CLASS IS OPEN!
{ LIFETIME ACCESS & DOWNLOADABLE VIDEOS }
***
These three classes are also available on streaming in Drawing Magic Circle – read more here
Unlocks access to hundreds of courses and my private members community
A Look Inside the Three Portrait Projects
In this course, you’ll be guided through three unique portrait drawings, each offering a different way of approaching the face in graphite. From loose and intuitive sketching, to a relaxed one-sitting portrait, to a more slowly developed study of light and shadow, each project builds on the last—helping you grow your skills while keeping the process calm and enjoyable.
Together, these three portraits create a balanced and inspiring journey, where you’ll explore expression, depth, and technique—while discovering your own natural way of drawing.
Greetings from Frida
Projects: 1 // Videos: 3 // Time: 1 h 41 mins
A Gentle Portrait Sketching Session in Graphite
Portrait sketching has always been one of my greatest loves. The human face is endlessly fascinating — not only because of its beauty, but because it carries so much life, character, and quiet mystery within it. In this lesson, Greetings from Frida, I invite you to sit down with me for a gentle portrait sketching session in graphite, where we approach the face not with pressure for perfection, but with curiosity, openness, and a spirit of exploration.
Letting the Portrait Emerge
In the lesson, we begin in a very relaxed way, tapping into the overall form of the head and shoulders. Nothing is forced. We are simply looking, responding, and letting the drawing take shape. One of the most valuable skills in portrait drawing is learning to trust this early stage — allowing the forms to settle naturally before becoming too concerned with details.
Sculpting the Face with Line and Light
In this session, you will see how a portrait can grow organically through a simple, intuitive process. We begin with loose construction, move into expressive line work, and gradually sculpt the face with soft graphite values. The eyes, the nose, the mouth — each feature receives attention, but always in service of the whole.
Rather than chasing perfection, we are looking for presence. A portrait that feels alive.
As we work deeper into the drawing, you’ll see how graphite can be used with great subtlety:
- Building soft layers of tone to gently model the structure of the face
- Using contrast between dark and light to bring clarity and focus to the portrait
- Allowing some roughness to remain so the drawing keeps its energy and freshness
- Using erasers as drawing tools to sculpt light and reveal form
Relaxing into the Drawing Process
And just as importantly, this lesson is an invitation to relax into the process of drawing.
Many artists feel a great deal of pressure when they draw faces. The fear of “getting it wrong” can easily creep in. But portrait sketching doesn’t have to be rigid or intimidating. When we approach it with a lighter touch — allowing observation, intuition, and patience to guide us — the experience becomes far more enjoyable and surprisingly liberating.
Returning to the Page
By the end of this session, you’ll have seen how a portrait can develop from the simplest beginnings into a finished graphite sketch full of character and life. More than anything, I hope this lesson encourages you to trust your own hand, enjoy the process, and keep refining your drawing practice one sketch at a time.
Because drawing is not about getting everything right on the first attempt.
It’s about returning to the page again and again — observing, exploring, and slowly building your confidence.
So settle in, gather your pencil and paper, and join me for this quiet portrait session.
Let’s say a gentle hello to Frida — and start drawing.
Hat Full of Stars
Projects: 1 // Videos: 3 // Time: 3 h 06 mins
In this session, we’ll draw a loose and expressive portrait, focusing on rendering rich and deep skin tones in graphite while capturing a soft, dreamy gaze. This is a gentle and playful approach to portrait drawing—where the process is just as important as the final result.
A Relaxed Portrait Session
Welcome to Hat Full of Stars, a calm and inspiring drawing session where you’re invited to let go of pressure and simply enjoy the act of sketching.
This lesson is designed as a one-sitting portrait experience, allowing you to complete a full drawing in a relaxed and flowing way. Rather than building the portrait through many layers, we work more freely—responding to what we see and allowing the drawing to unfold naturally.
There’s a lightness in this process. A sense of ease. And space to enjoy each mark as it appears on the paper.
Capturing Softness and Atmosphere
In this portrait, we focus on capturing a gentle, dreamy expression and the quiet magic of the star-filled atmosphere.
You’ll explore how small shifts in tone can suggest softness in the face, and how subtle details can enhance the emotional quality of the drawing. The goal is not perfection, but presence—allowing the portrait to feel alive through simplicity and sensitivity.
Working with Skin Tones in Graphite
On the technical side, this lesson offers a beautiful introduction to rendering rich and deep skin tones using graphite.
You’ll learn how to build smooth tonal transitions, creating depth without overworking the surface. Through blending and controlled smudging, we develop a sense of volume and softness, while still keeping the drawing fresh and expressive.
Light and shadow play an important role here, helping you bring clarity and richness into the portrait with relatively simple means.
Letting the Drawing Flow
One of the key aspects of this lesson is embracing a loose and relaxed approach.
Instead of tightening up too early, you’ll be encouraged to stay open and responsive—allowing the drawing to develop organically. This helps you finish your portrait within one session, while also building confidence in your ability to trust your hand and your eye.
Key Learning Points
- Create a portrait focusing on soft and dreamy expressions.
- Render rich and deep skin tones, learning how to work with graphite to enhance tonal range.
