Draw and Paint Realistic Portraits
Devon Rodriguez
Learn to create an astounding oil portrait. Whether you’re experienced or new to painting, refine your drawing, color-mixing, and varnishing techniques with TikTok sensation Devon Rodriguez.
Learn to create an astounding oil portrait. Whether you’re experienced or new to painting, refine your drawing, color-mixing, and varnishing techniques with TikTok sensation Devon Rodriguez.
Create an oil painting & drawing
Level up your skills with step-by-step guidance on projects to achieve learnings you're proud of.
Flexible curriculum
We break down the class into manageable activities to do at your own pace.
Feedback & discussions
Access a community of peers to get feedback and be inspired
All levels
This session is approachable for beginners and has advanced techniques for the more experienced.
Create an oil painting & drawing
Level up your skills with step-by-step guidance on projects to achieve learnings you're proud of.
Flexible curriculum
We break down the class into manageable activities to do at your own pace.
Feedback & discussions
Access a community of peers to get feedback and be inspired
All levels
This session is approachable for beginners and has advanced techniques for the more experienced.
Unlock new skills with a structured curriculum
Section 1
Introduction
Section 2
Portrait Drawing
Section 3
Color Mixing
Section 4
Eyes, Hair, and Shadows
Section 5
Lips, Nose, and Ears
Section 6
Neck, Shirt, and Background
Skills you will learn
Prepare To Draw & Paint
- Gather the right tools
- Set up your space
- Choose the perfect image
- Practice charcoal tracing
- Freehand draw with grid lines
Bring Your Art To Life
- Render necks and shoulders
- Build dimension with shadows
- Paint the subject’s clothing
- Add the perfect background
- Varnish your work
Paint Your Oil Portrait
- Experiment with color theory
- Mix for any skin tone color
- Paint Alla Prima style
- Show depth in ears and lips
- Depict realistic eyes
Skills you will learn
Prepare To Draw & Paint
- Gather the right tools
- Set up your space
- Choose the perfect image
- Practice charcoal tracing
- Freehand draw with grid lines
Bring Your Art To Life
- Render necks and shoulders
- Build dimension with shadows
- Paint the subject’s clothing
- Add the perfect background
- Varnish your work
Paint Your Oil Portrait
- Experiment with color theory
- Mix for any skin tone color
- Paint Alla Prima style
- Show depth in ears and lips
- Depict realistic eyes
Explore the full curriculum
Watch the Session Overview to learn more.
My Activities
Introduction
Devon shares the story of his artistic journey and inspires you to start your own. In this section, you’ll build your artist’s supply kit and choose the photo you’ll be painting for the rest of the session.
- Video activity 1
Session Overview
Devon introduces himself and describes his rise to TikTok stardom. As one of the most well-known visual artists on social media, he’ll inspire you to start your journey to painting a realistic oil portrait.
- Video activity 2
Becoming an Artist
Devon shares his artistic philosophy and explains how you can go from everyday novice to experienced painter by practicing his techniques.
- Video activity 3
Building Your Supply Kit
Devon takes you through his preferred art supply kit and shows you how to build your own with basic tools. With his guidance, you’ll create an ideal studio setup and begin to gather your materials.
- Activity 4
Checklist: Building Your Supply Kit
Set up your art studio workstation and decide what works best for you. Then use the provided checklist to mark off the supplies you got for your kit.
- Video activity 5
Picking the Photo for Your Portrait
It’s time to choose the picture that you’ll be transforming into an oil portrait! Devon provides guidelines for choosing the best subject and composition. Then you’ll choose the photo—either one of ours or your own—that you’ll draw and paint for the rest of the session.
- Activity 6
Share the Photo for Your Portrait
Take a photo or scan of your reference photo that you personally took of someone you know and upload it to the community forum. Make sure your subject is okay with you using their image for this activity! Or upload the photo you picked from our gallery. Please share your photo as a .jpg or .png image file. The file size limit is 10 MB.
- Activity 7
Feedback: Picking the Photo for Your Portrait
Share your rationale for choosing the photo that you did. Comment on two of your peers’ photos and let them know what you think of their choices.
Portrait Drawing
Color Mixing
Eyes, Hair, and Shadows
Lips, Nose, and Ears
Neck, Shirt, and Background
Explore the full curriculum
Watch the Session Overview to learn more.
My Activities
Introduction
Devon shares the story of his artistic journey and inspires you to start your own. In this section, you’ll build your artist’s supply kit and choose the photo you’ll be painting for the rest of the session.
