Michele Usibelli: Ignite Creativity: Oil Painting with Energy

Discover Michele Usibelli’s Signature Method for Creating Loose, Frame-Worthy Paintings That Art Collectors Love to Own

Want to paint with more freedom and expression?

Award-winning artist Michele Usibelli has developed a structured approach that helps students loosen up their oil paintings without losing control.

In this course, you’ll follow a proven blueprint to create vibrant, confident artwork from start to finish. You’ll learn how to see the world in fragments of color, make bold decisions with your brushwork, and avoid muddy results.

This method gives you clarity, clean color, and expressive energy — so every stroke moves your painting forward.

Meet Your New Instructor, Michele Usibelli!

Michele Usibelli is a versatile artist with a style that’s instantly recognizable. Her loose brushstrokes, bold colors, and strong sense of light and shadow define every piece, whether still life, landscape, cityscape, or figurative work.

Michele’s work has been exhibited across the US and internationally, earning awards such as the Silver Medal at the Salmagundi Club in New York and the UCI Institute and Museum of California Art Award.

Her paintings are included in permanent collections at the University of Alaska Fairbanks/Museum of the North and the State of Hawaii.

Beyond her own art, Michele is a dedicated instructor, leading workshops and demonstrations worldwide and serving as a juror for major competitions.

 What You’ll Discover Inside:

●      Michele’s “Negative Shape Painting” method to create more freedom and flexibility while keeping your composition strong.

●      Discover Michele’s “push-pull” method to maintain control of your composition and values.

●      Michele’s favorite “contrasting strategy” to make your brushwork POP.

●      The ONE thing you need to memorize to ensure visual impact without overwhelming chaos every time.

●      The exact stage-by-stage system Michele uses that prevents you from ever getting “lost” mid-painting again.

●      How to use temperature shifts to create “dynamic energy” in your work and create maximum visual impact (this alone transforms static paintings into dynamic compositions).

●      The “Hansel & Gretel” strategic color trick that leads the viewer’s eye exactly where you want it to go.

●      The best way to “see the scene” that encourages loose, impressionistic painting.

●      The specific body part that’s responsible for painting loosely and expressively, and how to engage it well.

●      PLUS:A simple trick to let the viewer interpret the story on their own, including techniques for creating romantic, dreamy effects without overworking the painting. 

●      …and so much more!

Chapter Breakdown

Introduction

Materials

Planning the Painting

Lay in Darkest Darks

The Focal Area

Build Out

Carving In

Final Touches

Extra Bonuses:

●      High Speed View of the demo for your painting convenience

●      Exhibit of Michele Usibelli’s works for your creative inspiration

●      Interview with Michele Usibelli by Eric Rhoads for insights and motivation

TESTIMONIAL

After being inspired by Michele Usibelli's Ignite Creativity, I used what I learned as I painted in acrylics; she, of course, paints in oil. I prefer to use acrylic, and I still learned so much that was applicable. Thanks so much!

Diane OC