Confident Portrait Block-Ins in Just 14 Days

Start Your 14-Day Transformation

Why Most Portraits Never Look Right

Most painters obsess over details too soon. They jump to eyes, lips, or hair without first building a solid foundation.

The result? Portraits that feel “off”

Distorted proportions that look crooked
Weak structure that collapses as soon as the painting develops
Hours of wasted work fixing mistakes that could’ve been avoided

The truth is simple: if your block-in is weak, your portrait will fail before the first brushstroke.

Block-In Bootcamp Gives You the Missing Foundation

In just 14 days, you’ll train your eye and hand to see volume. Through structure lessons and assignments, you’ll learn how to:

Simplify a portrait into clear shapes and planes for any perspective (frontal, 3/4, and side profile).
Block in portraits with accurate proportions and strong form.
Build confidence so every painting starts on solid ground.

Start Building Stronger Portraits Today

What’s Inside the 14-Day Bootcamp

In this 14-day guided program, you’ll learn:

The exact method to block-in any head — frontal, ¾, or profile.
How to simplify forms into clear structure and proportion.
Strategies to train your eye and gain confidence.
Step-by-step processes to break bad habits and grow faster.

Curriculum Overview

Day 1–3: Foundations of Light, Shadow & Simple Forms
Day 4–7: Frontal, Profile, and ¾ View Block-Ins
Day 8–12: Planes of the Head + Anatomy Made Simple
Day 13–14: Full Block-In Portrait Challenges
Bonus Demo: Transition from block-in to underpainting

What Students Are Saying

“I learned more in two weeks here than I did in a semester at a prestigious art college.”
— Pamela

“Before, I erased and restarted endlessly. Now block-ins finally make sense and save me hours.”
— Jacqueline

“This Bootcamp is intense, challenging, and incredibly satisfying. It gave me the tools I was missing.”
— Sissel

“In just 14 days, I finally understood structure and light & shadow in a way that lets me create, not just copy.”
— Terry

Jacqueline

“Before I drew on observation, but often got stuck and erased again and again. It took a long time to draw and make an underpainting. Now the composition, placement and block-in make sense and will take less time away from painting. Thank you Nic and Melisa for the enjoyable lessons — it helped me a lot.”

Pamela

“Thank you for the foundation I needed to build my portrait studies from the ground up. I learned more in your two-week Block-In Bootcamp than I did at a beginning oil and figure class at a prestigious art college. Your teaching style was kind, generous, patient, and rich in masterful information. I highly recommend Block-In Bootcamp!”

Sissel

“This is indeed a boot camp: intense, challenging, and very satisfying. I was amazed at what I was able to create by the end. I’ve been given many new tools for both drawing and overcoming fear and resistance. Nic and Melisa’s generosity and kindness created a wonderful space for learning. This was a well-placed investment of money, time, and effort.”

Terry

“The Bootcamp was one of the best art classes I’ve ever taken. In 14 days, I finally understood structure and light & shadow in a way that allows me to create instead of copy. The videos were clear, the handouts were phenomenal, and the feedback was both generous and honest. It was intense, but that intensity is what made it so effective. Take this course!”

Karen

“Over the years, I made progress with tutorials but something was missing. Nic’s Bootcamp separated the process into manageable steps — measurements, facial geometry, light and shadow — and fit them together. My proportions and dimensionality improved drastically. The printable guides were invaluable. Highly recommended!”

Robert

“Over the years, I made progress with tutorials“Block-In Bootcamp has drastically improved not only the quality of my drawing but also my confidence starting new pieces. Proportions and composition were always my weak points — now I finally have control. I’ll definitely continue with more courses from Nic.”

Karen's Progress

Sissel's Progress

Liliana's Progress

Don’t Put Off the Foundation You Need

Every day you wait is another day of struggling with portraits that don’t look right. The sooner you master the block-in, the sooner your paintings will change forever.

Take the next step today — your future portraits will thank you.

Transform Your Portraits Forever

Meet Your Instructors

Nic Thurman

Nic is a classical oil painter known for helping students develop timeless, structured portraits rooted in the traditions of the Old Masters. After studying at the Nerdrum School in Norway, he refined a method that prioritizes clarity, proportion, and the power of simplicity.

With a growing audience on YouTube and Instagram, Nic is passionate about making classical portrait drawing approachable for everyone — even total beginners.

Melisa Calabria

Melisa is a classically trained painter and instructor whose work is grounded in the tradition of classical realism. She studied in Buenos Aires under several established masters and later deepened her practice in Norway as a student of Odd Nerdrum.

Her paintings have been recognized in multiple international competitions, and she has taught in academies and workshops across countries, sharing a methodical yet intuitive approach to portraiture.

Her teaching emphasizes structure and the ability to see form beneath complexity — helping students move from uncertainty to confidence. As a long-time collaborator with Nic, she brings warmth and clarity to every lesson.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Do I need prior experience?
A: No. The Bootcamp is designed for all levels — whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned painter looking to sharpen your fundamentals.

Q: How much time does the Bootcamp take?
A: Each lesson is 20–60 minutes. Homework and practice usually take 1–2 hours per day. Since it’s self-paced, you can move faster or slower depending on your schedule.

Q: How long do I have access?
A: You’ll have lifetime access to all lessons, guides, and demos. Start whenever you like and revisit as often as you need.

Q: Is this course live?
A: No. This version of the Bootcamp is fully self-paced — you get instant access the moment you enroll.

Q: What materials will I need?
A: Simple drawing tools (pencil, charcoal, or similar) and paper are enough to complete the course. We provide pdf guides and cheat sheets to support your work.

It All Starts with the Block-In

Strong portraits begin with strong block-ins. In just 14 days, you’ll gain the tools, clarity, and confidence to transform your drawings — and every painting that follows.

Don’t wait years to fix mistakes that can be solved today.

Join Block-In Bootcamp Today