Blog - Page 11 of 27 - Realistic Acrylic Portrait School

How to Easily Transition from a Sketch to a Painting

/ Real Time Tutorial Uncategorized Video Tutorial
/ By Matt Philleo

Building the foundation of why contrast and form matter more than color initially

Transitioning from a sketch to a detailed painting can be a challenge, but with the right techniques, the process can be simplified. In this post, we will explore how to use acrylic glazing to transform a simple sketch into a vibrant, realistic painting. This method not only builds contrast but also gives the painting depth and life, allowing for gradual layering that enhances detail and realism.

The Importance of Contrast in Your Painting

Before diving into color and skin tones, it’s essential to establish the structural foundation of your painting. Many artists fall into the trap of immediately focusing on skin tones, only to end up with muddy, flat colors due to a lack of contrast. The key is to first build up your dark values to measure your midtones and highlights against them. By doing so, you create a balanced image where light and shadow work harmoniously.

When starting your painting, don’t focus on details like skin tones or small textures right away. Instead, think in terms of light and dark, focusing on the overall contrast. Use your sketch as a guideline and begin with general areas that need darkening. In this tutorial, we will use a combination of raw umber dark and ultramarine blue to create a rich, customizable black that is far more versatile than pre-mixed black paints like mars or ivory black.

Step 1: Preparing Your Glaze

Acrylic glazing is the core technique used to transition from a sketch to a painting. A glaze is simply a thin, translucent layer of paint applied over dry paint to build depth and modify color. For this process, you’ll need two basic components: paint and matte medium. Matte medium helps thin the paint without losing its vibrant color, allowing you to apply multiple layers without muddying the details beneath.

To create your glaze, mix a small amount of raw umber dark with ultramarine blue to make a deep, customizable black. Adjust the warmth or coolness of the black by adding more umber for warmth or more blue for a cooler tone. Once mixed, add in your matte medium to create a smooth glaze.

Step 2: Start by Darkening Large Areas

Once your glaze is ready, begin by applying it to large areas of your painting that require dark tones. For example, in a family portrait with 30 subjects, you might want to start by darkening clothing, hair, and shadows under the neck and face. Work from one side of the painting to the other, applying your glaze in smooth, even strokes.

As you work, keep in mind that the glazing process is all about building up layers gradually. Don’t try to achieve the perfect tone with just one pass. Instead, allow each glaze to dry before adding the next. This method will ensure that your painting remains vibrant and full of depth, rather than becoming flat or muddy.

Step 3: Achieving Smooth Transitions with Your Brush Strokes

When applying your glaze, alternate your brush strokes to create a smooth, seamless transition between light and dark areas. For example, when working on a subject’s shirt, brush horizontally across the fabric and then switch to vertical strokes. This back-and-forth motion helps blend the glaze evenly and prevents blotchiness.

Maintaining a wet edge is crucial during this process. A wet edge allows you to blend the glaze smoothly as you go, creating consistent shading and tone. If you let one area dry before finishing, you might end up with harsh lines or uneven patches.

Step 4: Building Form and Detail Gradually

Once you’ve established the darker areas of your painting, it’s time to move on to more detailed sections. Focus on transitioning from shadows to midtones and highlights. For example, when painting hair or intricate clothing, use your glazing technique to build depth gradually. The shadows in the hair can be darkened while leaving room for highlights, ensuring the subject looks three-dimensional.

At this stage, remember to keep the focus on form and structure. Don’t worry too much about perfect color accuracy just yet. As you layer your glazes, the true colors will emerge, and the painting will gain a natural depth and vibrancy.

Step 5: Avoiding Common Mistakes in Glazing

A common mistake that many artists make is rushing the skin tones too early. Skin tones can be tricky, and if they are not applied with the proper contrast already established, they can easily look flat and lifeless. By focusing first on the shadows and darker values, you will create a foundation on which the skin tones can later be added and adjusted.

When it comes time to start adding skin tones, remember that they should be lighter in comparison to your dark values. This contrast is what brings realism and dimension to your painting.

Tips for Using Glazing to Enhance Your Painting

Use Matte Medium for Control: Always mix your paint with matte medium to control the transparency of your glaze. Matte medium allows for smoother application and prevents the paint from becoming too thick.
Build Layers Slowly: Glazing is a gradual process. Apply thin layers and allow each one to dry before adding the next. This approach helps prevent muddiness and ensures each layer enhances the one beneath it.
Maintain a Wet Edge: As you work, make sure to keep your paint edge wet. This technique allows for smoother blending and prevents harsh lines from forming between different areas.
Alternate Brush Strokes: Use a combination of horizontal and vertical brush strokes to achieve even blending. This technique ensures that the glaze applies smoothly and evenly.

Elevating Your Sketch into a Painting

Transitioning from a sketch to a painting is a delicate process that requires patience and technique. By using acrylic glazing, you can enhance your artwork by gradually building up contrast, depth, and realism. Focus first on your darker values, slowly layering your glazes, and allow the painting to develop naturally.

Read more about my additional resources, tutorials, to learn more and check out my free courses here. . Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced artist, there’s always something new to learn and apply to your paintings. Happy painting!

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 Block In Shading & Skin Tones in Your Acrylic

/ Blocking-In Glazing Real Time Tutorial Video Tutorial
/ By Matt Philleo

How to add depth and dimension to your portrait with layering

Acrylic portrait painting requires understanding shading, value, and skin tone to capture the subject’s essence. In this post, you’ll learn how to block in shading and skin tones using acrylic glazing techniques, without losing detail or vibrancy.

Creating realistic skin tones and shading is a crucial aspect of acrylic portrait painting. This technique, known as blocking in, helps you define mid-tones and shadows early on, setting the stage for a vibrant and lifelike portrait. Using acrylic glazing, this process ensures a smooth transition from sketch to finished painting, retaining the likeness while building depth and luminosity. In this tutorial, we will break down how to block in shading and skin tones, offering a step-by-step guide to enhance your portrait’s realism.

