May 2023 – Realistic Acrylic Portrait School

Increase the Contrast in Your Portrait With My SECRET Color

/ Uncategorized
/ By Matt Philleo

Did you know there’s a color that’s darker than black?

Yes, you can use my “secret” color to increase the contrast in your acrylic portrait.

One of the best ways to make your portrait “POP” is to give it more contrast. In other words, to make the dark values darker, which in turn, makes the light values look lighter.

And if you can get your darkest values as dark as they can go, that will really help your portrait to look it’s best.

But what do you use? Black is the color most of us artists would reach for. But let me show you another color that works even better…

Watch the video below to learn more how I increase the contrast in your portrait with my secret color.

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I’d love to hear your thoughts on this video. Please share it with your friends and family. Let me know if you have any further questions. I’ll greatly help you.

If you’d like to learn more, sign up for my free email tips and video class today.

Learn How to Paint Acrylic Portraits With My Free Mini-Video Course!

Thank you so much for taking the time to read this tutorial and watch the video. That means a lot to me. I hope you find it very helpful in your portrait painting.

Yours for Better Portraits,

P.S. Did you find this post helpful or encouraging? If so, send it on ahead! Let others know with the share buttons below. I’d love to hear your comments. Thank you so much! Also, do you have a question on acrylic portrait painting you’d like answered? Let me know, and I’d be happy to help!

How to Paint Wrinkles on Jeans in Your Acrylic Portrait

/ Real Time Tutorial Video Tutorial
/ By Matt Philleo

Painting Wrinkles in Jeans with Acrylics!

To learn more watch my free tutorial about how to paint wrinkles on your jeans acrylic portrait painting.

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I’d love to hear your thoughts on this video. Please share it with your friends and family. Let me know if you have any further questions. I’ll greatly help you.

If you’d like to learn more, sign up for my free email tips and video class today.

Learn How to Paint Acrylic Portraits With My Free Mini-Video Course!

Thank you so much for taking the time to read this tutorial and watch the video. That means a lot to me. I hope you find it very helpful in your portrait painting.

Yours for Better Portraits,

P.S. Did you find this post helpful or encouraging? If so, send it on ahead! Let others know with the share buttons below. I’d love to hear your comments. Thank you so much! Also, do you have a question on acrylic portrait painting you’d like answered? Let me know, and I’d be happy to help!

Secrets of Shading White Clothing in Acrylic

/ Real Time Tutorial Video Tutorial
/ By Matt Philleo

Clothing can be challenging to paint.

In this video tutorial, I’ll show you advanced techniques for making your clothing, especially white clothing, look super-realistic in acrylic.

Here’s 3 of my best secrets for painting realistic shading on white clothing:

Secret #1: Be sure to paint the darkest values on the clothing as BLACK, or a value very close to that. Too many artists assume that white clothing will be light, and even the shadows will be much lighter. Not so. In the absence of light, even white clothing will appear black.

Secret #2: The shadow color on white will change depending on the environment around it. White picks up the colors of whatever is nearby. If a person is seated outside, the blue sky will affect the color of the shadows, making it appear cooler in tone. Their arms, legs, or any other areas of flesh may make the white shadows appear warmer.

Secret #3: Your main job is to OBSERVE the specific shape of the wrinkles in the clothing, from your reference photo (or from life) and replicate the shape you see. Don’t over-simplify it or over-complicate it. If you do this enough, all over the clothing, step back and you will see that it looks realistic!

I share a whole lot more in the video, so watch it til the end. And be sure to check out more of my work below…

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I’d love to hear your thoughts on this video. Please share it with your friends and family. Let me know if you have any further questions. I’ll greatly help you.

If you’d like to learn more, sign up for my free email tips and video class today.

Learn How to Paint Acrylic Portraits With My Free Mini-Video Course!

Thank you so much for taking the time to read this tutorial and watch the video. That means a lot to me. I hope you find it very helpful in your portrait painting.

Yours for Better Portraits,

P.S. Did you find this post helpful or encouraging? If so, send it on ahead! Let others know with the share buttons below. I’d love to hear your comments. Thank you so much! Also, do you have a question on acrylic portrait painting you’d like answered? Let me know, and I’d be happy to help!

How to Paint Titanium White Clothing Highlights in an Acrylic Grisaille

/ Real Time Tutorial Uncategorized Video Tutorial
/ By Matt Philleo

I’ll show you how to add special nuances, that is, titanium white highlights for your grisaille acrylic portrait.

