Spring 2021 Acrylic Portrait Painting Challenge: Gridding Your Canvas for an Accurate Sketch

One of the biggest struggles portrait artists have is getting an accurate likeness. In this lesson, I will show you how to grid your canvas, so that you will be able to not only make a sketch with good proportions but also get a good likeness too.

I’ll show you exactly how to do it in this video…

How to grid your canvas to get an accurate sketch for your acrylic portrait

Gridding Your Portrait for an Accurate Sketch

Would like to paint this portrait with me and hundreds of other artists?

Take the 2021 Spring Portrait Painting Challenge!

You can register below and get started. It is completely FREE to join the challenge and participate. When you join, I’ll send you the “Welcome Kit” which includes:

The Supplies List (so you know what you need to paint with us, your shopping list. 🙂 )
The Reference Photo with and without the grid, high resolution, that you can download ready to print out or display on your tablet. You’ll be able to create an accurate portrait this way.
The Palette Layout Guide showing you how to arrange your colors so they don’t get muddy on your palette
The Master Class Lesson Schedule
the Lessons emailed to you
A private Facebook group to cheer you and help answer your questions
And a few “bonuses” like opportunities to win my paid online classes

REGISTER TODAY. The challenge is ongoing, something you can do at your own pace. It’s not too late to enter!

Register for the Challenge!

Let me know if you have any questions and I look forward to teaching you more!

—Matt

realistic acrylic portrait student with first painting attempt

You Can Learn How to Paint a Realistic Acrylic Portrait

“Can I paint a portrait?”

This is the question so many of my students asked themselves prior to taking my master class for the Acrylic Portrait Painting Challenge.

The fact is: yes, you can.

“But,” you may ask right now as you read this, “Will it look terrible? Will it even look human? Will the skin tones be muddy? Will I be able to get a good likeness? Will the paint layers get blotchy? How exactly do I paint a portrait?”

Again, these questions have been asked before. You’re not alone.

And I’m happy to say, that many of my students, an aspiring artist just like you, have taken these questions to the canvas, started painting following my step-by-step video instruction, and created a beautiful portrait. Even as beginners.

Then now, I can’t promise you’ll be able to paint a Rembrandt your very first try.

But I will promise this: if you come with a mindset of being willing to try, and being willing to hang in there when the painting process gets challenging, you will create a portrait that is way better than you ever thought possible!

Some of my students create portraits that look professional on their very first attempt. Others create portraits that are much improved from what they previously did, but they will need to keep practicing to get better. (We all need to keep working to get better, myself included! 🙂 )

So you can do this! And then I’ll show you how, and you won’t be alone.

Last year, I launched our inaugural spring portrait painting challenge, just as the lockdowns of the coronavirus hit. And then Over 700 artists took the challenge, and I have personally seen many, many portraits that look amazing considering it was the very first portrait they ever did.

In this case, you would think they had been painting for years! When they posted their portraits to social media, they started getting commissions! Of course, others started painting portraits of family members to give as unique gifts.

Then here’s what my student Rod Martin (part of the Realistic Acrylic All-Access Membership) created. So below is his very first acrylic portrait (on the left) and a more recent one on the right. And when I write this, he’s only been with me for a year!

Realistic Acrylic Portrait School student Rod Martin with his very first acrylic portrait

I am not going to boast in myself or my teaching. I do really care for my students, and then I put everything I have into helping them paint portraits they can be proud of. But the real secret is I pray and God helps me not only to teach, but my students to apply the teaching and create something amazing. They take the knowledge I give them, put into practice with tenacity, and they produce a fantastic portrait.

So, take the 2021 Spring Portrait Painting Challenge!