Understanding the Glazing Technique

Acrylic glazing involves applying thin layers of translucent paint over a base to create depth and smooth transitions. Because combining paint with matte medium, you can control the transparency, allowing the underpainting to shine through. Then this method is ideal for building subtle layers of skin tones without overpowering the original sketch.

Tip: Start with light glazes and build up gradually. Also, use more medium for lighter glazes and increase pigment for darker tones.

Preparing Your Materials

Before diving into shading, gather the following materials:

Acrylic paints: Raw sienna, pyrrole orange, matte medium
Brushes: Soft, round brushes for detailed application
Matte Medium: Thins the paint and creates a translucent effect
Palette: To mix your glazes

Tip: Matte medium works best for glazing because it dries flat, ensuring you maintain control over the values. Avoid gloss mediums, as they can create distracting reflections while working.

Step 1: Begin with a Detailed Sketch

Start by ensuring your portrait sketch is clear and precise. The sketch provides the foundation for your shading and color work. Because it focus on the key areas where light and shadow fall, as these will guide your shading process.

Tip: Preserve the luminosity by keeping the lighter areas, such as the forehead, untouched during initial layers. This helps maintain brightness in the final result.

Step 2: Apply the First Glaze

Mix raw sienna with matte medium to create your first glaze. Raw sienna is an excellent base color for skin tones, providing a natural warmth that can be built upon. Apply this glaze lightly across the mid-tones of the face, avoiding the highlights.

Technique Insight: When, glazing allows you to enhance skin tones subtly without covering the entire surface. And then translucent layers let you build up depth without losing the detailed sketch beneath.

Step 3: Focus on Value, Not Just Color

While color is important, value—the lightness or darkness of an area—is even more crucial. Focus on building form by shading the areas that need more depth, like the sides of the face, beneath the chin, and around the nose.

Tip: “Value over color” is a fundamental principle. A black-and-white portrait can still be striking if the values are correct. Don’t rush to perfect the skin tone without ensuring the shadows and highlights are accurate.

Step 4: Building Skin Tones

Basically to enhance your raw sienna base, introduce subtle variations using pyrrole orange. While this color adds a red-orange tint to areas like the cheeks and nose, creating a more natural skin tone. Mix the pyro orange with matte medium to maintain translucency, then applying it in thin layers over the previous glazes.

Technique Insight: For fairer skin, keep the glazes light and gradually build up warmth with minimal layers. For darker or tanned skin tones, you can deepen the shading by increasing the pigment concentration in each glaze.

Step 5: Blending and Refining

As you continue applying glazes, you’ll notice how the layers blend smoothly, creating a gradual transition between light and shadow. Use a soft brush to gently feather the edges of your glazes, ensuring there are no harsh lines between transitions.

Tip: If any areas become too dark, you can lighten them by adding a glaze of matte medium mixed with titanium white. This will soften the area without disrupting the overall value structure.

Step 6: Maintain Light in Highlights

When blocking in shading, it’s essential to preserve the lighter areas, like the forehead and the top of the nose. You can always adjust these areas with subtle glazes later, but maintaining their brightness early on ensures that your portrait remains balanced in terms of light and form.

Tip: Always work in stages, letting each glaze dry before adding another. This allows you to assess the overall effect and make adjustments as necessary.

Step 7: Finishing Touches

Once you have built up your skin tones and shading, you can start adding more opaque layers in areas that need stronger definition. Reduce the amount of matte medium for these layers, focusing on darker shadows and adding detail to features like the eyes, lips, and nose.

Tip: Use smaller brushes for detailing in these final stages, paying attention to the subtle shifts in color and value across the face.

Building a Realistic Portrait

Blocking in shading and skin tones using acrylic glazing takes practice, but the results can be incredibly rewarding. By focusing on value, applying translucent layers, and preserving luminosity, you can create a portrait that has depth, realism, and vibrancy.

Final Tip: Remember, the glazing technique is all about patience. Build up your layers gradually, allowing each one to contribute to the final result.

Read more about my additional resources, tutorials, to learn more and check out my free courses here. . Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced artist, there’s always something new to learn and apply to your paintings. Happy painting!

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!

Matte Medium vs. Gloss Medium for Acrylic Glazing

Students who are new to my glazing technique have a lot of questions. So many mediums to choose from. Which ones are best to use…and why?

That’s what I want to discuss today.

Here’s a portion of an email I got from one of my students:

As you know, I am currently working on your portrait course at the moment, however, I have a question that I hope you can clarify. All previous information I have looked up indicates that when applying glazes, acrylic matte medium dries cloudy and gloss medium dries clear and obviously glossy. Can you just explain it for me why we only use matte medium for glazing in your tutorial, as my initial thoughts would be that the cloudiness would just build up? Or am I just missing the l point in that this is how we build up the underpainting of the portrait? Many Thanks, R—

This is a good question.

So, what’s better for glazing? Matte medium or gloss medium?

Let me answer that with the reply I sent back to my student.

I use matte medium for three reasons:

1. It dries to a flat finish and so it doesn’t react with the lights in my studio, producing distracting glare.

2. Because it dries to a flat finish, it is closer to the sheen of paint, and so when you have areas that are more opaque and less opaque, they match up better. In other words, you can perceive the values more accurately. A glossy finish will make colors look more saturated and deepen values. When you put a varnish over the painting, it would present a problem, causing certain subtle nuances that seemed to look correct, suddenly become inaccurate. (Yes, this happened to me!)

acrylic painting palette

3. Matte medium is usually less expensive than gloss medium. With the copious amounts of medium that I use, this adds up!

