Break Free & Let go of Perfectionism
Skip the drawing! Learn Elli’s easy 8-brushstroke "Monster Portrait" method from the Mastery Program to build your underpainting and create a stunning portrait in just three steps.
Our Class is Made for Everyone who Struggles to Paint Portraits that Actually Look Good.
Do you shy away from portraits because they're "too hard"?
Are your features slightly off, but you can’t figure out why?
Do your skin tones always turn to mud, no matter how carefully you mix them?
Does it take forever to finish a portrait, only to feel disappointed with the results?
"Tame the Monster" Using Subtractive Painting
Push through the ugly “monster” stage and refine your portrait using old masters’ techniques for a lifelike result.
Create Accurate Form & Mix Lifelike Flesh Tones
Discover a simple way to mix rich, professional flesh tones every time! Identify plane shifts and bone structure to create realistic form using bold brushstrokes.
Build Layers to Bring Depth & Detail to Your Work
No more finishing a portrait one square inch at a time. Build your painting in layers to create a collectable, effortless look.
"This lesson has been by far the most amazing to watch. How Elli laid down the paint, the colors, the brush strokes. The way one can built-up a face in, rough washes, brush stroke variations and complimenting color positioning is quite fascinating!"
"I loved mixing warm and cool skin tone in oils and experimenting with green highlights and purple shadows."
"I was very new to painting and used to drawing with detail and accuracy, so found this class to be a valuable lesson in letting go of that control. I really enjoy painting portraits now too thanks to this lesson 😊"
"I absolutely loved this lesson, I got completely absorbed in the process of mixing compliments and lost track of time."
Every portrait goes through an ugly stage. But what if, instead of fighting it, you embraced it?
What if you pushed past the fear of getting it wrong and trusted yourself to turn that chaos into something truly beautiful?
Heads up: the answer is not to start painting one square inch at a time. ;)
I’m Elli Milan, founder of Milan Art Institute and a professional artist for over 30 years.
I’ve taught thousands of artists worldwide this most iconic class in the entire Mastery Program.
After taking this class, you’re going to break free from the fear of messing up, let go of the idea that everything has to be perfect right from the start, and learn to embrace the process in a way that will completely change how you paint.
The Monster Portrait isn’t just about technique—it’s about mindset.
It elevates your skills so that every time your brush hits the canvas, it’s intentional, expressive, and powerful.
When you're done, you won’t second-guess every stroke anymore. You won’t give up when something feels off.
You’ll develop the confidence to bring every portrait to life with clarity and emotion—so that when people see your work, they don’t just recognize a face, they feel something deeper.
Let’s create an incredible transformation together - both on the canvas and in yourself! See you in class!
Every portrait goes through an ugly stage. But what if, instead of fighting it, you embraced it?
What if you pushed past the fear of getting it wrong and trusted yourself to turn that chaos into something truly beautiful?
Heads up: the answer is not to start painting one square inch at a time. ;)
I’m Elli Milan, founder of Milan Art Institute and a professional artist for over 30 years.
I’ve taught thousands of artists worldwide this most iconic class in the entire Mastery Program.
After taking this class, you’re going to break free from the fear of messing up, let go of the idea that everything has to be perfect right from the start, and learn to embrace the process in a way that will completely change how you paint.
The Monster Portrait isn’t just about technique—it’s about mindset.
It elevates your skills so that every time your brush hits the canvas, it’s intentional, expressive, and powerful.
When you're done, you won’t second-guess every stroke anymore. You won’t give up when something feels off.
You’ll develop the confidence to bring every portrait to life with clarity and emotion—so that when people see your work, they don’t just recognize a face, they feel something deeper.
Let’s create an incredible transformation together - both on the canvas and in yourself! See you in class!
Learn the simplest way to sketch accurate proportions for realistic faces, scenery, animals, and more.
Discover proven ways to “switch on” your creative brain, helping you draw with confidence and ease.
Master techniques for capturing proportions and angles accurately.
After just ONE lesson, surprise and amaze others with your impressive new drawing skills!
"I must say , I'm really happy with the monster portrait and love love love this technique!"
"Finished my monster portrait and wow - I love this method of painting and so happy with the result."
"I Learned so much with this lesson. I just loved the process. I loved the colors of this particular reference and how she was looking directly at the viewer. Super Fun!"
"Monster portrait. This process just blew me away, from the start to the end, I have learnt so much."
