Module 01
Proportions of a Child
The foundation for everything. How children's proportions differ from adults, head size, body ratios, and facial features, so your portraits look natural and convincing from the very start.
Children in Cold Wax & Oils
Capture the magic of childhood in textured oil paintings.
Full Class · Cold Wax & Oils
Wish you could paint the children you love, and capture who they really are?
Imagine turning your favourite photos of your children or grandchildren into stunning textured oil paintings full of life and emotion.
This step-by-step class will guide you through capturing the magic of childhood, from getting the proportions right to building layers of beautiful texture that make your painting truly one of a kind.
Start anytime, work at your own pace, and enjoy lifetime access. This is a self-guided class, but you can always reach out by email with questions.
See the class in action
Press play to see what we'll be doing together.
The full curriculum
What's inside the class
Four modules that build from proportions and warm-up exercises into two complete portrait projects, plus a bonus value study of a little girl.
Module 02
Warm-Up Exercises
Loosen up and get into the flow. These warm-up exercises prepare you for expressive, lively figurative paintings, building your confidence before diving into the full projects.
Module 03
A Little Boy on Paper
Your first full child portrait project. Paint a charming little boy in cold wax and oils on paper, learning how to layer, build texture, and capture personality with every stroke.
Module 04
Children on the Beach
The showstopper. Paint children on the beach in cold wax and oils, integrate figures into a busy, textured background and create a painting full of light, movement, and summer magic.
Bonus
Value Study of a Little Girl
Create a value study portrait of a little girl, master light, shadow and tone to bring depth and emotion to your cold wax portraits.
Who it's for
This class is for you if…
- You want to paint your children or grandchildren and create a unique, textured portrait that captures who they really are, not just what they look like
- You're ready to explore new techniques and add the kind of texture and depth that only cold wax in oils can give
- You want to capture the personality and spirit of a child, not just copy a photograph
- You'd love to create a painting that tells a story and feels alive with energy, emotion, and the magic of childhood
- You've always wanted to paint children in cold wax and oils but didn't know where to start
Inside the class
What you'll take with you
- Capture children's proportions, how their faces and bodies differ from adults
- Build two different cold wax paintings, step by step
- Master palette-knife techniques for portraits, texture, movement, expressive marks
- Integrate a figure into a textured background so it feels part of the painting
- Use value studies to plan light, shadow, and depth
- Prefer French or Dutch? Every lesson is translated, with subtitles on all videos.
Meet your instructor
Marina Teding van Berkhout
Cold wax artist & instructor
I'm Marina, a Dutch professional artist living in the south of France. Painting children is one of the most rewarding things you can do as an artist, and combining it with cold wax medium takes it to a different level, the textures, the layers, the energy create portraits that are truly unique.
I've designed this class to share everything I know about painting children in cold wax and oils. Whether you're painting your own children, your grandchildren, or simply love figurative work, I'll guide you step by step to create paintings that capture the magic of childhood.
Students
What painters are saying
“I thoroughly enjoy Marina's style of teaching. She is down to earth and relatable. Her lessons are taught in such a way that you create your OWN work of art, not a copy of what she's creating. Not only did I learn new tips and techniques, I also gained inspiration and confidence with oils and cold wax medium.”
“Fantastic online video lessons for learning how to paint children in oils and cold wax. Marina is an excellent instructor who is approachable for advice. Her explanations are clear and constructive. Trust me, you won't be disappointed.”
“I absolutely loved this cold wax class on painting children. I always say 'I can't draw', but with Marina's transferring techniques I managed to create two beautiful paintings of my grandchildren which are now hanging on the wall of their parents' home. THANK YOU!”
Look what you can create
Student work 💙
Questions?
Frequently asked
Do I need experience painting portraits to take this class?+
Not at all. The class starts with proportions and warm-up exercises before the full projects. Whether you're new to portraiture or already have experience, I'll guide you through everything.
Can I paint my own children or grandchildren instead of the reference photos?+
Absolutely, that's the whole idea. Reference photos are provided, but the techniques apply to any child photo. Many students use family photos to create personalised portraits.
What is cold wax medium and why use it for portraits?+
Cold wax medium (like Gamblin) mixed with oil paint gives you a thicker, buttery consistency that's perfect for building layers and texture. For portraits, it adds a unique tactile quality, the painting becomes textured and alive, completely different from traditional portrait painting.
What supplies do I need?+
Cold wax medium (Gamblin or Zest-it recommended), oil paints, palette knives, a brayer, and rigid surfaces like cradled boards or panels. Module 3 uses heavier mixed-media paper. The full supply list is inside the class.
Can I use acrylics instead of oils?+
This class is designed for oils with cold wax medium. If you'd rather work in acrylics, check out my Textured Acrylics — The Basics class which uses texture medium or heavy gel medium for similar effects.
How is this different from painting a traditional portrait?+
We're not after photorealism. We create expressive, textured paintings that capture personality and spirit using cold wax and palette-knife techniques. The layers of texture bring the painting to life in ways unique to this medium.
Can I apply these techniques to adult portraits?+
Yes. Module 1 on proportions is child-specific, but everything else, layering, palette-knife work, integrating figures into textured backgrounds, value studies, transfers directly to adult portrait painting.
What is a value study and why does it matter?+
A value study focuses only on light and dark tones, no colour. It's a powerful tool for portrait painting, it helps you understand the structure of light on a face before you add colour and texture. The bonus module walks you through one.
How long do I have access?+
Forever. Once you enrol, the lessons and reference photos are yours for life. No rush, work at your own pace and come back whenever you want.
Keep painting with me
The Texture Lab membership
If you loved this class, join The Texture Lab for fresh lessons, creative prompts, and warm support to keep your art practice moving.
View membershipReady to capture the magic?
Turn your favourite childhood photos into stunning textured paintings your family will treasure forever.
$99 · One-time payment · Lifetime access · Secure checkout