Better Portraits Academy

This course is for you if

You’ve always wanted to get into portrait drawing but want to study it the right way. You’re not seeking facile hacks or flashy tricks, but reliable techniques that have withstood the test of time

You love drawing people but are never 100% satisfied with your current outcomes. You know your portraits are ok, but they miss that competence of real classical training

You enjoy honing your drawing skills within a well-structured format and want to keep sharpening your chops.

By the end of this course

you'll have:

a clear understanding of how to capture the exact likeness of your model.
discovered and practiced how to apply shading in a deft manner.
gained the ability to draw the head from any angle.
developed the ability to draw a good-looking portrait regardless of the materials you’re working with.
implemented and practiced the time-tested processes and techniques of the masters.
learned how to draw eyes, noses and mouths so they look like your model.

Jacinda Lacy Earwood

I’ve always enjoyed portrait drawing classes, but never felt like I was improving. Working with Carolin Peters finally improved my abilities. She taught me new ways to look at what I'm drawing and ask myself questions about the subject. She's an extremely patient and hardworking instructor who's always open to questions and willing to explain things in more detail. I would recommend this class to anyone, beginner or advanced, who is looking to improve their portrait drawing skills.

Course Total $135

I'm ready to sign up

What's inside the course

Here’s why studying with an actual art school instructor is the way to go.

After having taught 100’s of students in an academic setting I know exactly where and why students tend to get stuck with their portrait drawings.

Together we’ll work our way through 3 core modules that logically build on each other so you’ll no longer get derailed in the middle of your next portrait drawings.

By joining this course you'll get forever access to:

3 Lesson Modules showing you literally EVERYTHING you need to know, so you can build the confidence and skill for pro-level result.

Every lesson module includes:

multiple in-depth lecture videos, explaining the content incrementally, with tons of clarifying visuals
several step by step demonstration videos, showing you EXACTLY how to go about the exercises and techniques
Supportive hand-outs to jog your memory for whenever you get lost
Assignment options so you can put all new insights into practice immediately
Portrait model reference footage

Included in this course are also 3 BONUSES

Bonus #1

3 weekly, 2+hr long LIVE Q&A/Feedback and draw-along sessions inside a private Zoom studio where you can:

Get your questions answered and confusions lifted
Receive feedback on your assignment submissions
Draw alongside Carolin and other artists
See Carolin go through the drawing process in real time together with you, giving you a chance to ask questions in real time, as they arise.

***Live Sessions happen on Mondays at 7pm PST and start on November 1st, 2021***

(A $100 value; Included with Better Drawings Academy)

Course Total $135

Sounds amazing, I'm in!

FAQ's

What level exactly is this course for?

The beauty of classical drawing fundamentals is, that regardless of what artistic stage you're at, they'll always make you better. This course is designed to either set you up right, as you're learning to draw portraits for the first time, or to be the perfect refresher for artists who've had previous training and want to weed out bad habits and integrate best practices.

When do I get access to the course content?

As soon as you purchase the course you'll see the class orientation module helping you get prepped for the class. On Monday, October 25th you'll get access to the first lesson module. The subsequent Mondays I'll release the next modules, one at a time.

How long will I have access to the course?

The content will stay accessible even after the course is over. You'll be able to rewatch lessons indefinitely.

Will I be able to get feedback on my drawings?

Absolutely! I recommend that you photograph your weekly assignments, as well as the source you're drawing from, and share them with me, with very specific questions, by the Sunday before the LIVE Sessions. I'll reserve time to give feedback on student work during every LIVE session. Depending on the amount of students and submissions you may not always get your drawing reviewed, but I have learned that students get as much out of listening to their peer's feedback as to their own. I will do my very best to get to everyones work at least once.

I can't make it to the Live Sessions, will they be recorded?

You betcha. The recorded session will be uploaded to the course portal after 1-2 days. Best of all, you can also submit questions and drawings for review even though you won't be attending the sketch session live, and I'll answer them anyways.