A grisaille is a monochromatic painting over a earth-toned ground (background) that you add color glazes on top of.

Using my portrait painting of Paul the Apostle praying, I’ll show you how to use a small round brush and make your clothing look realistic with the strategic placement of highlights. You can use this technique in your portraits today!

LEARN MORE

I’d love to hear your thoughts on this video. Please share it with your friends and family. Let me know if you have any further questions. I’ll greatly help you.

If you’d like to learn more, sign up for my free email tips and video class today.

Learn How to Paint Acrylic Portraits With My Free Mini-Video Course!

Thank you so much for taking the time to read this tutorial and watch the video. That means a lot to me. I hope you find it very helpful in your portrait painting.

Yours for Better Portraits,

P.S. Did you find this post helpful or encouraging? If so, send it on ahead! Let others know with the share buttons below. I’d love to hear your comments. Thank you so much! Also, do you have a question on acrylic portrait painting you’d like answered? Let me know, and I’d be happy to help!

How to Build up Shading and Color Over a Grisaille Portrait Painting

I’ll show you how to color, glaze using acrylic to build up shading and color.

In classical painting, a grisaille is typically used to capture the value structure of the image. But what next? In this video tutorial, I’ll show you how to add color glazes, using acrylic, on top of a grisaille done in the Caravaggio tenebristic technique.

LEARN MORE

I’d love to hear your thoughts on this video. Please share it with your friends and family. Let me know if you have any further questions. I’ll greatly help you.

If you’d like to learn more, sign up for my free email tips and video class today.

Learn How to Paint Acrylic Portraits With My Free Mini-Video Course!

Thank you so much for taking the time to read this tutorial and watch the video. That means a lot to me. I hope you find it very helpful in your portrait painting.

Yours for Better Portraits,

P.S. Did you find this post helpful or encouraging? If so, send it on ahead! Let others know with the share buttons below. I’d love to hear your comments. Thank you so much! Also, do you have a question on acrylic portrait painting you’d like answered? Let me know, and I’d be happy to help!

Weird Way to Apply Gesso to Your Canvas

Most store-bought canvases are not primed very well and can benefit from another layer or two of gesso.

I’ll show you a weird way to gesso a canvas, to smooth out the surface texture. It works much better than just a brush alone.

Often, the brush will leave a lot of unwanted vertical texture on your canvas. This technique overcomes that and, in turn, will make your painting process easier, and allow you to achieve smoother shading and increased detail.

SUPPLIES NEEDED”

Pre-primed canvas

Drywall taping knives (4″ or 6″, possibly 10″)

2″ or 3″ Household paintbrush

Gesso (high quality–Liquitex or Nova Color)

Matte Medium (high quality–Liquitex or Nova Color)

Container (1 qt. size yogurt container works well)

Easel to hold canvas securely.

Cotton Towel

HOW TO DO IT:

Step 1. Pour gesso into your container until about 1/4″ full. Add some matt medium (1/4 of the amount of gesso) Mix well.

Step 2. Brush gesso onto the canvas generously and vertically. Smooth out as best as you can.

Step 3. Use your largest taping knife to smooth out the gesso application.

Step 4. Switch to your smallest taping knife, keeping it at a 45° to 33° angle, using less pressure to feather out any vertical ridges. Wipe your knife on a towel to keep it clean and avoid buildup that could get on your canvas. When done, immediately clean your knives with soap, water, and rubbing alcohol to prevent rust. Careful, as taping knives have a very sharp edge!

Step 5. Let it dry for several hours and then sand it with 250 or higher grit sandpaper on a sanding block. (Use a dust mask!)

Wipe off any excess dust and you’re ready to paint, or add another layer if you’d like for extra smoothness.

(I cannot be held responsible for any damage to you or your canvas by using this technique. But I can say it works well. )

LEARN MORE

I’d love to hear your thoughts on this video. Please share it with your friends and family. Let me know if you have any further questions. I’ll greatly help you.

If you’d like to learn more, sign up for my free email tips and video class today.

Learn How to Paint Acrylic Portraits With My Free Mini-Video Course!

Thank you so much for taking the time to read this tutorial and watch the video. That means a lot to me. I hope you find it very helpful in your portrait painting.

Yours for Better Portraits,

P.S. Did you find this post helpful or encouraging? If so, send it on ahead! Let others know with the share buttons below. I’d love to hear your comments. Thank you so much! Also, do you have a question on acrylic portrait painting you’d like answered? Let me know, and I’d be happy to help!