Now, I don’t find that matte medium builds up cloudiness, in the way that I teach. It will get cloudy, if you have areas of your painting that are quite dark or saturated, and you overlap those areas with a very transparent (high ratio of matte medium to paint) glaze.

But I don’t do it that way in my paintings. Rather, I start off very transparent, (95-5) then shift to more translucent (80-20), and finally end up with semi-opaque layers (50-50) over portions of the work.

acrylic portrait painting challenge in progress

Acrylic portrait painting challenge example in progressm using the acrylic glazing technique, 16 x 20, acrylic on canvas by artist and instructor Matt Philleo

This prevents that cloudiness from occurring and gives a rich saturation of color too. But we still retain the benefits of the smooth shading, vibrancy, and depth that glazing produces.

I finish my painting with a satin or semi-gloss varnish and that’s where we can add some extra saturation of value and vibrancy.

What is YOUR experience with acrylic mediums? Which do you prefer…and why? Let me know in the comments below.

Look forward to sharing more tips and tutorials with you.

Yours for Better Portraits,

If you found this post helpful or encouraging, would you send it on ahead? Let others know with the share buttons below. I’d love to hear your comments. Thank you so much!

How to Build Up Color on Acrylic Pet Portrait

/ Real Time Tutorial Uncategorized Video Tutorial
/ By Matt Philleo

How to achieve realistic shadows and highlights in pet portraits

Painting a pet portrait in acrylics can be both challenging and rewarding, especially when you’re working to achieve vibrant, realistic colors. Because in layering glazes, you can build up color and add depth and detail to your artwork. In this blog post, we will discuss how to build up color on an acrylic pet portrait and essential techniques using layering and glazing methods. These methods will help you create a lifelike, detailed portrait that captures your pet’s personality.

Step-by-Step Process for Building Up Color in Acrylics

When creating a pet portrait, achieving the correct value and depth is essential. In this case, the portrait of a dog is about halfway through the painting process. The color palette has already been established, but there is still work to be done to enhance the fur, add contrast, and bring out the finer details.

1. Starting with the Base Layers

At the beginning of your painting process, it is crucial to establish the general tones and values in the portrait. In this instance, the background and main areas of the dog’s fur have been developed, but some regions require more contrast to make the fur stand out. Then this can be done using glazing techniques, which allow you to apply thin, transparent layers of paint.

Tip: So use a clear matte glazing medium to dilute your paints and apply them in layers. This will help you control the opacity and depth of color while maintaining transparency.

2. Adding Glazes for Depth

In this case, glazing is one of the most effective methods for building up rich color in your portrait. Because when applying layers of thin paint mixed with medium, you can create depth and saturation without losing the underlying details of the fur texture.

The raw umber is used as a base color to add warmth and shadow to the dog’s fur. This color helps in creating the darker values that contrast with the highlights.

Tip: When applying glazes, make sure to work slowly and build up the layers gradually. This process allows you to maintain the integrity of the underlying colors and textures.

3. Balancing Warm and Cool Tones

Balancing warm and cool tones is key to achieving a realistic look. In this case, the painter alternates between warm, earthy tones and cooler colors to create the contrast needed in the fur. For instance, pinkish glazes are applied to give the ear a warm undertone, while ultramarine blue is used to cool down certain areas that appear too warm.

Technique: Mix a small amount of ultramarine blue into your existing glaze to cool down warm areas. This subtle adjustment helps ensure that different parts of the portrait do not compete for attention.

4. Highlighting the Fur

Once you have built up the darker values, the next step is to add highlights to bring out the texture of the fur. In this step, you’ll apply lighter colors to the areas where the fur catches the light, making the dog’s coat appear more three-dimensional.

The painter uses a mix of white and glazing medium to add highlights, ensuring the overall painting retains transparency while gaining depth.

Tip: You can use your finger to gently blend the highlights into the surrounding areas, creating soft transitions between light and dark.

The Push-and-Pull Method: Creating Balance in the Painting

The “push and pull” technique involves adding darkness and light alternately to achieve a balanced portrait. It’s not just about adding color; it’s about knowing when to subtract or modify the value. By continually refining the contrast and adjusting the balance between darks and lights, you can create a portrait that looks natural and dynamic.

5. Refining Details with Opacity

While glazes create transparency and depth, there are times when you’ll need to use more opaque layers. This helps cut down on any unwanted graininess and adds a sense of richness to the painting. In the final stages, using more paint and less medium allows for crisper lines and bolder highlights that make the pet’s fur pop.

Tip: Introduce more opaque layers toward the later stages of your painting process to preserve detail while avoiding a “washed-out” appearance.

6. Preserving Detail in the Fur

The fine details in the fur are what bring the pet portrait to life. By using a combination of glazes and opaque layers, you can accentuate individual strands of fur while maintaining the overall texture. It’s important to take your time and work in small sections, constantly comparing areas of the painting to your reference photo.

Technique: Twist your brush into a fine point before adding detail to ensure precision when painting fur and other delicate areas.

Building the Final Layers

As you move into the later stages of the painting, you’ll want to add finishing touches that bring the portrait together. In this pet portrait, the artist continues to refine the dog’s fur, focusing on the balance between warm and cool areas. Areas around the dog’s eyes and nose require extra attention to get the right contrast and detail, which will give the portrait a realistic finish.

Tip: Establish your darkest values first, such as the nose and eyes, as a benchmark. This will help you determine how dark the other areas of the painting should be in relation to those values.

Tips and Techniques for Building Color on Acrylic Pet Portraits:

Use Glazing Medium: Thin your paints with glazing medium to build transparent layers gradually, preserving underlying details.
Balance Warm and Cool Tones: Adjust warm and cool colors throughout the painting to create realistic contrast in the fur.
Highlight with Subtlety: Add highlights carefully with lighter colors, blending them into the fur for a smooth transition.
Push and Pull Method: Add and subtract darkness and light alternately to achieve balance in the portrait.
Incorporate Opaque Layers: Use opaque layers sparingly in the later stages of the painting to add crisp detail and texture.
Preserve Fine Detail: Work in small sections, twisting your brush to a fine point for precise details like individual strands of fur.