What materials will I need

The amount of art supplies you invest in for the course is entirely up to you.
Once you enroll you'll get a list of recommended supplies that I'm using for the exercises. Pick what sounds exciting to you, and consider permission to go art supply shopping granted ;)

I'm not so sure about the tech involved in taking an online class. I fear it's too complicated for me.

Trust me, friend, I am no fan of tech myself, so I'm keeping this really simple for you. Once you're signed up I'll show you exactly how to log into the course portal, where and when to use the Zoom links for our live sessions, and even how to photograph your drawings with a smart phone, so you can send it in for feedback. I got your back, and am always just an email away to help!
The beauty of an online class is that YOU can control the pace, and rewatch demos and slideshows as needed from a front row seat. You're also in control of when and how to do your assignments. To me, that beats classroom experience where you can't hear or see the teacher well and are getting hustled along too quickly.

Is this course different from the portrait bonus from BDA?

In short: yes.
Long answer: The BDA bonus was a brief portrait overview. This class is more in depth and tackles the subject in smaller, more targeted chunks which we'll train one at a time. Another difference is how much more targeted the assignments in this course are. Think of the bonus as a snapshot and this course as the long-form version.

Did I miss anything?

Send any other questions you may have to draw@curaoc.com and I'm always be happy to chat!

I can't wait to be your portrait coach

Drawing people has always been one of my most favorite things to do, but not feeling in control of my attempts and outcomes was so frustrating.

Once I got my classical training I could see how copying a photo 1:1 is NOT the same as having real portrait drawing skills! That insight has been so liberating.

And that's exactly what I want to share with you in this course!

I want you to feel like you fully know what process will lead you to your desired results, and also, how to practice so it becomes second nature.

I'd be honored to be your guide walking you through the growth period, your cheerleader keeping your mind in a good place, and a leader guiding you and a group of fellow creatives towards the shared goal of better portraits.

Should you accept this invitation I won’t hold back and share everything I know so you can become the artist you want to be.

All my best,

Carolin

Let's do this!

What artists say about my courses:

I was nervous to sign-up for BDA because my schedule didn't allow me to attend the live evening sessions. At the same time, I knew I desperately wanted critique on my assignments. Carolin's method and commitment to giving me just as much help as my peers that could attend live was phenomenal. BDA allowed me to have the accountability of showing up every week, mixed with a flexible "homework" schedule. I am excited to continue using the modules as a resource in my practice. In this course, I learned many things that have not been taught to me in conceptual art school such as, shadow-edge quality and compositional strategies. I can't wait to take more classes with Carolin!
-Danielle Moore

"Because of Better Drawing Academy, I have an understanding of the whole process of creating drawings. By applying what I have learned, my drawings are much clearer and better and I enjoy drawing even more. One aspect of art that I hadn't really applied previously was the mental approach, the who, what and why of creating a drawing. This focus has helped me avoid false starts and frustration and also to have a keener understanding of when and why I have drifted off course. I highly recommend joining any class Carolin offers and I look forward to more instruction from her in the future."
- Chris Peerenboom

“I really love Carolin's courses! Starting from gestures through to the final drawing. I am now equipped with a solid drawing process that will always remain with me; as part of my art skills toolbox and creative endeavours. Initially, I watched and drew along with Carolin’s sketch sessions on YouTube. The Better Drawings Academy 8-week course was over and above my expectations! Carolin’s depth of knowledge and her wonderful ability to teach takes you through a journey. Through slide-shows, demonstrations, practical assignments, Live questions & answers and draw-along sessions that encourage you to really grasp and understand the fundamental drawing process and then add all it’s beautiful nuances.”
- Michelle De Montille

"I was hesitant to enroll because I’d never had any formal training before. But luckily Carolin’s class helped me gain more confidence and enjoyment when drawing the human figure. Carolin is extremely thorough, always willing to help, and ready to reexplain material if necessary. After taking her classes, I feel I have a strong foundation for wherever I go in my art journey."
- Rachel Kim