The first and most important step in portrait painting is to draw many sketches until you feel the sitter's personality is captured. The personality may be completely captured by your judgment call or reviewed by the sitter and both of you settle on an agreed decision. Use a live model to pose for you. This is portrait sketching at its best. A photo may substitute should you not be able to get anyone to pose.
The purpose of sketching faces is to outline general features; then detail and refine. I had a personal experience which taught me a lesson. Before completing your portrait painting check with your client to be sure the sitter is in agreement.
Why?
I had described exactly how I wanted my portrait to be done and I asked the portrait painting artist if she could do it. If it was not within her talent range to give me what I wanted, do not take the job. She said she could it. We agreed to 50% down and 50% on completion.
She completed the portrait. I was very disappointed as she did not fulfill my requirements. I refused to pay the balance of the agreed amount. I was very angry. I lost my money, but more importantly the portrait never got done.
Till today, I truly feel that if the artist had me review her work as she progressed with the portrait we would have both been very happy. She would have had her money, I would have had my portrait, and I would have done much advertising for her.
Artists may have their tempers, but the paying customer has their rights to the best product that an artist can produce. Artists like any other business person needs to give good customer service.
Thank you for listening to me. Let's go back to being a portrait artist.
Let us take a moment to reflect and think. It was not uncommon years ago for a person to be painted surrounded by those effects which defined the individual. For instance, if the person was a hunter, there would be dogs nearby. If the person enjoyed gardening, he or she would be surrounded by their flowers.
A decision needs to be made if there is to be a background or not for the person you are sketching for a portrait.
This should be an easy decision:
A significant background symbol representing their interestsWearing apparel which identifies the personA piece of jewelry which marks their identityAn emblem or medals signifying their accomplishmentsBirthmarks or tattoos
The personality of the sitter needs to be captured on canvas with or without a significant symbol. If using symbols, do not let them take away from the sitter. The person is the focus point on the canvas.
After making portrait sketches consider where light and shadow will be noted in the portrait. Light and shadow are critical for emphasizing or de-emphasizing facial lines and expressions.
What size will you be drawing and painting? A standard rule says the subject should be 2/3 of the canvas.
Mixing flesh tones:
The complexion of the human face has many colors. Experiment with pigments to get different shades of flesh tones.
When I do get what I consider the 'correct' shade I make extra and store appropriately or write the formula in a notebook so it may be mixed again when needed. It is not necessary to purchase flesh tinted paint.
It will take time and practice to become a good portrait artist, but it can be done. Find yourself a mentor who will be a great help to you. Learn all that you can from that person but at the same time your experiments and personal experiences will lend towards original works.
For more information to improve your portrait painting artist skills visit the hobbies section at http://www.Infotrish.com and review Portrait Painting with Acrylic & Oil Paint.
Tricia Deed, writer for http://www.infotrish.com/ brings you through internet marketing hobbies for your leisure, recreation, and business opportunities. I invite you to visit my web pages to review the various hobby companies. Do take advantage of their free giveaways.
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