A selfie, in paintGet to know a face through colour.
Start with a monochrome study, then bring in colour. We’ll explore light and shadow, mix skin tones and build a portrait without losing the texture underneath.
An online portrait painting class with Marina
Fabulous Faces
in cold wax & oils
Come and play with colour, texture and faces.
Unexpected colours, layers peeking through and a face that becomes part of it all. Let me show you how I paint my textured portraits, with room for you to try your own ideas.
And no, you don’t need to draw a face freehand. We can start with a tracing.
$149 · One payment · Lifetime access
Two complete portrait projectsFour modules + a bonusStart whenever you likeEnglish · French · Dutch · German
If the drawing is holding you back
You can begin with the face already on the page.
You might look at these portraits and think, “I’d love to, but I can’t draw.” Please don’t let that stop you.
I’ll show you how to trace or transfer your reference. We’ll also explore the shapes, light and dark areas that help you understand a face as you paint it.
Then you can enjoy the colours and the texture. You don’t have to make your painting look like mine.
See what students have paintedA few paintings from the class
Look what other students have painted.
Different faces, colours and ways of making marks. I love seeing where everyone takes the ideas.
I’d love to try this“I just finished my first portrait ever, following Marina's class. It was so informative and instructive, and gave me the confidence to go forward.”
Kristine S., Fabulous Faces student
Paint along with me
Two portraits, with plenty to explore.
We’ll spend time with each painting. You’ll see how I make choices, build the layers and work with what is already on the surface.
A selfie, in paintA face in the layersLet your background be part of the portrait.
This is where we play with an abstract beginning. Build your colours and marks, transfer the face onto the dry surface, and discover which bits of those earlier layers you want to keep.
That little patch of colour you almost covered? It might become your favourite part.
What we’ll explore together
A place to start, and time to find your own way.
Four modules take you from getting a face onto the page to painting two complete portraits. There’s a pencil and paint bonus to try too.
You don’t need to finish in a weekend. Pause the videos, try something on your own painting and come back when you’re ready.
Join Fabulous Faces01Finding your way into a faceDrawing the Face
Explore proportions, shapes and values, with several ways to get your reference onto the surface. Try freehand drawing, a grid, a scale divider or tracing. You can choose the approach that helps you get started.
02Colour, light and expressionPainting the Face
Look more closely at the features and mix colours for skin. See how light, shadow and softer edges help a face feel alive, and how colour can become part of the expression.
03Paint a selfie with meYour first complete portrait
Begin with a monochrome study to explore the light and dark shapes. Then build up colour and texture as I take you through the portrait. Watch a little, try it on your own painting, and return whenever you need to.
04Bring a face into the layersThe Fabulous Face project
Build a colourful abstract background, transfer your reference onto the dry surface, and work the face into your painting. Explore transparent and opaque layers, marks and texture, leaving some of the earlier colours visible.
+A little more to tryBonus: Portrait in Pencil and Paint
Combine a pencil portrait with transparent layers of cold wax and oils. Keep parts of the drawing visible and explore a different relationship between your lines and your paint.
Hello, I’m Marina
Portraits have always had a special place in my studio.
My early portraits were very detailed. Over time, I became more interested in soft edges, unexpected colours and the marks that make a painting feel alive.
Cold wax and oils gave me so much to play with. I could build a surface, change my mind and let the earlier layers become part of the face.
That is what I want to share with you in Fabulous Faces. I’ll show you my process and encourage you to try things. If you get stuck, you can email me with your questions.
I would love to paint with you.
Marina x
Make a little room on your painting table
Shall we paint a
Fabulous Face?
I’ll show you how I build up the colours and textures in my portraits. You can follow along at your own pace and try your own ideas.
“This was my first class where I fell in love with the medium, and where my admiration for Marina as an artist began.”
Janine, Fabulous Faces student
Fabulous Faces
Full online class in cold wax & oils
$149One payment. No subscription.
- Four modules and a pencil & paint bonus
- Two complete portrait projects
- Reference photos and materials guidance
- Lifetime access, at your own pace
- French, Dutch and German lesson text & subtitles
- Email Marina when you have a question
The Texture Lab
Would you like to keep painting with me?
An online painting membership for texture lovers.
Fabulous Faces is also included in Texture Lab Gold and Inner Circle. If you’d enjoy trying more classes, exploring the online magazine and sharing your paintings with other members, I’d love to welcome you inside.
Explore the Texture Lab (opens in a new tab)Buying Fabulous Faces separately gives you lifetime access. Access through Gold or Inner Circle lasts while your paid membership is active.
A few things you might be wondering
Before we get the paints out.
But what if I can't draw?
You don't need to draw a portrait freehand. I demonstrate several drawing methods, including tracing and transferring a reference. We also look at proportions, shapes and values to help you see the face more clearly. You can learn those things while using a tracing as your starting point.
Is this suitable for my first portrait?
Yes. We explore the face and the colours before moving into the two complete portrait projects. You don't need previous portrait-painting experience, but give yourself time to practise. This is an in-depth class, and you can pause, repeat a lesson and work at your own pace.
What materials will I need?
Oil paints, cold wax medium, a suitable painting surface and tools for spreading paint and making marks. I explain the supplies inside the class, including palette knives and simple household tools. A brayer can be useful, but it is optional. The projects include oil-painting paper as well as a textured background on a panel.
Can I use my own photograph?
Yes. References are provided so you can follow along, or you can use a selfie or another photograph you have permission to work from. Your colour choices and marks can make the portrait personal even when you use the same reference as me.
Is this an acrylic painting class too?
This class is taught in oil paints and cold wax medium. It is not an acrylic demonstration, so please choose it if you want to explore those materials with me.
How long can I keep the class?
If you buy Fabulous Faces on its own, you make one payment and have lifetime access to the lessons and reference photos. There is no subscription or deadline to finish. Access through Texture Lab Gold or Inner Circle lasts for your active paid membership period.
Can I watch in French, Dutch or German?
Yes. The class has translated lesson text and video subtitles in French, Dutch and German. You will hear my original English voice and can choose your subtitle language in the video player.
Can you imagine the colours you’d like to try?
Come and paint with me