portraits-march-2020


PORTRAIT

WORKSHOP

WITH DRU BLAIR

 

Step By Step Instructions

Dru Blair shows you how to create a photorealistic portrait from start to finish.

 

Color Theory

Comprehensive and easy to understand . Learn all you need to know about color in one day.

Guaranteed to Improve your Art



Tuition $999 USD | August 22-25, 2019
All inclusive packages from $1,515 USD

Are you totally
satisfied with
your paintings?

Perhaps you realize that you are
capable of greater paintings, but
you haven’t quite figured everything
out.

Feeling like your portraits could look better?

You aren’t alone. Most artists reach a certain level, but don’t know where to go next. You try experimenting, hoping to stumble across real answers, but you aren’t satisfied.

Slow growth?

Eventually, you realize that its going to take years to figure everything out, and with NO guarantee of success. In the meantime you STILL arent getting paid what you are worth.

Do you want your paintings 
to be true to life?

Perhaps you are tired of seeing all the amazing art posted on social media, and want to create something equal to or better than, the best that’s out there.

Welcome to the Next Level

Imagine being able to paint whatever you want, as realistically as you please, with perfect color matching. Introducing the most comprehensive airbrush workshops ever.

It's time to raise your game.

We make painting portraits simple, easy, and clear. That's one of the reasons we are considered the best airbrush school in the world.

Imagine what you will do when you've had the right training!

Without training, you could spend years (or more likely, decades) trying to unlock all the secrets of realistic painting. Now it’s possible for you to reach your artistic potential in a fraction of the time that it would take if you tried it on your own.

Color theory that solves all your color matching challenges

Learn all about Color Buffer Theory, Perceptual awareness, 21 elements of vision, Transparent vs Opaques,10 rules of Realism, Dot of Death recovery exercise, and how to begin a portrait... and that's on the first day!

We provide everything you need

We aren’t just limited to teaching you all about the airbrush. We include a variety of other art tools to help you make your present and future artwork the best possible. 

What you will learn

01

Learning to see the 21 visual elements

In order to re-create reality, we must first be able to see and understand reality. Most of how we see is unconscious and subject to misinterpretation. This makes it difficult to observe reality as it actually is. Fortunately, we will show you techniques that will help you overcome those limitations.

02

Opaque or Transparent?

There are a lot of opinions as to which is better. The answer is that each possesses unique characteristics which need to be considered first. You will learn all the differences, and when and why to use each.

03

Color Buffer Theory

Our original theory was initially conceived in the eighties and is now practiced in some form all over the airbrush world. This is a practical approach to color and color mixing that actually corresponds to the way paint behaves. It is simple, yet comprehensive in scope.

04

How to use the Color Wheel

The color wheel is a compass. We will show you how to choose the right color wheel and how to use it correctly. It can be your best aid when mixing and matching colors.

05

How to match color....perfectly

Color can be intimidating, but fear of color will be a thing of the past after we show you how to match a color dead-on every time. You will love this process, especially if you are tired of painting in shades of grey.

06

Understanding simultaneous contrast and the role it plays in your paintings

Simultaneous contrast is the illusion that colors close to each other seem more different than they actually are. We will show you how to harness this problem with color discrimination and turn it into one of your most powerful assets.

07

How to survive catastrophic errors

Sooner or later, we all make painting mistakes. If you don’t know how to repair a mistake, your painting will be compromised. We will teach you several ways to repair a mistake, so you will always choose the correct one for your painting.

08

Transferring your image to the painting

There are 5 ways to maintain your proportions when transferring your photograph to the painting surface. Learn which ones are most effective.

09

Different types of shields and when to use them

The visual world contains a variety of edges. Some edges are soft, some are hard, and some are in between. You will learn many different useful techniques to create every type of edge.

10

Creating the Eye

The eye is the most important feature of the face, so we will take an in-depth look at why it appears as it does, and how to best render it. You will learn several different techniques to create lashes too as well as the “magic” paint formula for lashes and brow color.

11

When to use the bounce method

There are several ways to utilize a hand-held shield. Here you will learn to add subtle changes while using masks.

12

Tool introduction

We don’t limit your training to just the airbrush. There are many tools that complement the airbrush, and we want you to be able to enjoy having them in your arsenal. You will also learn the results for each tool, so you will know which tool is best for each situation.