By following these steps, you can gradually build up rich and vibrant colors in your acrylic pet portraits. The layering and glazing techniques discussed here will help you achieve a beautiful, lifelike painting that captures the unique personality of your pet.

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 Form on Clothing with Acrylic

/ Real Time Tutorial Shading Video Tutorial
/ By Matt Philleo

A step-by-step guide to creating depth and form on fabric

When painting realistic portraits, capturing the form and texture of clothing is essential to enhance the overall composition. In this tutorial, we’ll walk you through the acrylic glazing process, and then showing you how to add depth and realism to clothing through multiple translucent layers. Because when applying glazes strategically, you’ll learn how to build up shadows, highlights, and form, transforming a flat piece into a dimensional garment. Let’s explore the process together, step-by-step.

What is Acrylic Glazing?

Acrylic glazing is a technique where thin layers of translucent paint are applied to gradually build color depth, shading, and form. This method allows the underpainting or detailed sketch to remain visible while adding subtle tints, resulting in a soft, blended effect. Whereas glazing gives artists the flexibility to create nuances in their work, making it perfect for clothing, where light reflections, textures, and folds play a significant role.

Step-by-Step Guide to Building Up Form on Clothing

1. Prepare the Painting Surface

Before applying glazes, ensure your base layer or sketch is ready. Because this technique works best over an underpainting where shadows, highlights, and basic forms have already been mapped out. Then by having a solid foundation, each glaze can be applied to enhance these areas.

Tip: Use a light underpainting to preserve the details and adjust as needed while glazing. The sketch will guide you in positioning shadows and highlights accurately.

2. Mix Your Glaze

For the glazing medium, use clear acrylic matte medium mixed with your desired paint color. Because in this tutorial, would recommend using a combination of ultramarine blue and raw umber dark to achieve subtle depth on fabric.

Start by adding a small amount of paint to the matte medium. The key is to keep the glaze transparent enough that it tints the layer beneath without fully covering it. This allows for gradual build-up.

Technique: Aim for a milky consistency when mixing the medium. The paint should be thinned enough to let the previous layer show through but thick enough to make a difference.

3. Apply the First Layer

Begin with a light glaze, especially when working on darker areas like flannel patterns or the shadowed sections of clothing. Use a flat or detail brush to apply the glaze over specific areas, following the contours and folds of the fabric.

For the woman’s flannel shirt, I begin by applying the glaze to the fabric’s stripes. A small flat brush helps maintain control and precision.

Tip: Brush in multiple directions—vertically, horizontally, or diagonally—to create smooth coverage. This helps prevent blotchiness and ensures an even, seamless layer.

4. Build Up Depth Gradually

As you apply each glaze, you’ll notice the color and form starting to take shape. One of the key principles in acrylic glazing is patience. Instead of rushing to finish, build up depth with several light layers. This gradual approach allows you to create more refined transitions between shadow and light.

When painting darker sections of fabric, such as the boy’s shirt in the example, don’t rely on flat black paint. Instead, use a mix of raw umber dark and ultramarine blue. This combination offers a more nuanced look with color variations that enhance realism.

Technique: Continue glazing in small, light strokes. Let each layer dry before applying the next to avoid smudging or muddying the colors.

5. Adjusting and Refining

When acrylic glazing offers flexibility. Then you find that certain areas of the fabric are too dark or the wrinkles don’t appear natural, you can easily adjust. Simply go over the area with a lighter glaze or use a dry brush technique to soften any hard lines.

For instance, if the folds of the fabric seem off or too sharp, a lighter glaze can be used to smooth out transitions. By constantly assessing your work, you can make minor adjustments without disrupting the overall composition.

Tips for Enhancing Realism with Acrylic Glazing

Use Multiple Colors in Glazes: While ultramarine blue and raw umber dark are used in this tutorial, experiment with other hues to add complexity. Clothing reflects various shades based on lighting conditions, so adding subtle color variations will improve the realism of your painting.
Work in Layers: Don’t aim for complete coverage in one go. By working in thin layers, you retain control over the painting and can stop at any point when you achieve the desired depth. Layers also allow you to create soft transitions between light and dark areas.
Let Each Layer Dry: Glazing requires patience. Allow each layer to dry fully before applying the next. This prevents unwanted blending of layers and keeps the work crisp and detailed.
Vary Brush Strokes: Switching between brushes, like a flat or detail brush, depending on the size of the area you’re working on, will give you more control. For broader areas, use a larger brush, and for finer details, switch to a smaller brush.
Observe Light Sources: Pay attention to how light interacts with the fabric. Observe reference images closely and apply glazes accordingly to replicate how light falls and creates shadows on the garment.

When building up form on clothing with acrylic glazing allows for greater depth, subtlety, and realism in your portraits. By layering transparent colors, you can achieve soft transitions and nuanced details that mimic the natural flow and texture of fabric. Because in this technique give you the flexibility to adjust as needed and provides a smoother finish without losing the underlying details of your initial sketch.

With a lot of practice and patience, then you can use glazing to bring clothing to life in your acrylic portraits, making your subjects stand out with dimensionality and richness. Start slow, build up gradually, and enjoy the process of watching your painting transform with every layer.

Read more about my additional resources, tutorials, to learn more and check out my free courses here. . Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced artist, there’s always something new to learn and apply to your paintings. Happy painting!

