Painting Portrait Tips / Lots of information about how to paint a portrait
Singer-songwriter Scott Mannion from New Zealand, settled down years ago in Chelva. Last Friday he unveiled his latest clip for “Your Kinda Love”. A memorable event. In the past Scott has been sitting for us twice on our Tuesday night live portrait sessions. Continue reading “Portrait of singer-songwriter Scott Mannion”
Beginning painters often put in too many details in portrait painting and make them too sharp. For example: Cutting edges around the eyes, hard red lips, pointed corners of the mouth etc. etc. Why? One of the pitfalls is associated with working from photography.
Once back, safe and sound from my portrait painting workshops in France, I started the preparations for my show “portraits and landscapes” here in the village, in August. The titel will be: “Portraits of Chelva”. Landscapes and Plain-air paintings of the Chelva surroundings. Also a number of portraits of local people, from our weekly live-model sessions in my studio. I brought some 40 paintings to the frame maker. Continue reading “Portraits and landscapes show”
Portrait commissions of children have their special challenges. With each assignment, the model is new to me. Therefore an extensive acquaintance is essential. It is important to get to know each other. This applies to adults, but even more to portraits of children. They might see me as an intruder, a strange guy with a camera. Continue reading “Portrait commissions of children”
Of course, like every child, I was asked sometimes “what do you want to be when you grow up”? Did I ask myself the question: Me as a portrait painter?
But what is a portrait painter? the English Dictionary says: an artist who paints portraits
Drawing as a little child?
Sometimes I visit websites from other portrait artists and read the information they give about themselves. Often like: “I was already drawing as a little child, or I was born with brushes in my hand”. That annoys me and I do not know exactly why. Is it that difficult to write something more original?
Values make the portrait, not the colour.
Values in portrait painting refer to the relation of lights and darks. This contrast is more important than the colour contrast. As is is actually in every painting.
Hence, in portrait painting it is really fundamental to pay attention to this mutual relation.
It is a challenge to learn to see and use the value contrasts. Ask yourself always which tone is lighter or darker than the surrounding tonal values.
By almost closing your eyes a large part of the colour disappears and the light-dark contrast remains to be judged.
It is the cornerstone to paint a good portrait. Consequently, the importance of good shadows is consistent. If there is hardly any shadow on the face, like in frontal lighting, the resemblance must be made out of subtle colour changes. That is more difficult than with distinct shadows.
Despite of the fact that I often do portrait painting from photography, I really must emphasize again, that portrait painting from observation is important. Study as much as you can from a life model sitting in front of you.
Training your drawing skills is fundamental. Accompanying a study I made last Tuesday night. I used Terra Rosa (Winsor & Newton) mixed with a little bit of Burnt Umber (Rembrandt Talens.)
This post is about brushes for oil painting technique. As you may have noticed, recently I was able to dedicate more attention to landscape painting. It took a long time; I was too busy with my portrait commissions. The surroundings of the town of Chelva, where we live, are beautiful and very picturesque. There are countless places asking to be painted. And that is what I do. Continue reading “Oil painting technique.”
During my whole long career, I never understood why a painted portrait should not show cheerfulness. What is wrong with a happy portrait?
Often heard reactions “A joyous portrait will be boring in the long run” or “Do not show teeth because you than go back on the fact that you worked from photography”. Why not portray someone, who is feeling good? Why not look for that split second that the sitter looks fine? Continue reading “A happy portrait.”
Portrait painting is not easy in the beginning. I know these beginners mistakes very well. There are many pitfalls, which you must overcome in the learning process. But where to start? Continue reading “10 beginners mistakes in portrait painting.”