- Explore blending and smudging techniques to create smooth transitions and depth.
- Master light and shadow to add richness and dimension to your portrait.
- Embrace a loose, relaxed approach to drawing, finishing your portrait in one sitting.
- Add expressive details and textures that bring your portrait to life with emotional impact.
Drawing Beautiful Portraiture
CLASS IS OPEN!
{ LIFETIME ACCESS & DOWNLOADABLE VIDEOS }
***
These three classes are also available on streaming in Drawing Magic Circle – read more here
Unlocks access to hundreds of courses and my private members community
Girl with a Fur Hat
Projects: 1 // Videos: 8 // Time: 7 h 15 mins
Step into the soft, silvery world of graphite and bring this atmospheric portrait to life—layer by layer, stroke by stroke. In this masterclass, you’ll learn how to sculpt light and shadow with delicate shading, precision erasing, and expressive textures, capturing both depth and emotion in every mark.
A Portrait of Light and Shadow
There’s something truly magical about working in graphite, where light and shadow dance together to create depth and emotion. In this masterclass, we bring to life the Girl with a Fur Hat, a portrait filled with softness, contrast, and a sense of atmosphere. Through delicate shading and expressive highlights, we explore how subtle tonal shifts can shape not just a face, but a feeling—one that draws the viewer into a quiet, wintry world.
Building Depth, One Layer at a Time
We begin with soft layers, gradually building midtones before deepening the shadows that define her features. Smudging techniques help create velvety transitions, while careful hatching preserves texture and form. Throughout the process, we balance control and intuition—allowing the drawing to evolve naturally while keeping key structures in place. Using a combination of pencils, erasers, and blending tools, we carve out details, enhancing the contrast between light and dark to create a rich, dimensional effect.
The Magic is in the Final Touches
The final refinements bring the portrait to life: the crisp highlights along her fur hat, the delicate details in her features, and the interplay of light within the soft textures. A key part of this stage is knowing when to push further and when to stop—trusting the process even when it feels uncertain. This lesson is not just about technique but about feeling the drawing unfold, embracing the quiet rhythm of mark-making, and discovering how subtle adjustments can transform the overall expression.
What you´ll learn:
- Creating soft, atmospheric shading – Build up delicate layers of graphite to achieve a velvety, dimensional effect.
- Balancing light and shadow – Use midtones as a foundation before deepening darks and refining highlights.
- Smudging vs. hatching – Learn when to blend for softness and when to hatch for texture and structure.
- Using erasers as drawing tools – Carve out highlights and fur textures with precision erasing techniques.
- Enhancing depth with contrast – Strengthen key shadow areas to make the portrait feel more lifelike.
- The importance of patience in layering – Allow the drawing to evolve naturally, refining details as you go.
- Capturing a sense of expression – Focus on subtle tonal shifts to create emotion and presence in the portrait.
- Knowing when to stop – Develop an intuitive feel for when a drawing is finished without overworking it.
WHO IS THIS CLASS FOR?
This course is for anyone who feels drawn to the human face—the quiet mystery, the softness of expression, and the subtle stories that live within a portrait. Whether you’re just beginning your journey with drawing, returning after a long pause, or already have experience but long for a more relaxed and intuitive approach, these lessons will meet you with calm guidance and a sense of ease.
Across the three sessions, you’ll explore graphite as a deeply expressive medium—learning how to sketch loosely, build structure through observation, and develop depth through light, shadow, and tonal layering. You’ll be guided through different ways of approaching portrait drawing, from quick, flowing sketches to more slowly developed, atmospheric studies.
If you’ve ever felt that portraits are difficult to “get right,” or found yourself overthinking proportions and details, this course offers a gentler way in. You’ll learn how to simplify what you see, trust your eye, and allow the drawing to evolve step by step—without pressure for perfection.
If you love expressive linework, soft shading, and the quiet rhythm of drawing, this course invites you to slow down, settle in, and reconnect with the simple, grounding joy of bringing a face to life on paper.
Supply List
Materials
You don’t need many materials to begin—just a few simple tools and a willingness to explore. Throughout the course, I’ll be working with some of my favourite graphite supplies, but you’re very welcome to adapt with what you already have at home.
This course is designed to be accessible, and the focus is always on how you use your materials—not having the exact same ones.
You’ll need:
Paper
- Drawing paper or a sketchbook suitable for graphite
- (Optional) Heavier paper for more layered shading
Graphite pencils
- A 2B pencil is a great starting point
- (Optional) A harder pencil like HB or H for lighter construction lines
- (Optional) Softer pencils for deeper shadows
Blending tools
- Soft brushes (such as makeup brushes or mop brushes) for smooth shading
Erasers
- A kneaded eraser for lifting soft highlights
- A precision eraser (like a Tombow Mono Zero or similar) for fine details
Additional tools (optional)
- A ruler or simple measuring tool
- A small brush for gently removing graphite dust
Reference
- A printed reference photo or one displayed on your phone or tablet
You’re encouraged to keep things simple and flexible. As you move through the lessons, you’ll naturally discover which tools you enjoy most—and how to use them to create softness, depth, and expression in your portraits.