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 Paint Dark Clothing Using the Acrylic Glazing Technique

How to Paint Dark Clothing Using Acrylic Glazing Technique

/ Uncategorized
/ By Matt Philleo

Understanding the basics of acrylic glazing and why It’s key for dark clothing

When painting a portrait, capturing the subtle details of clothing is crucial to creating a realistic piece. Dark clothing, in particular, poses challenges as it requires careful control of shading and depth. In this tutorial, we will explore how to use the acrylic glazing technique to paint dark clothing, ensuring smooth transitions and a natural, realistic appearance.

What is Acrylic Glazing?

The acrylic glazing technique involves layering thin, translucent layers of paint mixed with a medium to create depth and luminosity. By gradually building up the color through glazes, you can achieve a smooth, realistic effect while retaining the vibrancy of your colors. Glazing is especially effective when painting dark clothing, as it allows you to control the opacity and create the illusion of depth in the fabric.

Step-by-Step Guide to Painting Dark Clothing

1. Prepare Your Palette

Begin by preparing your palette with a range of dark colors suitable for the clothing in your reference image. I started with raw umber and ultramarine blue to create a grayish-black tone, because it is perfect for blocking in dark areas. These shades can easily be adjusted by adding more blue or brown, but depending on the desired look.

Tip: When mixing colors for dark clothing, avoid overly chromatic (saturated) colors. Then by adding a small amount of brown to your dark blue will keep the color muted and natural.

2. Apply the First Glaze

The first glaze should be about 80% translucent. I use to mix of 80% matte medium and 20% paint for his glazes. Using a flat edge brush, then lightly apply the glaze to areas of the clothing where you want to build shadows or enhance the darkness of the fabric. For example, if the subject is wearing black pants, this glaze helps you establish the foundational shadows.

The key is to apply the glaze lightly. You can always add more layers later but removing an overly dark glaze is difficult without disturbing the painting beneath it.

3. Work in Layers

One of the most important principles of glazing is patience. It’s important to work in layers, because building up the color gradually helps avoid overpowering the piece. After each layer dries, assess where more depth is needed and apply additional glazes.

4. Darken Areas as Needed

For darker clothing, such as black or navy blue, continue applying layers of glaze until you achieve the desired opacity. You can add a little more paint to your glaze mix as you progress, but always keep the medium-to-paint ratio higher to maintain translucency.

In this case, I use a glaze mixed with raw umber and ultramarine blue to paint the folds and creases of dark pants, gradually deepening the shadows. As I work on the darker sections of the fabric, then layering technique allows me to create realistic folds and depth without losing the base sketch.

5. Create Smooth Transitions

Dark clothing often requires smooth transitions between light and shadow, especially in areas like folds or wrinkles in the fabric. Then I use a combination of vertical and horizontal brushstrokes to blend the glazes seamlessly. Because this helps prevent harsh lines and ensures that the transitions appear natural.

Tip: Keep the edges of your brushstrokes wet while working to avoid uneven texture or dry edges. This is especially important when working on hard surfaces like hardboard, where brushstrokes tend to show more prominently.

Adjusting for Realism

1. Refining Details

As you build up layers on the dark clothing, it’s essential to refine the smaller details like buttons, seams, or small highlights. Hence I emphasize the painting around the objects, leaving lighter areas like baby legs or shoes untouched to maintain the painting’s structure.

By painting around the lighter areas, the clothing appears more defined, and the overall composition stays balanced.

2. Capturing Light and Shadow

While the clothing may appear black in the reference photo, shadows and light reflections will alter its appearance in various areas. I highlight the importance of understanding value—the range of lightness and darkness when painting clothing. For instance, even khaki pants may appear black in shadows, so paying attention to how light interacts with fabric is key to achieving realism.

Troubleshooting Common Mistakes

Overly Chromatic Shadows: If your shadows look too blue or intense, add a touch of brown to balance the color.
Stiff Transitions: Use a mix of vertical and horizontal strokes to blend harsh lines.
Overworking the Paint: Keep glazes thin and translucent to avoid muddying the details underneath.

Final Touches for Dark Clothing

Once the clothing has the right amount of depth, use a final, darker glaze to emphasize folds, creases, and any significant shadow areas. This will enhance the three-dimensionality of the fabric. Then the final step involves darkening specific areas like the folds of the pants and the shadows under the sleeves.

I also adjusts the values slightly with a thicker glaze for wrinkles in sweaters and shirts. Because this final adjustment adds realism and helps bring the clothing to life.

When using the acrylic glazing technique to paint dark clothing, it allows you to build rich, detailed layers that create depth and realism. As you work through the process, remember to start with thin layers, gradually adding more depth with each glaze. Then, by understanding value and how light interacts with fabric, you can achieve stunning results that enhance your portrait.

Read more about my additional resources, tutorials, to learn more and check out my free courses here. . Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced artist, there’s always something new to learn and apply to your paintings. Happy painting!

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 Paint a 24 x 30 Acrylic With 30 People

/ Uncategorized
/ By Matt Philleo

How do I apply the first skin tone layer using acrylic glazing?

Introduction:

Creating a large acrylic portrait with 30 people can seem daunting, but with the right techniques and a methodical approach, it becomes a rewarding experience. In this guide, we’ll explore how to use the acrylic glazing technique to transition from a detailed sketch to a fully developed, realistic painting. You’ll discover how to paint a 24 x 30 acrylic portrait with 30 people in it. And then, block in the composition, build up layers, and maintain accuracy throughout the painting process.

Understanding the Acrylic Glazing Technique

Acrylic glazing involves mixing acrylic paint with a medium to create translucent layers. These layers are applied to gradually build up color and depth while allowing the underlying sketch to remain visible in the early stages. This technique is perfect for detailed portraits because it ensures that the sketch’s details are preserved until the final layers, helping to maintain likeness and composition throughout.

Step 1: Preparing the Sketch

Before painting, create a detailed sketch of your portrait on the canvas. Because this initial step is crucial for maintaining proportions and composition throughout the painting. Once the sketch is completed, seal it using a fixative spray or a thin layer of acrylic medium to prevent smudging.

