Deepen your understanding of paint and color while expanding the road to creative freedom. Learn how expression entices the viewer into the story. Make art that gets attention.
Class Collection
🌱 Starter - beginner or refresher
🔹 Build - growing skills, exploration
🎨 All Levels - beginner friendly, advancing fast
💥 Intensive - full immersion, mastery
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Trouble getting your portraits to come alive? Eyes hold the power to communicate emotion. This intensive bootcamp gives you the keys to master the eyes, with hands-on practice and step-by-step demos to make every portrait resonate.
🔹 Build
Bold Eye Bootcamp
A Bootcamp for Bold, Expressive Eyes
Instructor: Corey Moortgat
🔹 Build
The eyes are the window to the soul—and get them wrong, and a portrait can feel lifeless. Eyes communicate emotion, draw the viewer in, and make your subjects feel real. In this intensive Bootcamp, you’ll go beyond a regular class with focused lessons and hands-on practice designed to build skill and confidence fast.
Your Plan for Better Art
Struggling with eyes that look stiff or generic? Preconceived ideas often lead to portraits that miss emotion. This Bootcamp teaches simple, practical rules for drawing and painting eyes, with exercises and a full demo of an emotional, expressive face—all in real time. By combining guided practice and step-by-step instruction, you’ll learn to paint eyes that truly connect.
What You’ll Learn
-
Understand the eye in a simple, approachable way
-
Avoid common mistakes artists make
-
Paint emotional, soulful eyes
-
Mix color effectively for depth and realism
-
Complete an expressive portrait in real time
…and more
With this Bootcamp format, you’ll get more practice, more instruction, and more confidence than a standard class—so your portraits finally speak.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
"I have gotten so much from every lesson I’ve taken in Bold School but this class was outstanding for me on many levels.
There were so many techniques that I have never tried nor considered. I absolutely love the palette. Thank you, Corey! I can’t wait to give this a try."
- Sandra Carr

Bold Eye Bootcamp
A Bootcamp for Bold, Expressive Eyes
Instructor: Corey Moortgat
🔹 Build
The eyes are the window to the soul—and get them wrong, and a portrait can feel lifeless. Eyes communicate emotion, draw the viewer in, and make your subjects feel real. In this intensive Bootcamp, you’ll go beyond a regular class with focused lessons and hands-on practice designed to build skill and confidence fast.
Your Plan for Better Art
Struggling with eyes that look stiff or generic? Preconceived ideas often lead to portraits that miss emotion. This Bootcamp teaches simple, practical rules for drawing and painting eyes, with exercises and a full demo of an emotional, expressive face—all in real time. By combining guided practice and step-by-step instruction, you’ll learn to paint eyes that truly connect.
What You’ll Learn
-
Understand the eye in a simple, approachable way
-
Avoid common mistakes artists make
-
Paint emotional, soulful eyes
-
Mix color effectively for depth and realism
-
Complete an expressive portrait in real time
…and more
With this Bootcamp format, you’ll get more practice, more instruction, and more confidence than a standard class—so your portraits finally speak.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
"I have gotten so much from every lesson I’ve taken in Bold School but this class was outstanding for me on many levels.
There were so many techniques that I have never tried nor considered. I absolutely love the palette. Thank you, Corey! I can’t wait to give this a try."
- Sandra Carr

★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Learn to paint a young man’s portrait full of emotion using a bold magenta palette. Discover how to loosen stiff brushstrokes, layer expressive color, and add texture that makes your portraits feel alive.
🔹 Build
Magenta Youth
Paint emotion with a bold magenta palette
Instructor: Corey Moortgat
🔹 Build
CLASS DESCRIPTION
A portrait is more than just features—it’s a story, a connection, a feeling waiting to be shared. Too often portraits feel flat or stiff, leaving your subjects lifeless. This class teaches you how to use expressive brushstrokes and bold color to capture real emotion, turning your work into portraits that resonate.
