Introducing Procreate Portrait Painting

An Online Workshop
with Marla Baggetta

Whether you’re new to digital art or an experienced artist, this course guides you through the essentials of creating captivating portraits using Procreate on your iPad. Learn foundational Procreate tools, master the Loomis method for head construction, and understand proportions to bring your portraits to life. Explore sketching techniques, study the works of master artists, and develop your unique artistic style.

By the end of the course, you’ll have the skills to create lifelike portraits that capture not just the face, but the essence of your subjects. Plus, you’ll join an exclusive artist community to share your work and gain feedback.

Don’t let doubt hold you back—enroll today and start your artistic journey!

Over 9.5 Hours of Video

We have worked hard to bring you high quality instructional videos that provides easy to follow, clear and detailed instruction. You’ll have lifetime access to all the videos enabling you work at your own pace in the comfort of your own home from any device for a seamless and modern online experience.

Beautifully Illustrated PDF

Our 150+ page detailed coursework presents you with an illustrated guide to materials, theory and wisdom from an expert instructor and professional artist covering everything you need to get started with Procreate Portrait Painting. Divided into 11 highly structured chapters, Marla will guide you through all of the necessary groundwork, reinforced with exciting exercises and step-by-step demonstrations, providing you a roadmap to becoming an accomplished digital artist.

Private Facebook Community

You’ll also have access to a private Facebook group where you can share your progress, ask questions of Marla and a community of your fellow students who are also taking the course to keep you motivated and inspired along the way.

Course Contents

Each chapter focuses on a Study or a Step By Step Demo

Chapter 1:
Introduction

In Chapter 1 of this workshop, you’ll be introduced to the exciting combination of Procreate and portrait painting. Marla Baggetta, with over 35 years of experience, guides you through the basics of Procreate, covering essential techniques for creating lifelike portraits. You’ll learn about face construction, proportions, and adding creative elements to your work. The workshop emphasizes practice, patience, and embracing mistakes as part of the artistic process. By the end, you’ll have a strong foundation in portrait painting and access to a supportive artist community for continued growth.

Chapter 2:
Inspiration

In Chapter 2, you’ll focus on building inspiration through the creation of a mood board, a foundational step for any artist. Whether it’s physical or digital, your mood board will pull from a variety of sources such as art history, vintage magazines, and online platforms like Pinterest and Unsplash. You’ll explore a broad range of artistic styles, from classical to contemporary, and draw inspiration from masters like John Singer Sargent, Egon Schiele, and Mary Cassatt. This chapter encourages you to explore different art forms and integrate these influences into your own unique creative voice.

Chapter 3:
How to Study + Learn

In Chapter 3, you’ll learn how to study and develop portrait painting skills effectively by applying proven learning techniques. This chapter emphasizes structured, consistent practice methods such as tracing Loomis models, constructing from ball and plane, copying masterworks, and drawing from memory and references. You’ll explore the science of learning, including spaced repetition and optimal session lengths to help commit skills to long-term memory. Through these techniques, combined with reliable artistic resources, you’ll develop a deep and well-rounded understanding of head drawing and portrait painting.

Chapter 4:
Using Procreate

Chapter 4 focuses on setting up your iPad and getting comfortable with Procreate’s interface. You’ll start by configuring your iPad settings, adjusting tools like the Apple Pencil, and considering the ergonomics of your workspace. Once in Procreate, you’ll explore the various tools, from brushes and layers to color selection and customization options. The chapter covers essential gestures for efficient navigation and emphasizes understanding Procreate’s menus, like the top-right painting tools and top-left adjustment features. You’ll learn to create canvases, work with layers, and use Procreate’s powerful brush and color options to enhance your portrait painting. Through hands-on exploration, you’ll build a solid foundation for working efficiently within the Procreate app.