You can register below and get started. It is completely FREE to join the challenge and participate. When you join, I’ll send you the “Welcome Kit” which includes:

The Supplies List (so you know what you need to paint with us, your shopping list. 🙂 )
The Reference Photo with and without the grid, then with high resolution, that you can download ready to print out or display on your tablet. You’ll be able to create an accurate portrait this way.
The Palette Layout Guide showing you how to arrange your colors so they don’t get muddy on your palette
The Master Class Lesson Schedule
the Lessons emailed to you
A private Facebook group to cheer you and help answer your questions
And a few “bonuses” like opportunities to win my paid online classes

REGISTER TODAY. The challenge is ongoing, something you can do at your own pace. It’s not too late to enter!

Register for the Challenge!

LEARN MORE

2021 Spring Acrylic Portrait Painting Challenge is Coming!

It was last year around this time that I got news of my state doing a lockdown because of the new coronavirus that was spreading like wildfire.

I thought, What would happen to my art business? I won’t be able to do art shows or teach classes anymore. If the economy tumbles, will I be able to pay the mortgage?

You probably had similar thoughts brewing in your mind too. You still remember what it felt like after the initial news of this unknown pandemic.

Many businesses were hunkering down, trying to stay afloat while the sea of uncertainty and fear poured in around them.

I didn’t know what to do either.

But one of my business mentors, Graham Cochrane, said “this is not a time to hold back. This is a time to be generous.”

I thought, “I could do a portrait challenge. Many artists are stuck at home, sheltering in place. It would not only give us all something productive to do, but would help conquer the fear that can come from just letting our thoughts run wild.”

Additionally, I could teach a whole class on how to paint this portrait, for free, showing all the steps from start to finish.

But then the other side of my mind protested, “If you do that, if you give it all away for free, who will ever buy your courses again?”

“No!” the right side of my brain said.“I’m going to trust God. I’ll be generous like Jesus is to me and just trust God will take care of me and my family!”

So I listened to that part of my brain (and God) and launched the Spring Portrait Acrylic Painting Challenge. We painted this portrait of “Lockdown Larry” the man with the hat, supplied by

Mary Power Dunphy

Over 700 artists took the challenge. Many never painted a portrait before, but through their hard work and perseverance, at the end of the challenge produced a portrait they could be proud of!

Some even said they were struggling with severe depression, and the challenge helped lift them out of it!

When the challenge was over, some of these artists went on to do commissioned portraits and are now thriving! Others are painting portraits of their grandchildren, loving every moment of creating a special gift they can give and capture memories.

What a joy to hear these stories and be a part of it!

And the teaching side of my art business has increased incredibly since the challenge last year. God has blessed me and my family. The best part is, I am part of a wonderful community of artists in the All-Access Membership. We have such a great time learning and encouraging each other to do our very best portrait work.

Well, it’s almost spring here in Wisconsin and we are doing the challenge again. I will soon be putting out a call for images that we can vote on as a group to paint from.

I am excited and look forward to teaching you and helping you paint a portrait you can be proud of!

—Matt

YOUR NEXT STEP: Please share this Challenge posting with your friends, by using the social media links below. The more that see it, the more artists we can help all over the world. Thank you!

How to Trace? Is it OK to Trace as a Portrait Artist?

/ Sketching Tips and Techniques Video Tutorial
/ By Matt Philleo
/ 28 COMMENTS

Let’s address the elephant in the room: tracing as a portrait artist. Is it OK? Is it cheating?

I’m going to answer that question today.

Up until COVID-19 hit, I participated in a Fall studio art tour every year. An artist on the tour, who was also the founder and coordinator for it, had some strong opinions about tracing.

“Matt, tell me you didn’t trace that sketch for the mural project you did.”

“I’m not going to lie,” I told her. “I did use a projector to get the proportions up, and then refine it freehand.”

“How could you do that? What if your client found out?”

“Well, first of all, this project was done for my church, as a gift,” I replied. “And secondly, I would be upfront with them if they asked about my process.”

Is it OK to Trace as a Portrait Artist — Photo by Dan Reiland, used with permission.

She chided me in a motherly kind of way, and I listened respectfully and smiled.

This is the first time I ever really thought about the concept of tracing as being a bad thing, at least to this degree. But is it?

I’m going to give you 5 reasons why I believe tracing is OK.

