clear and simple concepts that help you remember everything
BONUS #2
My 144 page portrait drawing e-book that inspires you on your journey
Features and benefits
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Insightful step-by-step instruction on my charcoal portrait drawing process
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A section on mindset, the creative process and using your drawings as a launching pad to exploration
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Crucial lessons I learned as a professional artist overseas that will help you overcome your art challeges
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144 color pages displays charcoal portraits, figure drawing and digital art done over my career
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The personal stories behind each drawing
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Digital character designs and illustrations for clients and personal work
BONUS #3
The Battle For Creativity Workbook
This is a MUST READ for all artists
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Everyone of us faces many obstacles when it comes to making art. This 45 page ebook provides clear cut actionable guidance for the struggling artist
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Helps clearly identify obstacles that continually get in the way of the creative process
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Identifies clear tools and strategies for over coming any obstacle getting in your way
...and so much more.
The Art of the Portrait pricing options
Transform your portrait art today!
$197
45+ Step-By-Step Dynamic Instructional Videos
18 Hours of Video Content
5 In Depth Modules
22 Downloadable Exercises and Reference Sheets
Lifetime Access to Lessons
Access to Community of Over 3.5K Students
Actionable Homework Assignments That Save Time and Get You Moving
Your Best Portfolio Piece