Chapter 5:
Let's Draw

In Chapter 5, it’s time to dive into drawing with Procreate. You’ll begin by creating a simple baseline sketch using your current skills, with no pressure for perfection. The goal is to get familiar with Procreate’s interface while drawing from a reference image. By layering, measuring proportions, and using different tools like the Studio Pen and Procreate Pencil, you’ll establish the basic structure of a head. This baseline sketch will serve as a starting point to compare your progress after practice.

Chapter 6:
Construction Methods

Chapter 6 delves into the magic of creating the illusion of three-dimensional forms on a two-dimensional surface. You’ll explore three key approaches to head construction: the Oval, the Block, and the Loomis Ball + Plane method, which is a game changer for many artists. This chapter emphasizes the importance of discipline and play, encouraging you to practice until these methods become second nature. The Loomis method, with its foundational “T” shape and understanding of proportions, is central to creating lifelike portraits. By practicing these techniques and visualizing the head in 3D, you’ll develop a solid, reliable foundation for head drawing, while also learning to balance form, expression, and structure.

Chapter 7:
Drawing Exercises

Chapter 7 introduces key drawing exercises to strengthen your understanding of head construction. You’ll start by tracing heads from the Loomis method, a foundational exercise to help you internalize the “ball and plane” technique. By tracing and focusing on the “T” formation for the brow and facial centerline, you’re not just copying—you’re committing essential principles to memory through repetition. After tracing, you’ll move on to constructing heads from divided balls, adding facial planes and features from memory. These exercises, like scales for a musician, are designed to build muscle memory and improve your skills with practice and patience.

Chapter 8:
Studying the Head

In Chapter 8, you’ll explore the critical aspect of proportions in head drawing, using tools like Procreate to measure and compare features accurately. Starting with dividing the head into thirds—hairline to brow, brow to nose, and nose to chin—you’ll learn to position facial features in relation to one another. This chapter also emphasizes understanding the planes of the head and how light affects them, encouraging you to practice with your own face in a mirror. You’ll study each facial feature—eyes, nose, mouth, and ears—in detail, focusing on their structure, placement, and expressive power. By integrating these elements, you’ll develop a strong sense of proportion and a more instinctive ability to create lifelike, expressive portraits.

Chapter 9:
Professional Sketches

In Chapter 9, you’ll learn how to create dynamic and confident sketches by focusing less on perfect accuracy and more on fluidity and expression. Beginners often draw slowly, aiming for precision, which can result in stiff, crooked lines due to constant hand corrections. Professional sketches, however, often feature multiple lines layered together, allowing the brain to perceive the “perfect” line between them. This technique adds energy and confidence to your work. You’ll also explore “artifacting,” where intentional remnants of construction lines or added texture create movement and looseness in the drawing. With Procreate’s versatile layers and brushes, you’ll experiment with different sketching techniques to develop a style that feels lively and professional, while avoiding excessive messiness or over-complication.

Chapter 10:
Studying Masterworks

In Chapter 10, you’ll enhance your skills by copying a Sargent charcoal drawing using the Loomis method to build structure and refine details through layers in Procreate. This exercise will deepen your understanding of proportion, texture, and tonal variation. Additionally, you’ll compare two iconic portraits: Ingres’ Madame Leblanc, which emphasizes elegance and technical precision, and Renoir’s Madame Renoir, which captures the warmth and soul of the subject. This chapter illustrates how true mastery in portraiture goes beyond accuracy, focusing on the energy and emotion conveyed through the artwork.

Chapter 11:
Wrapping Up

In Chapter 11, it’s time to apply everything you’ve learned in one final project. Let go of perfection and focus on creativity, responding to your reference with playfulness and confidence. Complete the entire process without skipping steps, and allow your unique style to shine through. I’ve also provided a list of valuable resources to continue your learning journey. Thank you for your enthusiasm and dedication throughout this course. Stay connected with the community, and keep sharing your progress—I look forward to seeing where your artistic journey takes you!

Procreate Portrait Painting $132!

24/7/365 Lifetime COURSE aCCESS

Get started with Procreate Portrait Painting in this incredible Online Workshop!