WHAT YOU’LL LEARN
-
Bring emotion to life: move beyond likeness and make your subjects feel real
-
Break stiff brush habits: loosen your strokes for more dynamic, expressive portraits
-
Use color to communicate: create mood and depth with bold, intentional choices
-
Add texture that matters: avoid flat, lifeless skin and hair by painting with energy
"Corey, I loved your class to the fullest! I love all the intensity of emotion and expression in art pieces. Every detail, amazing eyes and body language speaks directly to the heart. I am so happy to have gotten familiar to your work, to you and to have participated in this class."
- Julia Barrancotto
Magenta Youth
Paint emotion with a bold magenta palette
Instructor: Corey Moortgat
🔹 Build
CLASS DESCRIPTION
A portrait is more than just features—it’s a story, a connection, a feeling waiting to be shared. Too often portraits feel flat or stiff, leaving your subjects lifeless. This class teaches you how to use expressive brushstrokes and bold color to capture real emotion, turning your work into portraits that resonate.
WHAT YOU’LL LEARN
-
Bring emotion to life: move beyond likeness and make your subjects feel real
-
Break stiff brush habits: loosen your strokes for more dynamic, expressive portraits
-
Use color to communicate: create mood and depth with bold, intentional choices
-
Add texture that matters: avoid flat, lifeless skin and hair by painting with energy
"Corey, I loved your class to the fullest! I love all the intensity of emotion and expression in art pieces. Every detail, amazing eyes and body language speaks directly to the heart. I am so happy to have gotten familiar to your work, to you and to have participated in this class."
- Julia Barrancotto
Membership Only
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Learn the fundamental principle of movement in art and discover how color, composition, and brushstrokes can bring energy to your work and hold your viewer’s attention.
🌱 Starter
Movement
From Static to Captivating
Instructor: Corey Moortgat
🌱 Starter
Are potential buyers taking one glance at your work but then moving onto the next piece? Creating movement in your pieces through abstraction, brushstrokes, and color placement allows you to control your viewer's experience. You have a story to tell, and there are tried and true practices you can use today to keep your viewer engaged. In three lessons, you will walk through twelve techniques that will finally add that life and excitement to your work!
You will learn:
- Color techniques that create movement
- Composition techniques that create movement
- Subject selection techniques that create movement
Learn how to captivate your viewer's eye. Keep their attention on your work so they will not be able to walk away.
By Corey Moortgat
"I really enjoyed this class.
The thought process and sharing of this painting's journey is great...
Just what I needed today. Beautiful painting. I am once again inspired. Thank you so much."
- Mari Van Dyke
Movement
From Static to Captivating
Instructor: Corey Moortgat
🌱 Starter
Are potential buyers taking one glance at your work but then moving onto the next piece? Creating movement in your pieces through abstraction, brushstrokes, and color placement allows you to control your viewer's experience. You have a story to tell, and there are tried and true practices you can use today to keep your viewer engaged. In three lessons, you will walk through twelve techniques that will finally add that life and excitement to your work!
You will learn:
- Color techniques that create movement
- Composition techniques that create movement
- Subject selection techniques that create movement
Learn how to captivate your viewer's eye. Keep their attention on your work so they will not be able to walk away.
By Corey Moortgat
"I really enjoyed this class.
The thought process and sharing of this painting's journey is great...
Just what I needed today. Beautiful painting. I am once again inspired. Thank you so much."
- Mari Van Dyke
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Get the tools for creating visual movement throughout your painting in ways that capture the attention of viewers. Put all those tools into action while creating a full portrait.
🔹 Build
Creating Visual Movement
Bring your portraits to life using the principle of movement
Instructor: Corey Moortgat
🔹 Build
Captivate your viewer and add energy to your work by mastering movement, a core principle of art. This class guides you step-by-step through a full portrait painting, showing you how to use color, composition, and brushstrokes to control the viewer’s eye and make your work truly engaging.
