What Do You Do After the Tutorial Ends?
If you can follow tutorials but freeze when you try to create on your own,
this workshop will show you simple ways to adapt references and generate original ideas.
If you can copy a reference, but still struggle to make your work feel like yours…
You’re not alone.
Maybe you can:
✅ draw or paint what you see in front of you,
✅ follow tutorials and step-by-step guides,
✅ recreate reference images with accuracy
But when you try to move beyond copying… or when you sit down to create without a clear guide…
you freeze.
Or default back to imitation.
And you’re left thinking: “I can draw/paint… but I can’t make it mine.”
This is the gap most self-taught and returning artists get stuck in
It’s not a lack of skill.
Or lack of talent.
But a missing bridge between:
(1) seeing something and,
(2) knowing what to do with it.
There IS a middle path.
You don’t have to abandon references.
And you don’t have to stay stuck copying it.
There is a way to stay grounded in observation while actively shaping what you create.
That shift is what turns into copying into creating.
It’s not a skill problem ⇒ It’s a translation problem.
Most artists were never taught how to take what they see and turn it into something that carries their own decisions, voice, and interpretation.
So we end up in one of two places:
- copying too literally
- or avoiding reference entirely and feeling lost
Neither leads to work that feels original or satisfying.
Introducing…
From Reference to Real
From Reference to Real is a 90-minute on-demand workshop designed to help you move from copying what you see… to creating work that feels like your own.
It shows you how to work with reference in a way that supports originality, rather than replacing it.
Why I Created This Workshop
One of my first memories of being acknowledged for my art was in sixth grade.
I had been flipping through celebrity magazines and pulled out an image of Matt Damon.
I worked so hard on that pencil drawing, and while it wasn’t perfect, I could see I had captured some of his likeness.
I ran downstairs to show my harshest critic: my dad.
And I knew I had done something right because of the surprise on his face. His eyebrows lifted. He looked impressed.
I don’t remember exactly what he said, probably something like, “pretty good” or “that’s close.”
But it was his expression that stayed with me.
I wanted more of that feeling.
Impressed approval. Recognition. Proof that I was an artist.
For years, I focused on copying.
I wanted the skill to recreate anything I observed and do it exactly the way I saw it. If I could copy it well enough, then others would see that I was an artist too.
And for a while, that worked.
But eventually, something shifted.
Copying stopped feeling satisfying.
I started to notice something I didn’t know how to fix:
I can draw… but I can’t make it mine.
That realization is what led me to create From Reference to Real, a 90-minute on-demand workshop
where you’ll learn practical, repeatable methods to turn photo references into original, confident artwork.
In this workshop, you’ll learn how to:
✅ Use 5 tactical methods to move from copying to creating
✅ Simplify and reinterpret references to focus on what matters most
✅Generate multiple ideas from one image
✅ Layer your own ideas, meaning, and perspective into every sketch
✅Use references as a starting point instead of a finish line
This workshop isn’t about drawing perfectly from imagination.
It’s about learning how to think more creatively with the tools you already have so your work starts to feel more like yours.
Inside this workshop, you’ll learn how to:
Make creative decisions instead of defaulting to imitation
Move beyond copying and start interpreting what you see
Simplify reference images so you focus on what matters most
Build trust in your artistic eye, not just your technical ability
Layer your own ideas, meaning, and perspective into your work
This is not about producing perfect artwork: it’s about producing your artwork.
Throughout the workshop, you’re not just watching these ideas:
you’ll actually have built-in pauses and guided prompts to apply them in real time
so you can move from understanding to doing, step-by-step.
From Reference to Real is brought to you by Carrie Brummer
Carrie Brummer is an artist and educator helping self-taught artists move from copying references into creating original, confident work.
She teaches practical methods for building creative decision-making and developing artistic voice.
What I loved the most was your authentic and honest way of listening to my questions and giving your feedback… I feel that you care and you have helped me to stay focused.
You are amazing and a true gift for all artists!
Carrie does a wonderful job of asking questions and helping me to “see” things that I had previously missed.
I attribute a significant amount of my drawing abilities to Carrie and the feedback I received from her.
Carrie is my favorite “go to” teacher when I get stuck on a painting or it just seems off. Her critique always is spot on.
I have been able to finish several paintings I might have given up on thanks to her critique.
What changes when this clicks…
✔️ You stop freezing at the blank page
✔️ You stop over-relying on tutorials
✔️ You start making decisions instead of following instructions
✔️ Your work starts to feel more like you
And often, this is the moment artists realize:
“Oh… I actually can create original work. I just didn’t know how to begin.”
