What to Expect

Discover the art of portrait painting in oil through a simple, step-by-step approach. This 2-day workshop is designed to guide you from the first sketch to a life-like finish, perfect for both beginners and experienced artists. Explore the fundamental structure of the human head, along with color and technique, as you develop a portrait from life with depth and character.

About the Instructor

Dr. Mohammad Ali Bhatti is a Pakistani American artist based in Houston, Texas, known for his dynamic and expressive portrayals of the American West. He first came to the United States in the early 1990s to pursue graduate studies, earning his MFA from Edinboro University of Pennsylvania and later a Ph.D. in Interdisciplinary Arts from Ohio University, Athens. Over the course of his career, he has taught at both Ohio University and the University of Houston, and he currently serves on the faculty at the Glassell School of Art in Houston.

During the past three decades, Dr. Bhatti has exhibited his work internationally, presenting more than thirty-five solo exhibitions and numerous juried shows across the United States, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East, including in Turkey, Italy, Uzbekistan, the United Kingdom, Nepal, Thailand, Pakistan, Dubai, Egypt, Russia, Mexico, China, India, Chile, Singapore, and Malaysia.

Dr. Bhatti’s Western paintings are rooted in a deep admiration for the enduring spirit, cultural heritage, and living traditions of the American West. His work often depicts cowboys, horses, rodeo culture, and Native American themes, interpreted through a contemporary, multicultural lens. Bold brushwork, intense color contrasts, and gestural movement animate his compositions, capturing the vitality, drama, and emotional resonance of Western life. His paintings reflect both observation and storytelling—honoring the landscapes, people, and histories that define the region.

His distinctive painterly style—marked by expressive color, dynamic textures, and painterly brush strokes are widely recognized and collected. His works are held in private and public collections, and he is represented by galleries in Texas, including Austin Galleries, Art on 12 in Wimberley, and Archway Gallery in Houston.

A member of the American Watercolor Society and the International Watercolor Society, Dr. Bhatti works across multiple media, creating paintings that radiate movement, cultural depth, and a celebration of human experience.