Class Overview
-
Lesson 1: Preparing Your Palette
Start with an analogous palette and discover how Corey selects and mixes colors. You don’t need every paint—learn to mix what you already have. -
Lesson 2: Evaluating the Image
See how movement concepts affect your composition even before a brush touches the canvas. Learn to plan placement and use a grid to transfer your drawing. -
Lesson 3: The Underpainting
Lay in your first layer of values around the face. Focus on dimension and structure first, leaving movement techniques for later stages. -
Lessons 4–5: Layering and Refinements
Refine colors and values in the face, gradually introducing movement concepts to guide the viewer’s eye. -
Lesson 6: Moving Beyond the Face
Add depth and energy through the hair, neck, and background. Prepare your piece for dynamic, eye-catching movement. -
Lesson 7: Focusing on Movement
Delve into expressive brushwork, color placement, and abstraction. This is where you begin to ignite energy and rhythm in your painting. -
Lesson 8: Final Review & Touches
Push your piece further with emphasis colors, playful marks, and scribbles. Watch your portrait transform from static to captivating.
What You’ll Learn
-
How to use the principle of movement to guide the viewer’s eye
-
Strategic color mixing and layering techniques
-
Composition tricks that create energy in your work
-
How to simplify and emphasize without losing focus
-
Step-by-step portrait painting from start to finish
By the end of this class, you’ll have a fully realized portrait that demonstrates how movement can elevate your work—and the skills to apply these techniques to any future painting.
"I've been in Bold School for three years. I've learned so much through all the mentors.
They keep creating great content, so helpful for me!"
- Lisa DuBois

Creating Visual Movement
Bring your portraits to life using the principle of movement
Instructor: Corey Moortgat
🔹 Build
Captivate your viewer and add energy to your work by mastering movement, a core principle of art. This class guides you step-by-step through a full portrait painting, showing you how to use color, composition, and brushstrokes to control the viewer’s eye and make your work truly engaging.
Class Overview
-
Lesson 1: Preparing Your Palette
Start with an analogous palette and discover how Corey selects and mixes colors. You don’t need every paint—learn to mix what you already have. -
Lesson 2: Evaluating the Image
See how movement concepts affect your composition even before a brush touches the canvas. Learn to plan placement and use a grid to transfer your drawing. -
Lesson 3: The Underpainting
Lay in your first layer of values around the face. Focus on dimension and structure first, leaving movement techniques for later stages. -
Lessons 4–5: Layering and Refinements
Refine colors and values in the face, gradually introducing movement concepts to guide the viewer’s eye. -
Lesson 6: Moving Beyond the Face
Add depth and energy through the hair, neck, and background. Prepare your piece for dynamic, eye-catching movement. -
Lesson 7: Focusing on Movement
Delve into expressive brushwork, color placement, and abstraction. This is where you begin to ignite energy and rhythm in your painting. -
Lesson 8: Final Review & Touches
Push your piece further with emphasis colors, playful marks, and scribbles. Watch your portrait transform from static to captivating.
What You’ll Learn
-
How to use the principle of movement to guide the viewer’s eye
-
Strategic color mixing and layering techniques
-
Composition tricks that create energy in your work
-
How to simplify and emphasize without losing focus
-
Step-by-step portrait painting from start to finish
By the end of this class, you’ll have a fully realized portrait that demonstrates how movement can elevate your work—and the skills to apply these techniques to any future painting.
"I've been in Bold School for three years. I've learned so much through all the mentors.
They keep creating great content, so helpful for me!"
- Lisa DuBois

The structure of hair is organic and tricky to control. In this class, you’ll explore non-realistic, abstract ways to paint hair while maintaining form and value, breaking old habits, and finding freedom and expression with a soft, expressive palette.
🔹 Build
Long, loose, bold hair
Keys to painting unstructured features
Instructor: Corey Moortgat
🔹 Build
Loosen your brushwork, paint hair
Do you find yourself painting every single strand of hair in your portraits?
Painting a face can be challenging but at least you have structures to build. Hair brings a new set of challenges as its structure is organic and hard to control. Corey will demonstrate how to break out of those old habits and find freedom and expression in painting hair!
WHAT YOU'LL LEARN
-
Loosen up your Brush Strokes
-
Expression & Form
-
Color & Mark Making
- and more
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
"Corey I love love your classes!
The way you explain things as you go and the thoughts. I really got a lot out of this time watching. 3rd time!! I picked up some things I need to apply and see if that will help me. Thank You so much."