I’m adding images of paintings during my journey, early, mid & recent:
Turn copying into confident, original artwork, at your own pace
A ONE-TIME PAYMENT of
$47
- Full on-demand 90-minute workshop
- Step-by-step process for transforming reference into original work
- Practical methods you can apply immediately in your sketchbook or studio
- Optional feedback opportunity
INSTANT ACCESS. 7-Day No Questions Asked Guarantee
This isn’t a passive lecture or demonstration
From Reference to Real is structured so you move between:
- learning a concept
- and immediately applying it to your own work
Inside the recording, I intentionally build in space for:
- guided prompts
- short creative exercises
- moments where you pause and try the technique yourself
- reflection so you can make decisions in real time
So you’re not just watching a process, you’re actively practicing it as you go.
By the end, you don’t just understand the shift.
You’ve already started making it.
From Reference to Real is right for you if…
✔ You can copy reference images but struggle to move beyond them
✔ You feel unsure when trying to create without guidance
✔ You want your art to feel more expressive and personal
✔ You often rely heavily on reference and want more independence in your work
✔ You’re ready to move from imitation into interpretation
From Reference to Real may NOT be right for you if…
✘ You already create original bodies of work
✘ Your looking for advanced technical instruction only
✘ You don’t want a guided process for developing ideas from references
✘ You expect change overnight.
✘ You only explore non-objective abstraction
Learn to draw and paint like YOU
A ONE-TIME PAYMENT of
$47
- Full on-demand 90-minute workshop
- Step-by-step process for transforming reference into original work
- Practical methods you can apply immediately in your sketchbook or studio
- Optional feedback opportunity
INSTANT ACCESS. 7-Day No Questions Asked Guarantee
I can feel it unlocking that artist I’ve had locked away for so long!”
Why this works
Most artists don’t struggle because they lack ability.
They struggle because they were never shown how to move between:
- what they see
- and what they want to express
This workshop gives you that bridge.
Not by adding complexity, but by changing how you use your references.
You don’t have to stay stuck copying
If you’ve been waiting for a way to make your work feel more like your own…
This is where that shift begins.
You already know how to draw.
Now it’s time to learn how to make it yours.
“How is this different from other art classes?” and other questions
Is this workshop for beginners?
Yes. This workshop is designed for beginners and intermediate artists.
If you can draw from a reference but feel stuck when it comes to creating something original, you’re in the right place. You don’t need advanced skills. You need a process for making creative decisions, and that’s what you’ll learn here.
What materials will I need?
Keep it simple.
You can use:
- A sketchbook or paper
- Pencil or your preferred drawing tools
- Optional: pen, markers, or color
You’ll also want one or two reference images to work from.
Do I need to know how to draw from imagination already?
Not at all.
This workshop is about bridging the gap between observation and imagination. You’ll be working from references, but in a way that helps you move beyond copying into creating.
Will I get feedback on my work?
Yes, if you want it.
You’ll have the option to submit your work and receive feedback. This is a great way to get support as you start applying the methods and building confidence.
How is this different from other art classes?
Most classes show you what to draw and how to follow a process step by step.
This workshop teaches you how to think so you can take any reference and make it your own.
Instead of one finished result, you’ll learn multiple ways to approach the same image so you can start developing your own voice.
What will I be able to do after this workshop?
You’ll walk away with:
- A clear process for working with references
- Multiple ways to generate ideas from one image
- More confidence making creative decisions
- A starting point for creating original work
Is this a one-time workshop or ongoing program?
This is a one-time, 90-minute recorded workshop. You can refer back to it and repeat the workshop anytime you wish.
You’ll learn the core methods you can continue to practice and apply on your own after the session.
Is this worth it if I’ve taken other art classes before?
Yes, especially if you’ve taken classes but still feel stuck.
Many artists learn techniques but never learn how to move beyond copying. This workshop focuses specifically on that gap.
What if I’m worried my work isn’t “good enough”?
That’s more common than you think.
This workshop is about experimenting and learning how to make decisions, not about producing perfect work. You’ll be guided step by step in a way that makes the process feel approachable and doable.
Is there a refund policy?
If you attend the workshop and feel it wasn’t helpful, reach out within 7-days of purchase and we’ll make it right.
Move from copying references to creating with them
A ONE-TIME PAYMENT of
$47
- Full on-demand 90-minute workshop
- Step-by-step process for transforming reference into original work
- Practical methods you can apply immediately in your sketchbook or studio
- Optional feedback opportunity
INSTANT ACCESS. 7-Day No Questions Asked Guarantee