Tip: A well-done sketch ensures accuracy in the final painting, and then helping to keep the likeness of each subject intact.

Step 2: Starting with Light Glazes

You can begin by mixing your acrylic paints with a generous amount of matte medium. Then the ratio should be about 90% matte medium to 10% paint. Because it creates a translucent layer that mimics the effect of watercolor.

To start, block in the largest areas of color. For this painting, the trees and sky in the background are crucial for setting the scene. Also, use a mixture of ultramarine blue and indian yellow to create a base green for the trees. Before you apply this glaze lightly use diagonal strokes to keep the edges smooth.

Technique Tip: Use overlapping strokes and keep a wet edge to avoid visible brush marks. It’s okay to slightly overlap the background onto the figures, as it’s easier to paint figures on top later than to leave halos around them.

Step 3: Building Up Layers Gradually

As you move forward, gradually increase the opacity of your paint by reducing the amount of matte medium. This allows for more depth and variation in tone. With each layer, the colors will become more vivid, and the details of the painting will start to emerge.

For the foreground, use raw sienna with a bit of burnt sienna to create earthy tones. Focus on shadows in this area, applying the glaze only where needed. Remember, the key is to work gradually—start light and build up to darker shades with each layer.

Pro Tip: Always observe your reference photo carefully. Notice the lighting, reflected light, and shadow areas. Let the reference guide your color and tonal decisions.

Step 4: Working Around the Figures

Painting 30 people in one scene requires careful attention to detail, especially when working around the figures. Use your flat brush to “cut around” the subjects with precision. A light hand is essential, so you don’t lose the crispness of your sketch.

In this step, patience is key. It may take several layers to achieve the desired effect for the background before moving on to the details of each figure.

Tip: If you accidentally paint over a subject, don’t worry. You can always refine those areas in subsequent layers.

Step 5: Detailing the Subjects

Once the background is sufficiently built up, shift your focus to the figures. For this commission with 30 people, it’s essential to keep the likeness of each subject intact. Begin by blocking in basic skin tones and clothing colors. Then, work gradually to add details like facial features and expressions.

Using smaller brushes, switch to more opaque paints mixed with a bit of medium for smoother transitions between shadows and highlights. Be mindful of each subject’s individuality, making sure to capture their unique characteristics.

Technique Tip: To keep the subjects realistic, pay attention to light sources. Ensure that the lighting on each figure matches the overall lighting of the scene.

Step 6: Final Adjustments

As the painting nears completion, start refining the details. Check your reference photo for any missed nuances, like subtle shadows or highlights. Use a thin glaze to soften transitions where needed and add contrast to areas that require more depth.

The acrylic glazing technique allows for flexibility, so you can always adjust the painting by adding another glaze. This helps to perfect the overall look and feel of the portrait.

Tip: Step back regularly to view the painting from a distance. This gives you a fresh perspective and helps spot areas that need more attention.

Painting a 24 x 30 acrylic portrait with 30 people may seem challenging, but with the acrylic glazing technique, the process becomes much more manageable. By building up layers gradually, you’ll maintain the detail of your sketch while adding depth and vibrancy to your painting. Remember to take your time, and don’t be afraid to go back and refine areas as needed.

Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced artist, this method will help you achieve stunning, realistic results. Give it a try and see how your portraits can come to life with a little patience and practice.

Portrait painters know that it’s not easy to paint realistic skin tones. In acrylic, this is especially true. But what if there was a way where you didn’t have to have a perfect recipe or make it all happen in one shot? What if you could slowly, but predictably build up skin tones one layer at a time? And what if you could do it without losing your likeness in the sketch? That’s what I am going to show you today.

Now, this is just the start. But it’s a very good start. I’ll demonstrate, in real-time, in this 24 x 30 acrylic portrait of 30 people, how I am putting in the FIRST layer of skin tone color, using the acrylic glazing technique. What is the acrylic glazing technique? Watch over my shoulder in this video tutorial, and I’ll show you.

Back to that 24 x 30 acrylic portrait again! This time, I’m showing you how to block in the color for the hair. We’re using the acrylic glazing technique, where we mix a little bit of paint into a large amount of clear acrylic matte medium, and create blending with many faint layers.

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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 Do Smooth Shading with Acrylic

/ Glazing Real Time Tutorial Shading Video Tutorial
/ By Matt Philleo

Learn the art of smooth shading with acrylics using the glazing technique.

Smooth shading with acrylics is a key technique for artists aiming to create soft, realistic transitions between colors and tones. This tutorial will walk you through the steps needed to achieve professional-level results, with a focus on the glazing technique, a method used by the Old Masters. By layering translucent paint mixed with a clear medium, you can add depth, vibrancy, and realism to your work.

What You’ll Learn:

How to mix acrylic paint with medium for smooth shading
Tips for blending colors seamlessly
Techniques to add depth and luminosity to your painting

The Power of Glazing for Smooth Shading

The glazing technique is an age-old method used by masters like Leonardo da Vinci, Caravaggio, and Vermeer. This technique involves layering thin, translucent washes of paint to build color and depth gradually. Unlike opaque paint application, glazing gives you control over the level of transparency and allows you to preserve the underlying layers of your painting.

In this tutorial, we’ll focus on how to use this technique effectively to achieve smooth shading and depth, especially in the context of acrylic painting.

Preparing Your Acrylic Paint for Smooth Shading

Step 1: Start with a Clear Medium

Before applying your acrylic paint, begin by mixing your paint with a clear acrylic medium. The medium acts as a binder that thins the paint without losing its strength, making it more transparent and easier to work with. For smooth shading, you’ll want a medium that is fluid but not too runny, allowing you to create soft, even layers.