13

3 eraser techniques that will make a difference in your art

The eraser is a versatile instrument, and when properly used, it can blend softly or cut like a knife. We will show you how to get the most out of your eraser.

14

Using the blade correctly

The blade can be a wonderful ally, but it will destroy your painting if you don’t use it correctly. Here we will show you exactly how to hold it, and how to use it on different surfaces.

15

How to make hair look real

There are 6 rules that must be followed when creating hair. We will show them all to you, as well as some extra tips for greater realism.

16

Frisket vs paper

Frisket can be one of the best tools for creating crisp edges, but it can also cause problems with your painting surface. Paper has its advantages and disadvantages as a mask too. You will learn all about both types.

17

Managing edges and transitions

The trickiest part of airbrushing is controlling edges. Adjusting existing edges is often necessary, but can be a bit tricky. We will teach you how to change the sharpness or softness of an edge, even after you’ve created it.

18

5 masking techniques that work

A mask can be used in a variety of ways. For example, you could use split paper/frisket techniques, shield reveal or shield conceal methods to create a line. You will learn which masks are best for any given situation.

19

How to create skin texture

Skin is a complex, translucent, and textured surface. We will show you several ways to quickly achieve photorealistic skin.

20

Buffered Contrast Reduction, and how to use it

Contrast, along with proportions, and edges, can make or break a painting. Controlling contrast is simple using Buffered Contrast Reduction. We will explain what it is and how to use it.

21

How to find and fix problems in your paintings

Sometimes you can’t see the forest for the trees, and often mistakes go unnoticed. We will show you a simple technique that allows you to quickly spot problem areas that you would have otherwise overlooked.

22

How to develop observation techniques to expand your visual discrimination

Its difficult to paint anything accurately until you can really see it. We will teach you how to visually dismantle an object, then reassemble it on the painting surface.

23

Selling your work

Learning about the business of art and marketing allows you as an artist to earn money for your creations. You will learn about pricing, galleries, copyright, prints, giclées, originals,  artist representatives, and most importantly, how to negotiate.

State of the Art Classroom
unlike any other on the planet

Color corrected lighting. Central Ventilation
On-site lodging on a 120-acre campus
nestled in a National Forest

What students are saying



I attended Dru's workshop with the hope of learning to paint, I left with the ability to "see" and a system that allowed me to develop my own understanding of painting and colours. Your system has given me the freedom to explore my own creativity.


Paul MacDonald

(Airvengers) Australia



Dru's teachings showed me how to create great detail and gave me the ability to achieve PHOTOREALISM in my artworks. Thank you for pioneering the world of photorealism in airbrushing, I doubt I would have got here without your long nights and many experiments.


David Naylor

Spain



Dru's workshop influenced the way I paint and gave me some new concepts, knowledge and skills to implement into the way I worked today I recommend it!


Mitch Lowther

(Airbrush tutor) Australia

Why should you take this class? Consider your options:

Option 1. You could give up on your dreams and continue doing what you are doing, but let's be frank. No one wants to spend the rest of their life wondering "what if?" You are here because you believe that you deserve to be a better artist than what you are now. You are not the kind of person who’s going to settle for mediocrity.

Option 2. You could try practicing on your own hoping to figure it all out someday. It's very difficult and time-consuming without all the shortcuts that we could show you, but its an excellent choice if you have all the time in the world.

Option 3. Enroll in this course and enjoy the benefits of step-by-step guided instruction. You get what you need without wasting years or possibly a lifetime of guessing. If you don’t have time to travel to our workshops, try our Classroom in a box series and learn from home.

Our
Guarantee

We are so sure that we offer the best airbrush course in the world that we are willing to offer you tuition money back if you don’t notice an immediate improvement in your art, and in the way you see color after taking this course.

Dru Blair on Fear and Art

Painting true to life portraits

You will learn a lot of techniques in your workshop, but the most valuable lesson gained is for you to better understand and see the world differently, especially when it comes to color.

We will give you the power to create or re-create reality with stunning true to life photorealism, and at a level no other airbrush workshop in the world offers. A photorealist painter can easily paint in any style, from abstract to impressionist, and even mimic the old masters' paintings. The choices are limitless.

As artists, we take our inspiration from the visual world around us and re-create it on board, metal, or canvas. At the Blair School, we would like to show you how to do it more successfully.

Just added to your cart:
Qty:
Total:
Subtotal:
Excl. postage 
My Bag
Just added to your wishlist:
Excl. postage 
My Wishlist