Learn to Paint the Head, Plane by Plane
This course breaks the head down plane by plane: form, proportion, anatomy, and how to apply color and light when painting heads. Marco covers each area individually, then shows how to assemble and paint them.
Learn the planes of the head through clear and practical instruction. Includes Marco's custom digital brush pack.
Don't think twice. Just go for this class. Absolutely loved it!
Common Problems That Artists Run Into
- 01You can't get the proportions or angles to feel right
- 02Your head drawings look flat or distorted and you're not sure what's off
- 03Lighting and rendering feel confusing once you start painting the head
- 04You've tried painting from references, but it never looks believable
- 05You understand the features individually but can't assemble them into a convincing head
Learn the Planes of the Human Head
Understanding and Painting the Head breaks the head into individual planes you can learn one at a time. Marco covers the brow, cheek, jaw, chin, nose, mouth, ear, and eye separately, then shows how to assemble them. Chapter 2 moves into painting: value control, color, lighting, and caricature.
See the Course in Action
A look at how the course breaks down each plane of the head.
By the End of This Course,
You'll Be Able To:
You'll understand how light falls across the planes so your heads have real dimension.
You'll know what each plane does and where it sits, so the heads you paint feel solid from any angle.
Understand structure and proportions so every head you paint is believable.
What Artists Are Saying
I was so lost on how to draw portraits before taking this course. Marco breaks down the structure of the head in a simple way that everyone can grasp. After applying the knowledge of each lesson with practice, my confidence in drawing portraits and designing faces has vastly improved. I highly recommend this course to all artists of different skill levels.
Marco Bucci's course on the planes of the head improved my head paintings significantly. This course is head and shoulders above all of my previous studies. I stopped the video after each section and copied Marco's demo, then tried to draw that part without looking at any reference. This course is well worth the very affordable price.
Just one word: PERFECT. As always with Marco.
Excellent course! Marco is awesome at explaining things in ways that are easy to understand. Once you see the planes, you can't unsee. As someone mainly using traditional media I found it extremely helpful to my seeing abilities.
I've watched tons of courses and tutorials on the subject, and this is the first time everything has clicked immediately with such clarity and simplicity! Marco's extraordinary teaching style makes each lesson digestible and captivating. You want to do the exercises, you want to learn once you listen to him.
Completing this course made me realized how much mistakes I did when drawing heads and faces without even realizing it. Hopefully I'll stop making uncanny valley faces after this.
Marco goes in depth into the proportions and planes of the head, demonstrating how you can construct a drawing focusing on developing a realistic and detailed drawing of the head.
Choose Your Learning Path
Select the option that works best for you.
A complete head painting course you can work through at your own pace.
Over 7.5 hours of clear, practical teaching from Marco.
- Understanding the Head
- Painting the Head
- Marco's Brush Pack
- Getting Started with Digital Painting
- Digital Painting Courses 1, 2 & 3
- Digital Brushwork Techniques
- Color Survival Guide
- Understanding & Painting the Head
- Using 3D Techniques with Digital Painting
- Marco's Brush Pack
- Also included:
- 6-month community access (livestreams, Q&A, challenges, critiques)
- Free Audiobook: Creativity & the Campfire
- Extended Brush Pack
Marco Bucci
I'm a professional concept artist and illustrator with over 15 years of experience in the entertainment industry. I've worked with major studios including Disney, Dreamworks, and various game development companies.
What I care about most now is helping artists understand the principles behind great work. Through my courses and community, I've reached over a million artists online and helped them develop their skills and grow as artists.
No matter where you are in your practice, the way I teach fundamentals will change how you see and approach your paintings.
Frequently Asked Questions
For traditional media, any brand of watercolors and gouache will work, though do not recommend student-grade paints. I use brands like Winsor&Newton, Holbein, and Daniel Smith. I also recommend using at least 140lb paper, as anything thinner will not be able to survive multiple washes.
Start Painting Heads That Stand Out
The way you see the head will change after this course. The way you paint it will follow.