Tip: Start with a clear matte medium and mix in small amounts of color like raw umber or yellow ochre, depending on the effect you want.

Building Up Layers for Smooth Transitions

Step 2: Apply Thin Layers of Paint

To create smooth shading, apply multiple thin layers rather than trying to achieve the desired effect in one go. Begin by laying down a base color, then build up successive layers with increasingly translucent washes. Because of layering it allows you to control the intensity and smoothness of the transitions between light and shadow.

Technique: Use crisscross brushstrokes to blend the paint seamlessly across the surface. Because it helps to avoid harsh lines and ensures that the glaze spreads evenly.
Tip: If you find that you’ve applied too much paint, because you use your finger to gently dab and smooth out the excess. Then this finger-blending technique can help soften transitions for a more natural look.

Creating Depth with Color Glazing

Step 3: Add Depth with Dark Glazes

Once you’ve established the basic shading, you can deepen the shadows by glazing over areas with darker tones. Mix colors like ultramarine blue or raw sienna with your medium to create darker, semi-transparent layers that can be built up gradually.

Tip: To maintain control over your shading, always test the darkness of the glaze on a separate surface before applying it to your painting.
Technique: Work with a flat-edge brush to apply the dark glaze, using long, smooth strokes to cover larger areas. And then, aim for a gradient effect where the paint transitions smoothly from dark to light.

Final Touches for Seamless Blending

Step 4: Blend the Final Layers

As you near the final stages of your painting, use a warmer glaze to enhance the luminosity. For example, you can mix a touch of red or yellow ochre with the medium and apply it over areas where you want to add warmth. This creates a subtle glow and makes the painting feel more cohesive.

Tip: Use a lighter ratio of paint to medium for these finishing touches. This will allow you to blend the last glaze more easily, creating a smoother, more polished look.
Technique: Focus on making sure that the transitions between the lightest and darkest areas are as smooth as possible. Because you can blend the paint with a soft brush, using gentle back-and-forth motions to ensure the glaze fades evenly into the surrounding colors.

Achieving the Perfect Finish

When done correctly, the glazing technique will give your painting a rich, luminous quality, with smooth transitions that are both subtle and striking. The key to mastering smooth shading with acrylic is patience—allow each layer to dry before adding the next, and don’t rush the process.

With practice, you’ll be able to use glazing to create depth, add detail, and bring a sense of realism to your artwork.

Key Takeaways

Glazing is essential for smooth shading because it allows you to layer colors and create depth gradually.
Thin layers are more effective than thick ones, as they give you control over the transparency and intensity of the color.
Blend carefully using crisscross brushstrokes and, if necessary, your fingers to smooth out transitions and avoid harsh lines.
Use dark glazes to deepen shadows, and finish with lighter, warmer glazes to add highlights and create a cohesive finish.

Read more about my additional resources, tutorials, to learn more and check out my free courses here. . Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced artist, there’s always something new to learn and apply to your paintings. Happy painting!

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 Sketch an Acrylic Portrait with a Grid

/ Uncategorized
/ By Matt Philleo

The guide provides tips on using colored pencils, understanding proportions, and achieving realistic details.

Introduction

Creating a precise and compelling acrylic portrait begins with a solid sketch. While using a grid method can simplify this process by ensuring accurate proportions and positioning. This guide will walk you through the steps of sketching an acrylic portrait with a grid, because using tips and techniques can enhance your drawing skills.

Understanding the Grid Method

Hence, the grid method is a powerful technique for achieving accuracy in portraiture. It involves overlaying a grid on your reference photo and your canvas, which helps in translating the proportions from the photo to your artwork. This approach reduces guesswork and improves accuracy, making it an excellent tool for both beginners and seasoned artists.

Setting Up Your Workspace

Prepare Your Canvas: Start by gridding out your canvas. You can use a light-colored pencil to draw a grid of equal squares. This grid should correspond to the grid on your reference photo.
Select Your Tools: For this sketch, a colored pencil in a flesh-tone shade, such as terracotta, is recommended. This choice helps blend more naturally with acrylic paints and avoids the grayish hue of graphite pencils.

Creating the Grid Overlay

Reference Photo Preparation: Open your reference photo on a computer or tablet. Apply a grid overlay in a photo editing program to match the grid size on your canvas.
Adjust the Image: If needed, crop or resize the image to fit your canvas proportions. Ensure that the grid lines on the photo align with those on your canvas.

Sketching the Portrait

Starting with the Grid: Begin sketching from the lower left corner of your canvas. Use the grid lines to guide the placement of facial features and other details.
Drawing Proportions: Focus on sketching the major lines and shapes first. Pay attention to where lines fall within each grid square. This method helps in maintaining the correct proportions and alignment of facial features.
Using Colored Pencils: A terracotta-colored pencil is used to outline the portrait. This color blends well with flesh tones and minimizes the need for excessive layers of paint to cover graphite lines.
Fine-Tuning Details: As you progress, refine the sketch by adding more detailed features. For areas requiring correction, use an eraser to adjust the lines while ensuring the grid remains intact.

Tips for Accurate Sketching

Double-Check Proportions: Regularly compare your sketch with the reference photo to ensure accuracy. Adjust lines and proportions as needed.
Use Erasers Wisely: A good eraser is crucial for making corrections without disturbing the grid lines. Both wide and gum erasers can be effective.
Keep the Pencil Sharp: A sharp colored pencil provides better control and precision when sketching fine details.

Achieving Realistic Results

Work in Sections: Focus on one section of the portrait at a time to maintain accuracy and avoid overwhelming yourself.
Capture Details: Pay close attention to specific features such as the hairline, eyes, and facial contours. Ensure these details align with the grid for a realistic representation.
Evaluate and Adjust: Continuously evaluate your sketch against the reference photo. Make adjustments to maintain consistency and accuracy.