- Pamela Marston

Long, loose, bold hair
Keys to painting unstructured features
Instructor: Corey Moortgat
🔹 Build
Loosen your brushwork, paint hair
Do you find yourself painting every single strand of hair in your portraits?
Painting a face can be challenging but at least you have structures to build. Hair brings a new set of challenges as its structure is organic and hard to control. Corey will demonstrate how to break out of those old habits and find freedom and expression in painting hair!
WHAT YOU'LL LEARN
-
Loosen up your Brush Strokes
-
Expression & Form
-
Color & Mark Making
- and more
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
"Corey I love love your classes!
The way you explain things as you go and the thoughts. I really got a lot out of this time watching. 3rd time!! I picked up some things I need to apply and see if that will help me. Thank You so much."
- Pamela Marston

Braided hair is full of intricate detail. It's easy to get lost. Capture its complexity in an expressive, abstract way—keeping the focus on the face without getting bogged down in strict realism.
🔹 Build
Stunningly Simple Braid
Details without Realism
Instructor: Corey Moortgat
🔹 Build
Painting hair can be tricky—especially braided styles—without stealing attention from the portrait’s most important features. In this class, Corey Moortgat demonstrates simple, effective techniques to paint braided hair while keeping the face front and center. Plus, explore optional abstraction methods to take your portraits to the next level.
What You’ll Learn
-
Painting emotion through expressive brushstrokes
-
Palette tips for dark skin
-
Simple techniques for braids and hair
-
Abstraction to enhance your portraits
-
Blurring the lines for creative effect
…and more
Follow along in real time as Corey creates a full portrait, showing step-by-step how to manage details without losing focus on the face.
"I really enjoy your teaching style! So calm and encouraging. I can’t wait to try incorporate some of these techniques!!! I’ve always been such a tight painter so I’m looking forward to trying and hopefully achieving the loose style you have. Such beautiful work!!!"
- Darla Peterson

Stunningly Simple Braid
Details without Realism
Instructor: Corey Moortgat
🔹 Build
Painting hair can be tricky—especially braided styles—without stealing attention from the portrait’s most important features. In this class, Corey Moortgat demonstrates simple, effective techniques to paint braided hair while keeping the face front and center. Plus, explore optional abstraction methods to take your portraits to the next level.
What You’ll Learn
-
Painting emotion through expressive brushstrokes
-
Palette tips for dark skin
-
Simple techniques for braids and hair
-
Abstraction to enhance your portraits
-
Blurring the lines for creative effect
…and more
Follow along in real time as Corey creates a full portrait, showing step-by-step how to manage details without losing focus on the face.
"I really enjoy your teaching style! So calm and encouraging. I can’t wait to try incorporate some of these techniques!!! I’ve always been such a tight painter so I’m looking forward to trying and hopefully achieving the loose style you have. Such beautiful work!!!"
- Darla Peterson

Transfer any reference to your canvas easily—no drawing experience needed. Focus on painting, explore any subject, and gain confidence without getting bogged down in learning to draw.
🌱 Starter
Gridding Made Simple
Transfer References to Canvas Without the Stress
Instructor: Corey Moortgat
🌱 Starter
Painting already comes with plenty to learn—color, brushwork, composition, and expression. The last thing you need is added pressure from struggling to draw your subject perfectly. This class shows you an easy, beginner-friendly gridding technique that anyone can use, no drawing experience required.
Mastering this method lets you focus on painting while accurately capturing your reference. And once you know it, you can paint any subject you want—freedom, confidence, and creativity all at your fingertips.
What You’ll Learn
-
A simple, step-by-step gridding technique anyone can use
-
How to transfer reference photos to your canvas with ease
-
Focus on painting, not drawing, while still achieving accuracy
-
Gain the freedom to explore any subject matter
-
Build confidence and speed without added stress
Gridding Made Simple
Transfer References to Canvas Without the Stress
Instructor: Corey Moortgat
🌱 Starter
Painting already comes with plenty to learn—color, brushwork, composition, and expression. The last thing you need is added pressure from struggling to draw your subject perfectly. This class shows you an easy, beginner-friendly gridding technique that anyone can use, no drawing experience required.