Tracing saves time. Let’s face it. Drawing freehand, or with a grid is a time-consuming process. You have to measure, re-measure your proportions, and if you lack much drawing experience, often have to settle for eyes that are too large, noses that are unnatural, and mouths that aren’t aligned properly. I have many commissions to do, and so tracing expedites my workflow. I don’t trace all of my portraits, but for some, I choose to do so.
Tracing helps you get accurate proportions, especially for a large painting. I had always drawn freehand and never even thought of tracing until 1999, when I did mural work with a well-known Florida muralist, Bob Jenny. He had hired me to do a series of murals depicting army medics serving in American wars at some VA hospitals. They were large—two 6′ x 30′ murals. One day, he came by to check on my work. He saw me meticulously sketching a battle scene, freehand. “We’re going to be here for months if you do it that way!” he exclaimed. “Let me show you how to do it.”And he taught me how to use an overhead projector to transfer the design up quickly and effectively.
Tracing helps you to see distinctions in value. When you trace, especially using a projector, details become blurred and you readily notice differences in value—those distinct shapes that create the planes, the forms we see—whether they are the forehead, nose, cheekbones, or locks of hair. You can trace along the edges of those distinctions. It can be a beneficial exercise to help you in your portrait painting.
There is historical precedent for tracing. Jan Vermeer reportedly used a camera obscura to project scenes from outside onto his surface to create exact replications of landscapes. So there is so shame. I think we can all appreciate the work of Vermeer. Art historians and art appreciators alike marvel at his skills.
Tracing is a tool. It can be used like a contractor uses a nail gun to frame a house. The same work could be done by old-fashioned hammer and nail, but the nail-gun will do it faster. Obviously, this metaphor doesn’t translate entirely in terms of portrait painting, but the idea I’m trying to convey is that it’s just a tool.

Now, with all that said, here are some caveats on tracing.

If you ONLY trace, and never do freehand sketching or use the grid method, your portrait painting skills will suffer. You will either stagnate, or take a very long time to progress past the beginners’ level. I get emails often from artists asking me to help them with skin tones, but because they haven’t put in the time to observe proportions and render them on the canvas, they don’t create realistic value shapes. The result is a portrait that looks falls far short of their goals. Anatomy and values must come first, skin tones after. And freehand sketching is the best way to develop it. I drew freehand for years as a child, before beginning to use acrylic in high school, and the observational skills I learned were priceless. Tracing is not cheating. But if you rely on it too much, it will cheat you, as an artist, of growth. This is why I teach my classes mostly using the grid method. It’s a good middle-of-the-road option between freehand and tracing. It helps artists create a solid sketch, so they can do a portrait they’re proud of without having to spend years getting proficient at freehand sketching. It helps them to see proportions and shapes, and then carry that confidence into their painting process!
Tracing helps you to quickly establish proportions on your canvas, but it by itself, it’s not enough. The process often omits fine details and nuances that can only be achieved by refining your sketch with freehand sketching. In fact, tracing can flat-out distort your photo reference. In a scene, it totally obliterates the distinction between foreground and background. It can cause areas with lighter value to exceed the proper boundaries. If you want an accurate sketch to work from, you must evaluate your tracing and go back on top of it with more work, to fix mistakes and supply detail that is lacking.
If you trace, be honest about your process. You are not obligated to tell the whole world, “I traced this!” But if your client or Facebook follower asks, did you do this freehand (most will never ask) be sure to answer them honestly and confidently about your process. If you don’t feel ashamed about it, they won’t think any less of you as an artist. Even with a traced/ projected sketch, it still takes an incredible amount of skill to do the remaining work: selecting colors, mixing them, applying them in the right places, and finishing with detail.

Here is a fun video I did on tracing. I go over a few of the ideas I shared with you above, and I also show you, if you choose to trace, how to do it, using a painting I’m doing right now as an example…

Is it OK to Trace as a Portrait Artist?

What are YOUR thoughts on tracing? Let me know below, in the comments!