The grid method is a valuable technique for sketching acrylic portraits. By following these steps and tips, you can achieve a well-proportioned and detailed sketch that serves as a solid foundation for your acrylic painting. Practice regularly to enhance your skills and create stunning portrait art.

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 Paint a Pet Portrait: Acrylic Glazing Technique

Transform your pet portraits with simple glazing methods step by step guide for you

Painting a pet portrait can be a rewarding way to capture the unique personality of a beloved animal. In this tutorial, we’ll explore how to paint a pet [dog] using the acrylic glazing technique, which adds depth and realism through thin layers of color. By the end, you’ll be able to apply this technique to create a lifelike portrait of your pet or any other animal subject.

Setting the Foundation for Your Pet Portrait

Before diving into the painting process, it’s crucial to start with a solid foundation. In this case, I’m using a 5×7-inch hardboard panel as the canvas. To ensure accurate proportions, I utilized the grid method, which helps maintain the right structure without the need for extensive freehand drawing.

Sketching: Use a light-colored pencil to draw a grid and map out the basic outlines of your pet’s features. This will give you a good framework without overpowering your final painting.
Sealing the Sketch: Once the sketch is complete, seal it using a mixture of matte medium and gesso. This helps protect the drawing and slightly mutes it to prepare the surface for glazing.

Creating Contrast Through Initial Layering

At this stage, I applied white paint to bring out the highlights in the sketch, which allows me to set up three different values—dark (from the pencil), medium (from the tinted surface), and light (from the white paint). This helps establish an excellent base before moving into the glazing process.

Step-by-Step Acrylic Glazing Technique

1. Preparing the Palette

The first step in the glazing technique is preparing a palette with the colors you’ll need. For this pet portrait, I’m working with natural tones like raw umber, burnt sienna, and a mixture of blues for areas like the background or any clothing.

Raw Umber Dark: A versatile brown for creating shadows and depth in the fur.
Burnt Sienna: Ideal for adding warmth and reddish tones, especially in areas like the ears or the snout.
Ultramarine Blue and Phthalo Blue: Used sparingly to build up cool tones for the background or details like clothing.

2. Mixing the Glaze

To create a glaze, mix a small amount of paint with clear acrylic medium, such as matte medium. This dilutes the paint, allowing for translucent layers that build up color gradually. Glazing helps retain the underlying details while adding a soft glow and depth.

Tip: Make sure to keep your glaze mixture fluid but not too watery, as overly diluted glazes can become streaky and hard to control.

3. Applying the First Glaze

For the first layer, I mixed a sepia tone using raw umber and matte medium. Then apply this mixture lightly with a flat brush (around half an inch in width). Because you begin by covering the broader areas of the dog’s fur, creating a soft wash that introduces subtle shadows and color shifts.

Technique: Use long, smooth brushstrokes to spread the glaze evenly. You want to build up the tone gradually, so don’t rush the process.
Patience Pays Off: Each layer should dry completely before applying the next one. This ensures the glazes stay transparent and don’t muddy the underlying layers.

4. Adding Depth with Darker Glazes

As the painting progresses, increase the intensity of your colors. Then for areas like the dog’s ears and snout, I used burnt sienna mixed with a small amount of white to cover the sketch lines and establish the mid-tones.

Tip: Apply the glaze in light, feathered strokes, especially around the edges of the dog’s features to maintain softness.
Layering Up: To add depth, apply darker glazes in multiple passes, allowing each to dry before adding more.

5. Highlighting with Lighter Tones

Although the dog in this portrait is predominantly white, it’s essential to add subtle shifts in color to avoid a flat appearance. For areas like the highlights on the fur, I used a light mixture of white and raw umber. The glazing method ensures that the layers remain translucent, which gives the fur a soft, glowing effect.

Brushwork and Finishing Touches

Choosing the Right Brush

The type of brush you use plays a significant role in the outcome of the painting. So, for this portrait, I relied on a combination of:

Flat brushes: For broader areas and glazing.
Detail brushes: For finer work around the eyes, nose, and mouth.

When applying glazes, a flat brush works best because it helps you spread the paint evenly. And of course for fine details like the dog’s fur texture around the eyes or nose, switch to a smaller detail brush.

Toning the Background

While working on the dog’s portrait, I also glazed the background. When the mixture of ultramarine blue and phthalo blue created a cool, subdued backdrop that complements the warm tones of the dog. And then the background was applied using the same glazing technique light, transparent layers that gradually deepen in tone.

Final Glaze and Adjustments

After completing the main details of the dog, it’s time to step back and assess the overall painting. Basically, you will apply the final, a very thin glaze of burnt sienna or raw umber where needed to tie the painting together and unify the colors. Because this softens the transitions between the light and dark areas, giving the portrait a more cohesive look.

Painting a pet portrait using the acrylic glazing technique is a satisfying way to capture the intricate details and personality of a beloved animal. By layering thin glazes of color, you can achieve both depth and luminosity that bring the painting to life. Whether you’re working on a commissioned piece or a personal project, these steps will help guide you toward creating a beautiful, realistic acrylic pet portrait.

Tips and Techniques Recap:

Grid Method: Use it to ensure accurate proportions when sketching.
Matte Medium and Gesso: Seal your sketch for a solid foundation.
Glazing: Mix paint with matte medium for translucent layers.
Brushwork: Use flat brushes for glazing and detail brushes for finer work.
Patience: Allow each layer to dry fully before applying the next glaze.
Highlighting: Subtle, lighter tones enhance depth and realism.

Read more about my additional resources, tutorials, to learn more and check out my free courses here. . Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced artist, there’s always something new to learn and apply to your paintings. Happy painting!

I’ll show you how he gives his acrylic pet portrait depth as adds shading, nuances and differentiates the dog from the background by using the correct values in shadows.

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!