Mastering this method lets you focus on painting while accurately capturing your reference. And once you know it, you can paint any subject you want—freedom, confidence, and creativity all at your fingertips.
What You’ll Learn
-
A simple, step-by-step gridding technique anyone can use
-
How to transfer reference photos to your canvas with ease
-
Focus on painting, not drawing, while still achieving accuracy
-
Gain the freedom to explore any subject matter
-
Build confidence and speed without added stress
Tackle the complexity of hands without getting lost in detail. Explore structure, simplify intricate shapes, and use a purple-based palette to render hands that feel real and expressive..
🔹 Build
Paint a Hand
Instructor: Corey Moortgat
🔹 Build
Hands are deceptively complex. Each one is made up of bones, muscles, and tendons, and the way they move or pose can make them one of the most challenging parts of a portrait.
This class breaks down the structure of the hand, showing you how to simplify intricate shapes and render them convincingly. You’ll explore techniques for values, form, and color—including secrets of a purple-based palette—to make hands feel real without getting lost in endless detail. By the end, you’ll complete a full portrait with confident, expressive hands.
What You’ll Learn
-
Understanding the underlying structure of the hand
-
Simplifying intricate shapes for clarity and realism
-
Color secrets using a purple palette
-
Complete a full portrait painting
…and more
Follow along in real time as Corey Moortgat demonstrates a complete painting step by step.
"Watching Corey take a picture from beginning to the end is so interesting. She has an eye for the colors and where it works.Thank you for putting yourself out there and sharing your process. "
- Marjory Taylor
Paint a Hand
Instructor: Corey Moortgat
🔹 Build
Hands are deceptively complex. Each one is made up of bones, muscles, and tendons, and the way they move or pose can make them one of the most challenging parts of a portrait.
This class breaks down the structure of the hand, showing you how to simplify intricate shapes and render them convincingly. You’ll explore techniques for values, form, and color—including secrets of a purple-based palette—to make hands feel real without getting lost in endless detail. By the end, you’ll complete a full portrait with confident, expressive hands.
What You’ll Learn
-
Understanding the underlying structure of the hand
-
Simplifying intricate shapes for clarity and realism
-
Color secrets using a purple palette
-
Complete a full portrait painting
…and more
Follow along in real time as Corey Moortgat demonstrates a complete painting step by step.
"Watching Corey take a picture from beginning to the end is so interesting. She has an eye for the colors and where it works.Thank you for putting yourself out there and sharing your process. "
- Marjory Taylor
Rave Reviews
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
"Watching Corey take a picture from beginning to the end is so interesting. She has an eye for the colors and where it works.
Thank you for putting yourself out there and sharing your process. "
- Marjory Taylor
Student Gallery
Your Learning,
Your Way.
You’ve got two ways to dive in:
🎨 Standalone Class
Get instant access to a full pre-recorded painting series. Watch step-by-step, real-time lessons with Charla Maarschalk and follow along at your own pace. Includes discussion boards under each lesson so you can ask questions and get guidance right when you need it.
🌿 Membership
Go all in and unlock our full library of 40+ classes. Enjoy community access, peer mentoring, guidance from Bold School mentors, downloadable workbooks, live events, and all the videos you want—plus ongoing support as you grow your skills.
New to Painting? Start with Bold Color Primer or Bold Color Bootcamp—both included in the Bold Color Bundle.
MEET YOUR INSTRUCTOR
COREY MOORTGAT
Corey Moortgat is based in Florida, USA. She has been a Bold School Mentor since spring 2020. With degrees in Fine Arts and Art Therapy, she has worked with a variety of media throughout her life.
In the past few years, her focus has shifted exclusively to acrylic painting, where she specializes in expressive, colorful portraiture. She's recognized for her ability to portray emotion in her work and inspire a powerful connection with her viewer.
Get Access to all of Corey's Class with Membership.
Choose the plan that's right for you
★★★★★
"Thank you Corey, it's an awesome class with a beautiful palette. I am grateful for your insights and it's a joy to watch you paint. Looking forward to more of your classes. Thank you."
- Gloria Monteleone
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