Expressive Oil Portraiture: Explore the Alla Prima Technique
A course by A.J. Alper, Painter
Discover how to paint captivating portraits that capture immediacy and emotion with every brush stroke
Oil paint is a versatile and vibrant medium that allows you to create expressive artwork, which captures the essence of your subject. In this course, learn how to paint striking oil portraits alongside renowned painter AJ Alper. He specializes in oil painting and is passionate about the language it conveys when depicting people, faces, and emotions.
Embark on an oil painting journey as AJ guides you step-by-step through the artistic process. Learn how to set up your palette through color mixing and explore composition and brush stroke techniques to achieve captivating results.
What will you learn in this online course?
15 lessons & 19 downloads
What's included in this course?
Begin by getting to know AJ Alper. He shares his artistic journey into the world of oil painting, which spans over three decades. Hear about how he started the 100-Day Portrait Challenge on Instagram with over a thousand participants. Learn about the artists who inspire his work and get introduced to the alla prima technique.
Get an overview of the tools and materials needed for the course. Explore different colors and brushes, then set up your workspace. Next, select the reference image for your painting. AJ prefers selfie-style images as references, since they allow for intimate portraiture. Learn how to use Photoshop to prepare the color range for your desired outcome.
AJ covers composition principles like the rule of thirds and alignment techniques to sketch your reference photo. Review some color theory and learn about how the consistency of paint influences color mixing. Discover how to fine-tune your color palette to achieve a range of flesh tones that best suits your reference. Learn how to create dimension with different brush strokes and how to correct any mistakes along the way.
Once your portrait is complete, learn all about drying and varnishing oil paint. AJ shares his tips on caring for your painting and shares the best ways to store your portrait. If you chose to sell your painting, he also covers how to ship your artwork.
- 98% positive reviews (392)
- 12,403 students
- 15 lessons (2h 6m)
- 19 additional resources (12 files)
- Online and at your own pace
- Available on the app
- Audio: English, German, Spanish (Latam), French, Indonesian, Italian, Dutch, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Turkish
- English · Spanish · Portuguese · German · French · Italian · Polish · Dutch · Turkish · Indonesian · Romanian
- Level: Beginner
- Unlimited access forever
Recommended software & tools for this course
Adobe PhotoshopWhat is this course's project?
Create an oil portrait from a reference photograph by exploring different painting techniques.
Projects by course students
Who is this online course for?
This course is great for anyone who wants to learn oil painting techniques or wants to expand their portraiture abilities.
Requirements and materials
Basic experience in drawing portraits is recommended. No previous experience in oil painting is necessary.
To take this course, you need oil paint (student or artist grade is recommended), paint brushes, an easel, a canvas or panel, and a couple of solvents or mediums. A computer or tablet with Photoshop (or similar software) is recommended if you want to adjust the color range of your photo reference.
Reviews
A.J. Alper
A course by A.J. Alper
AJ Alper is an American painter specialized in oil painting. Though painting has always been his passion, his career first led him to become a graphic designer and web developer. He eventually decided to follow his creative instinct and dedicated himself to the world of oil painting.
Through his social media, he has created an online community committed to encouraging and educating his followers about the art of oil painting and portraiture. With over a hundred thousand followers, he started the 100-Day Portrait Challenge to encourage his community to express their creativity. His work can be found on the walls of Marriott hotels, Mitsubishi corporations, Philip Morris buildings as well as in various solo exhibitions throughout the US.
Content
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U1
Introduction
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About Me
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Influences
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U2
Tools, Materials and Setup
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Tools and Materials
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Setup and Studio
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Reference and Image Selection
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Preparing the Image in Photoshop
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U3
Ready Set Go
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Drawing with Paint
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Color Mixing and Viscosity
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Mixing Flesh Tones
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Blocking in Color
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Creating Dimension 1
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Creating Dimension 2
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Fixes and Fine Tuning
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U4
Final Stages
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Drying and Varnishing
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Storing and Shipping
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FP
Final project
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Expressive Oil Portraiture: Explore the Alla Prima Technique
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What to expect from a Domestika course
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Learn at your own pace
Enjoy learning from home without a set schedule and with an easy-to-follow method. You set your own pace.
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Learn from the best professionals
Learn valuable methods and techniques explained by top experts in the creative sector.
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Meet expert teachers
Each expert teaches what they do best, with clear guidelines, true passion, and professional insight in every lesson.
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Certificates
PlusIf you're a Plus member, get a custom certificate signed by your teacher for every course. Share it on your portfolio, social media, or wherever you like.
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Get front-row seats
Videos of the highest quality, so you don't miss a single detail. With unlimited access, you can watch them as many times as you need to perfect your technique.
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Share knowledge and ideas
Ask questions, request feedback, or offer solutions. Share your learning experience with other students in the community who are as passionate about creativity as you are.
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Connect with a global creative community
The community is home to millions of people from around the world who are curious and passionate about exploring and expressing their creativity.
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Watch professionally produced courses
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FAQs
Yes, this course is designed for intermediate painters with some experience in oil painting who want to develop their skills in alla prima, or wet-on-wet, portrait techniques.
You’ll need oil paints, brushes (including filbert), a gessoed hardboard panel, palette (glass recommended), easel, safflower oil medium, and student grade paints. Access to Photoshop for reference preparation is also helpful.
You’ll learn how to paint realistic portraits alla prima, mix colors, use bravura brushstrokes, set up your studio, select and edit reference photos, measure proportions, and finish and protect your paintings.
Yes, the course covers the transition from landscape to portrait painting, including techniques for rendering facial features and achieving accurate proportions.
Basic familiarity with Photoshop is helpful for preparing and adjusting reference photos, but step-by-step instructions for essential tasks are provided.
The course emphasizes consistent practice, structured challenges like daily portrait painting, and detailed feedback on technique to accelerate skill development.
Yes, the core focus is on alla prima portrait painting, including wet-on-wet paint application, expressive brushwork, and completing paintings in a single session.
Adobe Photoshop
AJ explained all the important foundational needs to create a portrait in oil in a good manner and also gave great advice about how to try and make it interesting, not just a look alike-portrait. Great teacher! Recommend the course.
El curso es bueno pero corto.
A fantastic course but certainly not for beginners. The editing is good and so is the explanation, but you need to have some experience with oil painting and photoshop to follow along.
wonderful and heart felt instruction
C’est un très bon cours, les explications sont claires, j’ai beaucoup appris sur le mélange des couleurs et la technique alla prima. Merci pour ce très bon cours !