Paint Modern Colourful Acrylic Portraits — With My 9-Step Method
Learn from home with a beginner-friendly online video course that breaks portrait painting into simple stages you can follow at your own pace, helping you create striking portraits quickly and confidently.
✓ Bold colourful portrait style
✓ Simple 9-step painting method
✓ Paint from any reference photo
✓ No drawing experience required
17 Video Lessons • 4+ Hours • Lifetime Access
£39.99
was £79.9950% OFF • Limited Time
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You’ll learn a simple, beginner-friendly method for painting modern colourful portraits in acrylics.
Inside the course:
✓ Follow a clear, repeatable 9-step method
✓ Learn how to turn any reference photo into a modern portrait
✓ Build your painting gradually with easy-to-follow stages
✓ Understand colour mixing, values and composition
✓ Learn simple blocking and blending techniques
✓ Discover how to work confidently with fast-drying acrylic paint
✓ Use accessible materials without needing a large studio
✓ Develop a process you can repeat for future portraits
Included Free:
✓ Access to private student community
✓ Cheat sheet with my 9‑stage process (easy one‑page reference you can use anytime)
✓ Full support
✓ Lifetime access to course videos
Watch the course trailer.
A short overview of the course, including the 9-step method, the style you’ll learn, and how to create bold, colourful portraits from your own photos.
Course information:
- 17 video lessons (4hrs)
- Videos available to stream on all devices.
- Downloadable pack (inc materials list, reference photo, grid method guide & cheat sheet guide with 9 steps to use on any reference you choose).
- Online and at your own pace.
- Audio: English
- Level: Beginner to advanced
- Unlimited access.
- Direct support
Course summary:
Section 1 - Foundations & Preparation
- Welcome and course introduction
- Overview of recommended acrylic painting materials
- Selecting your reference photo and understanding values (with a guided exercise), planning and composing your portrait
- Choosing a colour palette and mixing paints
- The grid method for proportion accuracy
- Sketching the image to map key features
- Preparing and pre-mixing your paints
Section 2 - Step-by-Step Painting Process
- Nine in-depth, fully narrated lessons taking you through each stage of the oil painting.
- See the portrait develop from start to finish.
- Learn the specific brushwork, blending, and colour mixing techniques used in real time
Materials you will need:
- Canvas or board to paint on.
- Easel
- Flat brushes 1inch, .5inch & .25inch
- Acrylic paints (my colour palette available in course material)
- Pallet (plastic or paper)
- Slow drying medium (optional)
- Gesso (optional)
- Masking tape
- Kitchen roll
Frequently asked questions
Where do I watch the course videos?
After purchase, you’ll receive an email with a link to create your course account (using the same email you purchased with). Once you log in, you’ll have instant access to all the video lessons inside your personal course dashboard. You can watch them anytime, at your own pace, from any device.
I’m a beginner, will this be suitable for me?
Yes, this easy acrylic portrait painting course is designed to go through everything a beginner needs to know to get started. I'm confident this online workshop will work for you.
Is the course refundable?
Yes, I offer a 14-day no-quibble money-back guarantee. For refunds, contact: support@mattmurphyart.co.uk
Can I do the course at my own pace?
Yes, absolutely take as much time as you want in the comfort of your own home in your own free time.
What language is the course in, and are there subtitles in other languages?
The audio is in English. At this stage, there are no other language subtitles.
Will the content work on all devices?
Yes the videos will play on all smartphones,tablets and computers.
Can I download the videos?
The videos are available to stream only.
Can I repeat this process on other reference photos?
Yes, I’ve designed the course so you can follow the nine stages on pretty much any reference photo.
How long will I have access to the course?
You can enjoy Unlimited lifetime access.
Will the materials needed cost much money to buy?
There will be a small outlay for the materials but not too much. If you are a beginer you can start with cheaper oils paints and canvases.
Are the materials easy to get hold of?
Yes, all art stores will provide everything you need.
How do I receive the download pack with course material?
The course material is available in your account as a download link.
How do I access the private student community?
This accessible via a link in your account.
Discover my 9-Step Method
Clear. Repeatable. Fast. Beginner-Friendly.
Inside the course - 'We go through each step together in real time'.
BONUS INCLUDED:
When you join the course, you’ll also receive a one-page PDF Cheat Sheet that walks you through the full 9-Step Method — perfect to keep beside you while painting any portrait.
Why This Course Is Different.
This Modern Style Course
Fast non-traditional approach
Loose, modern, and intuitive style
Simple 9‑step process anyone can follow
Straightforward easy approach
Uses affordable, streamlined tools.
Traditional Acrylic Course
Slow traditional & dull
Academic, rigid styles
Requires technical training
Messy and complicated process
Relies on expensive tools and materials.
Private student community
When you join the course, you’ll also get access to a private student community where you can share your work, ask questions, and stay motivated.
Inside the community you can:
– Share unfinished work
– Get feedback
– See how others are progressing
– Stay consistent
Lifetime access
View the course videos on any device. Follow along and watch your portrait come to life. You'll be amazed at what you can achieve in a day.
Course Overview
Learn Modern Colourful Acrylic Portraits
This beginner-friendly course introduces my modern, non-traditional approach to acrylic portrait painting, with a focus on bold colour, expressive brushwork and creating striking results without complicated techniques.
Acrylics are an accessible and versatile medium, making them ideal for anyone who wants to explore portrait painting without the long drying times or more complex setup associated with oils.
Using my clear nine-stage framework, you’ll learn how to turn a reference photo into a colourful, contemporary portrait while keeping the process structured, manageable and enjoyable.
We’ll begin with the essential setup, including the materials I use, how to choose a suitable reference photo and how to prepare your painting surface. You’ll then explore colour choices, simplified values and composition, helping you make confident decisions before you begin painting.
I’ll show you how to transfer your reference using the grid method before guiding you through a complete real-time portrait demonstration, with every stage clearly narrated and explained as I work.
Throughout the demonstration, you’ll learn how to build the portrait using bold shapes, layered colour and expressive marks. The nine-stage method gives you enough structure to stay on track while still allowing room for creativity and your own individual style.
Each step is broken down clearly from start to finish, giving you a repeatable process that you can use with your own reference photos and future acrylic portraits.
You’ll also receive a FREE printable Cheat Sheet, so you can keep the nine stages beside you while you paint.
By the end of the course, you’ll understand how to simplify a reference, mix and layer colour, create confident brushwork and bring a modern acrylic portrait together step by step.
Most importantly, you’ll discover that portrait painting can be approachable, creative and enjoyable—even without previous drawing or painting experience.
The Artist
Matt Murphy (b. Brighton, UK, 1977) is a professional artist specialising in both watercolours and oils. He is best known for his unique abstract portraits, created through a modern, non‑traditional approach.
With decades of experience, Matt has exhibited in London and across the UK, and his work has been featured in art magazines and podcasts. He has also completed commissions for clients around the world.
Driven by a lifelong passion for painting, Matt is dedicated to sharing his knowledge and methods so that others can discover the joy of creating art for themselves.
To see his latest work and behind‑the‑scenes process, you can follow him on Instagram.
Join today and learn a repeatable method that can create portraits like this.