In this beginner-friendly online video course, I’ll guide you through my painting process from start to finish. Follow along at your own pace, discover how to use vibrant colours and expressive brushstrokes, and build the confidence to create striking oil portraits you’ll be proud of.
17 Video Lessons • 4+ Hours • Lifetime Access
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.
Portraits painted by students using the 9-step method.
Oil painting doesn’t need to be complicated.
I’ve simplified my professional process into a clear, beginner-friendly method you can use again and again, so you can build colourful portraits without rigid rules or heavy theory.
Inside the course, we paint together in real time, one stage at a time.
This course builds on my modern, non-traditional approach to oil portraiture, with a stronger focus on bold colour, expressive mark-making and creative freedom.
If your oil paintings have ever felt too safe, too muted or too controlled, this course will help you loosen up and push your work further. Using the same simple nine-stage framework I teach across my oil courses, you’ll create more vibrant, confident, semi-abstract portraits without losing structure or clarity.
We start with the setup: materials, choosing a reference that suits bold colour, and preparing your canvas. Then I transfer the reference with the grid method and paint a full real-time portrait, narrated in detail as I go.
By the end, you’ll have the confidence to trust your instincts, use colour more fearlessly and develop a stronger personal style in oils.
17 video lessons, 4+ hours in total. These are the main stages you paint through.
Matt Murphy (b. Brighton, UK, 1977) is a professional artist specialising in watercolours, oils and acrylics. 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 been a judge for Sussex Portrait Artist of the Year and has 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.
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.
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.
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.
14-day full money-back guarantee, no questions asked.
Use the same email address you bought the course with.
Click the link in the activation email we send you.
Sign in with your email and password, and your lessons are ready.
Course information:
Course summary:
Section 1 - Foundations & Preparation
- Welcome and course introduction
- Overview of recommended oil 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
- Adding guide lines 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:
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 oil 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.
I really enjoyed painting along with the video and mixing colors together. I love Matt’s style/ technique and was able to duplicate it through his teaching. It was a fun way to step out of my normal painting style and get creative. I recommend it!
Thank you I'm glad you enjoyed it! Matt
What a fun way to create portraits! So expressive and colorful. Just what I needed to evolve my art.
I really loved this class. Matt Murphy was easy to follow and was helpful with all the tips and tricks I needed to take the class. A great online class for beginners and experience artist to learn oil and uses of color and contrast.
Thank you Stephanie for the review I’m glad you got so much from it!
Excellent. Thank you. Very helpful.
Thanks Cynthia I'm glad you enjoyed it!
I loved Matt’s courses. I learned so much about simplifying my process around using values, and also about blending. Thank you so much, Matt!
Great to hear glad you enjoyed it! Matt :)
Trying to simplify. Or at least Trying to make work that looks simplified but works. Really enjoyed this course and would recommend it. (I'd get more from pigment codes rather than colour titles though but sure that's just a bit of homework) Still 5*
Thank you Kate glad you enjoyed it! (I will look at putting the pigment codes in the materials list!)
Great course! Easy to understand and quite thorough without bogging me down with too much info. Highly recommend!!
Thanks Jeff glad the course was helpful for you!
I learned a lot from Matt's Modern Portraits course. It really moved me out of my stuck way of dong things into a new direction. I highly recommend taking it if you are looking for a new way of interpreting and approaching painting portraits. Thanks!
Thanks Nadine I'm glad the course helped you see painting in a new way! Matt :)
Really learned a lot and was super fun and easy to follow along.
Thanks Susan I'm pleased you enjoyed the course! Matt