LEARN MORE

I’d love to hear your thoughts about 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 kno

How to Paint Beard Hair Easily in Your Acrylic

/ Facial Features Flesh Tones Glazing
/ By Matt Philleo

Learn the art of painting beard hair with this simple and effective technique

Painting facial hair, such as beards, can be one of the more challenging details in portrait art. It may seem daunting to capture every individual hair in a realistic way, but it doesn’t have to be. In this guide, we’ll break down an easy method for painting beard hair using acrylics that doesn’t involve painstakingly painting each hair strand. Instead, we’ll focus on blocking in colors and values, giving the appearance of detail while keeping the process simple and effective.

Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced artist, this approach will help you add convincing realism to your acrylic portraits without frustration.

Step-by-Step Guide to Painting Beard Hair

1. Start with a Base Color

The key to painting facial hair, like a beard, is to begin with a base color that matches the underlying skin tones and beard shade. Then don’t worry about painting individual strands right away. Instead, follow this process:

Mix raw umber as a base for the beard.
Add a touch of alizarine crimson to introduce a slight warmth, and include titanium white to ensure the paint covers the surface effectively.
For cooler tones in the beard, mix a bit of ultramarine blue into your base to add depth and shadow to your mix.

When you have your base color ready, load it onto a flat edge brush and block in the general area of the beard. This block of color will act as the foundation for the beard hair. Focus on the overall value instead of trying to capture individual strands. This method prevents the painting from looking too busy or artificial.

2. Block in the Values

Instead of painting each beard’s hair, think in terms of values. Then block in the light and shadow areas of the beard, which will provide the necessary contrast and depth.

Use your cool-toned mixture to paint the stubble or full beard, applying the color in sections.
Blend as you go to create a soft transition between the skin and the beard.

The key here is to focus on where the light hits the face and then how it interacts with the beard hair. The shadows and highlights will imply the presence of hair, of course, without needing to meticulously paint each one.

3. Create Realism with Minimal Detail

Once your base layers and value blocks are in place, you can add a few finishing touches to suggest individual hairs. Use a detail brush sparingly, picking out just a few strands of hair in key places. Because this technique gives the illusion of individual hairs without overwhelming the painting with too much detail.

In smaller portraits, like 8×10 canvases, it’s unnecessary to paint each hair meticulously. Because simplicity often works best in creating a realistic appearance. Focus on the main areas of light and shadow to convey the overall texture of the beard.

Techniques to Improve Beard Hair Painting

1. Use Color Blocks to Imply Detail

The most efficient way to paint beard hair in acrylic portraits is to rely on blocks of color rather than individual strokes. Because this method implies detail, which can trick the viewer’s eye into perceiving realism without overwhelming the painting with unnecessary detail.

2. Choose the Right Brush

For the base layer, use a flat edge brush to cover larger areas and then create smooth transitions between skin and hair. When adding a few fine hairs for detail, switch to a small, pointed detail brush for better control.

3. Blend Your Colors

Blending is crucial when painting facial hair. You don’t want the beard to look too stark or separated from the face. Softly blend the edges of the beard into the skin tone, paying attention to areas of transition where light hits the skin through the hair.

4. Focus on Contrast

Realism in facial hair is often achieved by strong contrasts between light and shadow. Beard hair, especially in portraits, reflects light differently than other parts of the face. Make sure to adjust your highlights and shadows accordingly.

Use more titanium white to brighten up areas where the light hits the beard.
Deepen the shadows with your ultramarine blue mix, especially near the edges of the jawline.