Beautifully Designed Ebook

150+ pages of in-depth content

In Depth Theory and Guidance

Marla isolates the complex principles of digital painting and investigates them practically and simply so any student can comprehend and execute even the most difficult problems. Moving from simple to more involved concepts, each lesson builds on the previous so you’ll gain a sound foundation to further your study and practice of painting.

Step by Step Guided Demonstrations

Marla guides you through the time-tested fundamentals step by step, stroke by stroke from the very beginning stages to the finish line in a logical and enjoyable path. Marla stresses the need to develop your own judgement and individual voice as an artist.

A Lifetime of Artist Experience
At Your Fingertips

Over 30 years as a professional artist and teacher

Stunning Artwork, Photographs and Illustration

Following Marla's Instruction is a Pleasure and A Breeze
thanks to Creative and Beautiful Design

Marl a Has Thousands of Satisfied Students

What people say?

I was both stimulated and excited at the prospect of taking on a totally new medium. I adored the class work and the interaction with other students. I hope to take another class soon and I feel I have learned a great deal in”mark making” and with a new medium upon which to play. Thanks, Marla!

Donna

Santa Fe

I have been so impressed with your online painting lessons. You put so much work into presenting the concepts clearly with your teaching, examples, and demos. There is so much content on your site and I’m still scratching the surface of your offerings but I feel that every exercise you suggest helps me grow in depth and breadth. Thank you for your commitment (and perfectionism) to giving us the best learning experience.

Francesca

Montana

World Class Video Instruction

Like having a teacher at the easel with you, no matter where you are

Fun and Easeful Instruction

With a lifetime of experience as an artist and educator, Marla brings an unparalleled combination of joy and wisdom directly to your home. We have worked hard to offer beautiful and clear video instruction, providing valuable education and insight, that will keep you inspired for months and even years.

Up Close and Personal on the IPad

Following along while learning has never been easier! The demonstration view shows the progress of each painting, the reference photo and thumbnail when appropriate, so you get to see how each piece is built from start to finish. Marla narrates her progress in real time as she is painting, so you won’t miss a thing!

Procreate Portrait Painting!

24/7/365 COURSE ACCESS

Master Procreate Portrait Painting l in this incredible Online Workshop!

Frequently Asked Questions

Will It Work On Any Device?

You need to log into the site to participate in the workshop so you will need an internet connection. Workshops and Subscriptions are accessible on iPads, tablets, computers, laptops and even phones – any device you can watch access the web on.

If you have any problems with playing a video or hearing a video, try these steps:

1) Check your internet connection and reset your internet connection if necessary.

2) Clear your browser cache and history.

2) Update your browser, or try another browser (like Chrome, Firefox or Internet Explorer).

Will You Help Me If I Can't Get It Working?

Sure, you can open a support ticket and we’ll help you right away. Just Email Suport and we will reply within 24 hours! If we don’t know the answer to your question, we’ll ask Marla and she’ll reply as quickly as she can.

Do I Need To Meet Marla Online At A Certain Time? What Happens If I Don't Finish In Time?

The workshop assignments are online accessible 24×7 – you can take the lessons any time you want. You are not required to complete the course in a specified amount of time. You get access to all the assignments in the workshop at once in a secure member’s area on PaintingLessonsWithMarla.com

When you register for the workshop, you’ll get a Student Account which gives you access to the My Courses area on the PaintingLessonsWithMarla.com website. Your Student Account will allow you take lessons and complete assignments any time you want.

You get lifetime access to the workshop and lessons you pay for so you can finish your painting any time. It’s fun to keep up with your fellow artists and see how they are doing too but you can stop and come back to it any time, 24×7. Assignment reminders are sent via email but you can complete them at your own pace – no problem at all!

100% Digital Online Course

Works With All Devices

24/7 Access No Matter Where You Are

Easy To Follow

Our Site has been carefully designed to be easy to follow. Our simple learning system tracks your progress and takes out the hassle, allowing you to focus on panting!