- Video activity 1
Session Overview
Devon introduces himself and describes his rise to TikTok stardom. As one of the most well-known visual artists on social media, he’ll inspire you to start your journey to painting a realistic oil portrait.
- Video activity 2
Becoming an Artist
Devon shares his artistic philosophy and explains how you can go from everyday novice to experienced painter by practicing his techniques.
- Video activity 3
Building Your Supply Kit
Devon takes you through his preferred art supply kit and shows you how to build your own with basic tools. With his guidance, you’ll create an ideal studio setup and begin to gather your materials.
- Activity 4
Checklist: Building Your Supply Kit
Set up your art studio workstation and decide what works best for you. Then use the provided checklist to mark off the supplies you got for your kit.
- Video activity 5
Picking the Photo for Your Portrait
It’s time to choose the picture that you’ll be transforming into an oil portrait! Devon provides guidelines for choosing the best subject and composition. Then you’ll choose the photo—either one of ours or your own—that you’ll draw and paint for the rest of the session.
- Activity 6
Share the Photo for Your Portrait
Take a photo or scan of your reference photo that you personally took of someone you know and upload it to the community forum. Make sure your subject is okay with you using their image for this activity! Or upload the photo you picked from our gallery. Please share your photo as a .jpg or .png image file. The file size limit is 10 MB.
- Activity 7
Feedback: Picking the Photo for Your Portrait
Share your rationale for choosing the photo that you did. Comment on two of your peers’ photos and let them know what you think of their choices.
Portrait Drawing
Color Mixing
Eyes, Hair, and Shadows
Lips, Nose, and Ears
Neck, Shirt, and Background
Explore the full curriculum
Watch the Session Overview to learn more.
My Activities
Introduction
Devon shares the story of his artistic journey and inspires you to start your own. In this section, you’ll build your artist’s supply kit and choose the photo you’ll be painting for the rest of the session.
- Video activity 1
Session Overview
Devon introduces himself and describes his rise to TikTok stardom. As one of the most well-known visual artists on social media, he’ll inspire you to start your journey to painting a realistic oil portrait.
- Video activity 2
Becoming an Artist
Devon shares his artistic philosophy and explains how you can go from everyday novice to experienced painter by practicing his techniques.
- Video activity 3
Building Your Supply Kit
Devon takes you through his preferred art supply kit and shows you how to build your own with basic tools. With his guidance, you’ll create an ideal studio setup and begin to gather your materials.
- Activity 4
Checklist: Building Your Supply Kit
Set up your art studio workstation and decide what works best for you. Then use the provided checklist to mark off the supplies you got for your kit.
- Video activity 5
Picking the Photo for Your Portrait
It’s time to choose the picture that you’ll be transforming into an oil portrait! Devon provides guidelines for choosing the best subject and composition. Then you’ll choose the photo—either one of ours or your own—that you’ll draw and paint for the rest of the session.
- Activity 6
Share the Photo for Your Portrait
Take a photo or scan of your reference photo that you personally took of someone you know and upload it to the community forum. Make sure your subject is okay with you using their image for this activity! Or upload the photo you picked from our gallery. Please share your photo as a .jpg or .png image file. The file size limit is 10 MB.
- Activity 7
Feedback: Picking the Photo for Your Portrait
Share your rationale for choosing the photo that you did. Comment on two of your peers’ photos and let them know what you think of their choices.
Portrait Drawing
Color Mixing
Eyes, Hair, and Shadows
Lips, Nose, and Ears
Neck, Shirt, and Background
Projects from this Session
Sketch Your Portrait
Make Use of the Color Wheel
Mix Paints for Skin Tones
Paint With the Alla Prima Method
Create Texture and Details
Varnish Your Painting
Get feedback from a supportive community
Meet your instructor
Devon Rodriguez is one of the most followed visual artists on TikTok with 25M+ followers and counting. He transformed himself from novice to visionary by developing skills in both oil painting and drawing. Devon is most known for his hyperrealistic portraits of everyday people—most notably, NYC subway commuters.
Meet your instructor
Devon Rodriguez is one of the most followed visual artists on TikTok with 25M+ followers and counting. He transformed himself from novice to visionary by developing skills in both oil painting and drawing. Devon is most known for his hyperrealistic portraits of everyday people—most notably, NYC subway commuters.
Meet your instructor
Devon Rodriguez is one of the most followed visual artists on TikTok with 25M+ followers and counting. He transformed himself from novice to visionary by developing skills in both oil painting and drawing. Devon is most known for his hyperrealistic portraits of everyday people—most notably, NYC subway commuters.