Last week I wrote about the importance of squinting and of stepping back. I also said that most students know this already, but few really do it. Yet it is essential that you keep distance from your canvas, especially in portrait painting.
Portrait painting: keep distance.
What happens if you don´t ? The image on your easel settles on your hard disk in your brain, with the result that it becomes more and more like your mental image rather than the subject.
How to avoid this?
- Don’t sit but remain standing whilst painting. This makes it more likely you will step backward.
- Put a chair between you and the easel. This prevents you coming closer. As easy as that.
- Put a mirror behind you so that you can see your work in reverse. You will be surprised how easy it is to track errors at once.