Introducing the Shading and Skin Tones Super Bundle

I’ll share with you my introduction to the shading and skin tones super bundle.

If you struggle with shading and skin tones (many artists do), I put together a special bundle of three of my favorite courses to help you.

Get the bundle here: https://realistic-acrylic-portrait-sc…

Watch the video below to learn more about the introduction of the shading and skin tones super bundle.

LEARN MORE

I’d love to hear your thoughts on this video. Please share it with your friends and family. Let me know if you have any further questions. I’ll greatly help you.

If you’d like to learn more, sign up for my free email tips and video class today.

Learn How to Paint Acrylic Portraits With My Free Mini-Video Course!

Thank you so much for taking the time to read this tutorial and watch the video. That means a lot to me. I hope you find it very helpful in your portrait painting.

Yours for Better Portraits,

P.S. Did you find this post helpful or encouraging? If so, send it on ahead! Let others know with the share buttons below. I’d love to hear your comments. Thank you so much! Also, do you have a question on acrylic portrait painting you’d like answered? Let me know, and I’d be happy to help!

How to Add the Finishing Touches to an Acrylic Portrait

Finishing a portrait is challenging yet incredibly satisfying.

In this video, I’ll show you how I finished this 24″ x 30″ portrait of 30 people. I’m adding highlights with some warmer colors to give the painting some more visual impact. That’s what it’s all about—”bringing the portrait home” and making the customer happy!

LEARN MORE

I’d love to hear your thoughts on this video. Please share it with your friends and family. Let me know if you have any further questions. I’ll greatly help you.

If you’d like to learn more, sign up for my free email tips and video class today.

Learn How to Paint Acrylic Portraits With My Free Mini-Video Course!

Thank you so much for taking the time to read this tutorial and watch the video. That means a lot to me. I hope you find it very helpful in your portrait painting.

Yours for Better Portraits,

P.S. Did you find this post helpful or encouraging? If so, send it on ahead! Let others know with the share buttons below. I’d love to hear your comments. Thank you so much! Also, do you have a question on acrylic portrait painting you’d like answered? Let me know, and I’d be happy to help!

How to Create Contrast in a Chiaroscuro Acrylic Painting

/ Uncategorized
/ By Matt Philleo

Contrast is so important in a painting.

In this video, I will show you how you can add contrast, that is the dramatic difference between light and dark in your portrait.

I’m using the 16 x 20 painting of Paul the Apostle praying as an example. Using the Caravaggio chiaroscuro technique of layering earth tone or monochromatic glazes on top of each other, I’m building up depth to bring out the drama of the subject.

LEARN MORE

I’d love to hear your thoughts on this video. Please share it with your friends and family. Let me know if you have any further questions. I’ll greatly help you.

If you’d like to learn more, sign up for my free email tips and video class today.

Learn How to Paint Acrylic Portraits With My Free Mini-Video Course!

Thank you so much for taking the time to read this tutorial and watch the video. That means a lot to me. I hope you find it very helpful in your portrait painting.

Yours for Better Portraits,

P.S. Did you find this post helpful or encouraging? If so, send it on ahead! Let others know with the share buttons below. I’d love to hear your comments. Thank you so much! Also, do you have a question on acrylic portrait painting you’d like answered? Let me know, and I’d be happy to help!

Archive Monthly Archives: May 2023

Did you know there’s a color that’s darker than black?

Painting Wrinkles in Jeans with Acrylics!

How to Enhance the Contrast in Your Acrylic

Read more about how to paint a portrait that you can surely be proud of!

I’d love to hear your thoughts on this video. Please share it with your friends and family. Let me know if you have any further questions. I’ll greatly help you.

If you’d like to learn more, sign up for my free email tips and video class today.

Thank you so much for taking the time to read this tutorial and watch the video. That means a lot to me. I hope you find it very helpful in your portrait painting.

Yours for Better Portraits,

P.S. Did you find this post helpful or encouraging? If so, send it on ahead! Let others know with the share buttons below. I’d love to hear your comments. Thank you so much! Also, do you have a question on acrylic portrait painting you’d like answered? Let me know, and I’d be happy to help!

Clothing can be challenging to paint.

I’ll show you how to add special nuances, that is, titanium white highlights for your grisaille acrylic portrait.

I’ll show you how to color, glaze using acrylic to build up shading and color.

Most store-bought canvases are not primed very well and can benefit from another layer or two of gesso.

I’ll share with you my introduction to the shading and skin tones super bundle.

Finishing a portrait is challenging yet incredibly satisfying.

Contrast is so important in a painting.