Tips for a Realistic Beard in Acrylics

Work in Layers: Build the beard gradually, adding more color and depth in layers as you progress.
Don’t Overwork It: Less is more when painting beard hair. Don’t feel the need to paint every strand. A few details go a long way.
Play with Texture: Facial hair, especially beards, has texture. Try lightly dry brushing to simulate this texture without going into too much fine detail.
Observe the Reference: Always refer back to your source image. Look at how the beard flows, where the shadows fall, and how the hair interacts with the face.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Overdetailing: Beginners often make the mistake of trying to paint every individual hair, which can result in a cluttered and unnatural look. Instead, focus on the big picture: light, shadow, and overall shape.
Incorrect Brush Choice: Using a brush that’s too large or too small can cause issues. A flat edge brush is best for blocking in large areas, while a fine detail brush works for final touches.
Too Many Highlights: Over-highlighting the beard can make it appear unrealistic. Use highlights sparingly to ensure they mimic how light naturally interacts with facial hair.

Conclusion

Learning how to paint beard hair in an acrylic portrait can elevate the realism in your work without requiring an excessive amount of time or detail. By focusing on values, layering colors, and adding minimal detail, you can create the illusion of beard hair that looks natural and lifelike.

Remember, painting doesn’t have to be complicated. Sometimes, simplicity achieves the best results. Experiment with this technique in your next portrait, and you’ll be amazed at how easily you can paint realistic beard hair.

If you’d like to learn more tips and techniques for improving your acrylic portrait skills, check out our full-length tutorials at realisticacrylic.com and download my free mini course, & guide here. Happy painting!

LEARN MORE

I’d love to hear your thoughts about 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!

elpful 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!

Take the Fall Acrylic Portrait Painting Challenge!

/ Uncategorized
/ By Matt Philleo

Have you ever wondered if you could paint a portrait?

You can.

Take the Fall Acrylic Portrait Painting Challenge.

Last Spring, over 700 artists took the challenge and many painted an amazing portrait, their very first time. This jump-started some of the artists into doing commissioned portraits or painting beautiful pictures of their children and grandchildren.

In the challenge, we’ll all paint the same image together and I’ll teach you how to do it, step-by-step with demonstration videos.

Reference image for the Fall Acrylic Portrait Painting Challenge. Photograph by Jonah Greenman, used with permission

The Acrylic Portrait Painting Challenge is free to join and participate.

Register below to get the Welcome Kit, which includes the Supplies List, the Full Resolution Reference Image with a Grid, Palette Layout Guide, and the Masterclass Video Lesson Schedule.

Register for the Challenge

I look forward to seeing you paint a portrait you can be proud of!

And now, here are the Masterclass Lessons:

[PORTRAIT CHALLENGE] Masterclass Lesson #8: Finishing Your Portrait Well

The Acrylic Portrait Painting Challenge Masterclass, Lesson #8, is out!

This is our FINAL lesson together.

It’s kind of sad to see the challenge drawing to a close. As I write this, it’s been an entire month since I started this challenge on April 6, 2020.

My goal was to create a way for artists to overcome the challenges of being in COVID-19 lockdown, create something beautiful with their time, and grow their skills as artists.

Many, many have risen to the challenge and done exactly that. If you’re reading this, and you’ve taken the challenge; you’ve gone through steps 1-7, I’m so proud of you! It’s not easy to paint a realistic portrait in acrylic, let alone during a quarantine. But you did it! And you’ve encouraged many others along the way.

Acrylic Portrait painting challenge portrait from photo

Because of that, you are a better artist, and have grown in character as a human being.

Your portrait —hopefully—is nearly done. What next? How do we “bring it home”, so to speak?

Let me show you, below!

Six Steps to Finishing Your Portrait Well

STEP ONE: Double-check the tonal values. Use my Value Checker tool for that.

STEP TWO: Double-check and add more detail to the eyes.

STEP THREE: Add vibrance to areas where certain shadows and highlights meet

STEP FOUR: Refine the shadows

STEP FIVE: Redefine the edges of your subject and objects

STEP SIX: Paint pin-point highlights on the face

When is the painting done?

Watch the video to find out…

[PORTRAIT CHALLENGE] Masterclass Lesson #8: Finishing Your Portrait Well

Is it too late to join the challenge? No, not at all. This challenge is meant to be ongoing—something you can do at your own pace. The lessons are free and they aren’t going anywhere.

