dripping with emotion

Class Description:
Get excited to jump into expressive portrait painting in this fun online workshop, where you’ll explore the beauty of drips, layers, and bold color at your own pace. Over the course of this self-guided program, we’ll focus on the importance of value and how to use color to tell a story that feels alive. I’ll share my signature drippy, loose approach to portraiture, allowing you to embrace the freedom of experimentation while letting the paint flow.

This workshop is designed for everyone—whether you’re new to portrait painting or looking to expand your skills. You’ll create four start-to-finish portraits, layering color and experimenting with both fluid and heavy-body acrylics. I encourage you to sketch your reference directly onto the canvas or use a projector (like I do) to trace your reference image. If you’re interested in a projector, I recommend the AcuRite Projector and connecting it to your iPhone with this adapter for a seamless experience.

Enjoy lifetime access to all lessons, allowing you to revisit techniques whenever inspiration strikes. You can move through the content at your own pace, making it easy to fit creativity into your schedule. Expect to get messy and have fun as you create expressive, unique portraits that truly reflect your personal style.

Let’s unleash your creativity, play with color, and bring some emotion into those drips. I can’t wait to see what you create!

Welcome!

I’m thrilled to have you join this creative journey in "Dripping with Emotion: Expressive Portraits in Motion." As we dive into the world of expressive portrait painting, prepare to embrace the unexpected and let your imagination run wild. Whether you’re a seasoned artist or just starting out, this workshop is designed to inspire and guide you through the exciting process of layering color, exploring value, and celebrating the beauty of your unique artistic voice.

Before we jump into painting, we’ll start by introducing the supplies you’ll be using throughout the workshop, ensuring you feel fully prepared and excited to create. So grab your materials, get comfortable, and let’s embark on this colorful adventure together! I can't wait to see the magic you create.

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Supplies

I’ll walk you through the materials, share my favorite tools, and give you some tips on how to get the best results. Whether these supplies are familiar or new to you, you’ll be all set to follow along and get creative. Let’s get everything ready so we can bring these portraits to life!

What You’ll Need to Gather:

• 4 canvases (20x20 or larger)

• Neocolor II crayons (a neutral color used to draw the portrait onto the canvas)

• Spray water bottle (trigger, not pump)

• Large and small brushes

• An old towel (because we will drip a lot)

• Fluid and/or heavy-body acrylics (bring the colors you love, but I often use Payne’s Gray, Burnt Sienna, Raw Umber, Quinacridone Magenta, Titan Mars Pale, Alizarin Crimson, Pyrrole Orange, and Titanium White)

• Paper towels

• Brush water bucket

• Easel

• Projector

• iPhone adapter

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Supplies

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"Her Path Beyond the Storm"

30x30

She stands unwavering in the aftermath, having weathered the storm. Her gaze is fixed ahead, resolute, unafraid. The rain once poured down, but now it runs off her like a distant memory; faint streaks of what she’s endured. In her face, you see the echoes of the struggle, but more than that, the promise of resilience.

This is her moment of breaking through, of standing tall despite the weight of the world. She doesn’t flinch. She is walking into her future, fierce and sure, reclaiming her story with every step. The storm was never meant to stop her, only to reveal her strength.

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"Her Path Beyond the Storm"

The process

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"Baptism of Self"

24x24

Under the soft cascade, the water whispers the conversations she wishes she could have, the ones that strip away the weight of unspoken thoughts. Each drop carries fragments of pain, blending with the tears that silently fall. As the water flows, it becomes a cleansing ritual, washing away the remnants of the past and making space for renewal. Here, she lets go, allowing the rush to cleanse her spirit. Emerging from this moment, she is lighter, free from the burden of what once was, ready to step forward with a sense of quiet strength and clarity.

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"Baptism of Self" • Part One

In my artistic process, destruction becomes an act of creation. I approach the canvas with a sense of freedom, covering up parts of the painting, deliberately painting outside the lines, and allowing the unexpected to emerge. This disruption of form adds layers of complexity, where what is hidden beneath the surface holds as much importance as what is revealed. By breaking through the confines of traditional portraiture, I encourage the viewer to see beyond the obvious, offering new perspectives through drips, smudges, and imperfect lines. These chaotic elements introduce a raw, emotional depth, transforming the piece into something more visceral and alive.

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"Baptism of Self" • Part Two

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"Between the Known and the Unseen"

24x24

Her gaze is searching, as if reaching beyond the veil of uncertainty, questioning the paths she’s taken and those yet unknown. In the depth of her eyes lies a restlessness that stirs her soul, an aching desire to find peace amidst the chaos. She is both tender and strong, her vulnerability worn like armor, and though she is a work in progress, she is unafraid to face the unanswered questions of life.

The delicate strokes and cascading drips of color reflect her journey, unfinished yet beautifully complex. As she reaches out for connection, seeking relief from the anxiety that gnaws at her, she reveals a quiet courage: the willingness to remain open even in the face of discomfort. She longs to soothe the inner turmoil, to find stillness amidst the noise, and to ease the ache that lingers in her heart. And so, she continues, one step at a time, towards understanding, towards peace.

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"Between the Known and the Unseen" • Part One

When I paint loose, there’s a liberating sense of spontaneity, where every brushstroke feels organic, unplanned, and flowing. The looseness allows the piece to breathe, capturing raw emotion and movement in broad, expressive strokes. It’s about embracing imperfection, letting the paint drip, blur, or bleed in ways that feel natural and unrestrained. On the other hand, painting tight involves a more controlled, deliberate approach. Each detail is carefully considered, with fine lines and precision guiding the composition. Tight painting focuses on accuracy and refinement, often leading to a polished, crisp final result. Balancing these two styles, loose and tight, adds tension and harmony to my work, allowing chaos and control to coexist on the canvas.

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"Between the Known and the Unseen" • Part Two

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"Fierce and Fragile"

20x20

There is an undeniable strength in her, even as she seems on the edge of exhaustion. Her green eyes, bright with life, seem to ask the viewer, “Do you see me?” She embodies the universal struggle of bearing one’s inner turmoil while appearing outwardly composed. The delicate layers of pink and red tones evoke the tension between softness and fierce determination, while the translucent washes hint at moments of weariness and surrender.

This is a woman who has not only survived but has allowed her experiences to shape her, embracing both her fragility and her power. The beauty in her is not in perfection but in the way she accepts her flaws, her journey, and her truth.

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"Fierce and Fragile" • Part One

Connecting emotionally to my work is essential for creating pieces that resonate deeply, both with myself and the viewer. Each stroke, color choice, and texture becomes an extension of my feelings, reflecting personal experiences, memories, or emotions I can’t always put into words. By tapping into this emotional well, I build a narrative that feels authentic and relatable, allowing the artwork to tell a story. It's a process of vulnerability, of being open to the emotions that surface, whether they're joy, pain, or something in between. As I layer these feelings into the piece, the narrative evolves, inviting the viewer to step into their own story, to find meaning in the shared human experience embedded within the work. This emotional connection transforms a painting from mere visual expression into a powerful, resonant experience.

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"Fierce and Fragile" • Part Two

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For More...

If you’re loving this workshop and want to dive even deeper into color, value, and multimedia lessons, I invite you to join my Patreon community—my virtual studio where everything I create, explore, and discover in my own practice is shared and taught. You’ll get access to exclusive tutorials, behind-the-scenes content, and in-depth lessons that will inspire and challenge your creative journey. Plus, you’ll become part of a vibrant, supportive community of artists. Subscribe at patreon.com/donnadowney and let’s keep creating together!