Spring Forward: Draw a Matisse-Inspired Portrait with Kirsten Britt

Spring is in the air, and this lesson (88 mins) is your invitation to let that energy burst onto the page.

In today’s class, UK-based portrait artist Kirsten Britt shows us how to infuse a drawing with life, emotion, and vibrant color using nothing but ballpoint pens.

Inspired by Matisse’s Green Stripe, Kirsten takes a forward-facing portrait and transforms it with an intuitive, expressive palette—layering unlikely hues like fluorescent yellow, grassy green, and deep purple to sculpt the planes of the face.

This is a lesson in color as feeling rather than fact—where crosshatching becomes painting, and unexpected combinations lead to surprising beauty. Whether you’re working with a full set of multi-color pens or just a few favorites, Kirsten’s approach will help you loosen your grip, play more freely, and bring a fresh, spring-like brightness to your portrait work.

Ready to spring into drawing with Kirsten? Let's get started!