A No Stroke Left Behind Workshop
~Live On Zoom~
Create Portraits with More Mood, Meaning, and Story!
"Echoes of Poe"
NSLB Workshop
Master Portrait Storytelling, Atmosphere, and Color with Confidence!
Join us for a
LIVE
No Stroke Left Behind
Workshop
In This Workshop, You'll Learn:
-1-
Creating a Portrait That Tells a Story
Learn how to move beyond simply capturing a likeness and begin building a narrative into your portrait work. We'll explore how subtle compositional choices, expression, atmosphere, and supporting elements can reveal something about the person you're drawing without overpowering the portrait itself.
-2-
Building a Dramatic Background with Colored Pencil and Solvent
Discover how to layer deep blues, violets, muted reds, and warm earth tones to create a rich atmospheric background. We'll use solvent to soften transitions, deepen values, and create subtle movement while keeping the background supportive rather than distracting.
-3-
Rendering Realistic Skin, Fabric, Glasses, and Texture
We'll work carefully through the variety of textures found in this portrait — from mature skin and facial structure to the soft folds of the shirt, reflective eyeglasses, and the patterned texture of the hat. You'll learn how to adjust your pencil handling and layering approach for each surface.
-4-
Using Symbolism Without Losing the Portrait
Jim Poe’s family connection to Edgar Allan Poe, along with his own use of raven imagery, became a natural starting point for the story behind this portrait.
The raven is kept subtle, almost hidden in the shadows, so it adds meaning and context without competing with the subject.
We’ll talk about how to find those kinds of personal connections in your own subjects and use them thoughtfully to strengthen the narrative of a portrait.
Throughout the workshop, you'll strengthen your understanding of portrait structure, value, color temperature, layering, solvent techniques, and composition while developing a finished portrait that feels thoughtful, atmospheric, and rich with character.
The Workshop Details
📍 Where: Live on Zoom
🕒 Schedule: Meets live each week: Tue, Wed, and Thur
🕒 Hours: 3:30 to 5:30 Eastern Time
📅 Dates: November 5 – December 10, 2026
🖊 Surface: 14×14 inch Pastelmat (light gray)
🎨 Medium: Colored pencil with solvent
🎥 Replays Included: All sessions are recorded and added to your course shortly after class.
Lifetime access to the recorded sessions allows you to draw along at your own pace, pause when needed, and revisit any part of the workshop whenever you like.
Let’s create a portrait with a story in the shadows.
Want to create portraits that feel more atmospheric and meaningful?
That can be harder than it looks... and that feeling is completely NORMAL.
It’s one thing to capture a likeness. It’s another to create a portrait that feels like it has a story behind it.
Without a clear plan, it’s easy for the background to compete with the subject, for symbolic elements to feel forced, or for the overall piece to lose the mood you were hoping to create.
In this live workshop, we’ll work through those challenges together in real time.
You’ll learn how to develop a strong portrait while also building a dramatic, atmospheric background with layered colored pencil and solvent.
We’ll explore how to use color, value, and subtle supporting elements to strengthen the narrative without distracting from the subject.
Everything is demonstrated and developed live, step by step, so you’re never left guessing.
You’re building confidence not only in how you render a portrait, but in how you make it say something.
Clarity. Structure. Results.
That’s No Stroke Left Behind!
All while working in a team environment.
-
Create a Portrait with Story and Meaning
In this workshop, we’ll go beyond simply capturing a likeness. You’ll learn how expression, composition, atmosphere, and subtle supporting elements can work together to suggest a story and give the portrait a stronger sense of character and meaning.
-
Build a Dramatic Background with Color and Solvent
You’ll learn how to layer deep blues, violets, muted reds, and warm earth tones to create an atmospheric background that supports the portrait without competing with it. We’ll use solvent to soften transitions, deepen values, and create a rich, unified mood across the composition.
-
Live, Guided Workshop Sessions
This is a live No Stroke Left Behind workshop taught on Zoom. Each session is demonstrated step by step in real time, allowing you to see the decisions, adjustments, and layering process as the portrait develops. All sessions are recorded and included so you can revisit the material whenever you need it.
Join us as we build a portrait with atmosphere, character, and a story in the shadows.
What's Included
#1 Live Instruction + Lifetime Replay Access
📺 This workshop is taught live on Zoom, with step-by-step demonstrations as the drawing develops in real time. Every session is recorded, and you'll receive lifetime access to all replays so you can revisit key concepts, pause, rewind, or review specific sections whenever you need.
#2 Professionally Designed PDF Workbook
📄 You'll receive a downloadable workbook created specifically for this project, including:
- A clear workshop overview and learning goals
- A complete materials list
- Guidance for the grisaille underpainting process and color section planning
- Key reminders to support your drawing between sessions
#3 Ongoing Communication and Class Updates
✉️ You'll be added to a dedicated workshop email list where you'll receive reminders, Zoom links, schedule updates, and helpful notes so you always know what's coming next and how to stay on track.
#4 Optional Critique Opportunities
📝 Learn how to submit your work for video critique, offering targeted feedback to help you move forward with clarity and confidence.
#5 Live Interaction and Q&A
💬 Plenty of Q&A time during each class. You'll have the ability to come on mic and ask your questions or type in the chat. Additionally, you'll receive email support even when we're not in session to ensure you're fully supported throughout the workshop.
#6 Downloadable Photo References
Access all the photo references used during class, which you can download and revisit at any time for practice or future projects.
What are you waiting for?
The "Echoes Of Poe" Workshop
will help you create portraits with more mood and meaning!
