About Amelie and Her Lessons
Wondering if you can learn from my lessons? Watch this intro video to see my background, step-by-step process, and how to get the most out of each lesson.
Teachers: There's a special segment at the end just for you!
Why Students Love Our Lessons
Designed with students in mind, our lessons are structured, easy to follow, and use affordable materials you can find anywhere.
Self-Paced Learning
Learn at your own speed with detailed video lessons you can watch anytime, anywhere.
Beginner Friendly
No prior experience needed. Each lesson builds on the previous one, step by step.
Award-Winning Method
My students have won hundreds of state fair awards using these exact techniques.
Explore Lessons by Topic
From basic shapes to advanced portraits, discover the perfect lesson for your skill level.
Basics & Foundations
Shading a Sphere: Creating a Softball
Learn light source, values, gradients, contrast, blending and control of paint. A layered intro lesson where we create a 3D sphere form.
Two Point Perspective Cube: Creating a Suitcase
Master 2-point perspective by transforming a cube into a suitcase. Learn painting techniques, building values, and light source.
Cone and Sphere: Painting an Ice Cream Cone
Combine basic shapes to create form. Learn accuracy, values, light source, and realistic shading techniques.
Cylinder to Milk Jug: Inspired by La Lechera
Learn cylinder basics while exploring Spanish culture. Focus on light source, full values, gradients, and viewpoint.
Line & Painting Techniques
Easy Introduction to Painting Lines
Master holding your paintbrush and creating consistent lines. Learn the first step to painting neatly with black lines and color.
Paint Line Within a Cube & Add an Eye & Mouth
Master painting lines within a 3-point cube form. Combine line, basic shapes, perspective, and portraits in one layered lesson.
Two Point Perspective: Review & Intro to Three Point
Refresh 1-point perspective, master 2-point step-by-step, and get introduced to 3-point perspective with vocabulary.
Color Theory & Mixing
Mixing Paint for Sky
Quick video showing how to easily create realistic skies that aren't too muddy, dark, or over-saturated. Perfect blue sky techniques!
Introduction to Color Wheel & Mixing Paint
Learn the color wheel, mix primary colors to create secondary colors, and understand complementary colors. Fun and relaxed!
Mixing Paint for Beautiful Realistic Skin Tones
Create any skin tone from Fitzpatrick scale 1-6 using just primary colors plus black and white. Essential for portrait work!
Mixing Paint for Realistic Landscapes & Neutral Colors
Mix paint for any landscape color from primary colors and discover the secret to creating neutral colors!
Portrait Painting
Preparation and Starting a Portrait Painting
Learn how to select the right image, understand head structure, and use simple shortcuts. Perfect for beginners with no experience needed!
Blonde Male Intro to Painting Portraits
Complete portrait demonstration for lighter complexion and hair. Step-by-step video you can paint along with.
Male Brown Hair With Facial Hair and Dramatic Lighting
Detailed lesson on dramatic lighting and facial hair. Layer skin values to achieve realistic portraits with natural lighting.
Portrait Female Dark Hair: Less Detail
Simple lighting and hair make this an easier portrait. Perfect for practicing color mixtures for brunette skin tones.
Asian Female Portrait: Elegant with Easy Hair
Simple lighting and hair with step-by-step color mixing for Asian skin tones. Great for beginners!
Completing a Portrait
Final touches! Paint the shirt, background, and finalize the skin and face to complete your portrait masterpiece.
Sky & Water
Water & Sky
Simple formula for water paintings you can create over and over! Keep water horizontal, identify light source, and create gratifying landscapes quickly.
Sunset Water & Sky - Adding Intensity
Take your water paintings further with warm-toned sunsets, more layers, color saturation, and rolling waves. Learn to blend colors for glowing skies.
Landscape Painting
California Central Coast Landscape
Deep dive into composition! Learn about leading lines, rule of thirds, and color palette while maintaining perspective.
Landscape with Winter Trees
Learn composition, viewpoint, rule of thirds, and repetition of form. Create fail-proof trees and simple, delightful winter scenes.
Caribbean Tropical Landscape With Mountains
Create tropical foliage and mountains using atmospheric perspective. Learn depth, contrast, and interesting composition.
Baja Flat Brush Landscape
Master controlling paint with a flat brush! Paint mountains using atmospheric perspective with palm trees and warm tones.
Pine Trees Mountain and Water
Easy recipes for pine trees, water, and mountains! Learn atmospheric perspective, viewpoint, and color blending techniques for Lake Tahoe scenes.
Color Landscapes: Focus on Silhouette & Form
Create 4 quick vibrant landscapes using time-saving techniques. Focus on value, form, color scheme, and composition with paper towels and sponges!
What You'll Learn
Portrait painting - eyes, faces, and full figures
Landscape techniques - skies, water, and nature
Color theory and mixing
Shading and depth creation
Perspective and composition
Different painting styles and techniques
Affordable Materials
All lessons use inexpensive, student-level materials that you can find at any art supply store. You don't need expensive supplies to create beautiful art!
"Art is just like making lasagna! We do each step at a time and complete our recipe. Are you ready to make some art?"
— Amelie Rider