If not, register below for FREE and I’ll send you:

a downloadable/ printable”Welcome Kit” with a Supplies List and a Palette Color Layout Guide.
high-resolution images of the photo we’ll be painting from for this challenge.
each new lesson that comes out in this Masterclass series.
a link to my private Facebook group, where you can do this challenge with other artists, get feedback and help on your portrait, and not feel alone.

REGISTER TODAY. It’s not too late to enter!

Register for the Challenge!

Where do we go from here?

I am so happy that you have done this challenge with me and hundreds of other artists. I give you a virtual high-five for the effort and dedication you have put in.

First, I give God the glory and thanks for entrusting all of us a talent to use. Next, I thank you and the other artists for taking your time and investing it into yourself as an artist and into others’ lives to encourage them.

You’ve left great comments for each other and your building skills to be able to paint a portrait you can take pleasure in and others can too.

This is what art is about. It transcends a piece of cotton canvas stretched on a wood frame, with plastic polymer resin on it. In the hands of a skilled painter, it becomes something beautiful that can last forever.

When we touch lives, bring hope and encouragement both in the creation and in the giving or selling of the art, we are doing something that has the potential to last for eternity!

So what we all have done in this group, by God’s grace, is amazing. And I believe it is just the start! 🙂

If you would like to work with me more closely, so I can personally help you become the portrait artist you’d like to be, be sure to watch my invitation at the end of the video. Whatever you decide, thank you so much for taking part in this challenge and may God richly bless your talent, and multiply it many times over!

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!

Let me know if you have any questions about the challenge that I didn’t answer. Leave your question in the comments below and I’ll get back to you!

Learn Acrylic Portrait Painting With Me in Person!

/ In-Person Teaching Portrait Painting Challenge
/ By Matt Philleo
/ 5 COMMENTS

If you’d like the chance to do acrylic portrait painting with me in person, I’ll be teaching a step-by-step workshop this summer in the beautiful mountains of North Carolina…

Paint a Realistic Acrylic Portrait You Can Be Proud Of with Matt Philleo

(Thursday-Saturday, 3 Day)

August 26-30, 2020

Ridgecrest Conference Center
Black Mountain, North Carolina

Learn more below…

Learn more

I’d love to have you there and be able to teach you in person!

Yours for Better Portraits,

Let me know if you have any questions below in the comments or email me from the contact page.

paint realistic facial features acrylic portrait

[PORTRAIT CHALLENGE] Masterclass Lesson #7: Painting Fantastic Facial Features

The Acrylic Portrait Painting Challenge Masterclass, Lesson #7, is out!

In our last lesson, I showed you how to visualize your painting as a map, and add shading and skin tones to specific spots on your portrait.

Now, in this lesson, I want to show you how to “dial-in” the facial features.

(To be upfront, I want you to know there is some video footage after Lesson 6 that I just couldn’t capture in this lesson, so it didn’t get too long for a YouTube video. All of the “in-between” BONUS videos will be posted within Realistic Acrylic All-Access Membership, after I’m finished posting these challenge lessons. The main Masterclass Lessons will be there as well as one complete course, and I will also segment them for easier viewing, since the learning interface makes that possible.)

For most of the students I serve, they do their portraits as gifts for loved ones, and on commission. So, unless you are painting only for an academic exercise, it’s important that you capture an accurate likeness of your subject.

I have painted many portraits over the years, and I can tell you from experience, it doesn’t matter how much detail I add to the painting, if the picture doesn’t look like Aunt Betty, it’s not going to sell. 🙂

So, as you are aiming for realism—that is, the accurate form, tonal values, skin tones, shading, detail, etc., you also want to work to achieve a true likeness.

Does it need to be perfect? No, just close. Usually 85-90% as accurate as the photo you’re working from (and even that is not as accurate as real life) and you’ll do well. But shoot for the 100% every time.

Let’s dive in…

Here’s what to do…

STEP ONE

Redefine the eye-socket region.
Redefine the eyelid folds.
Dial-in the coloring of his eyes

STEP TWO

Adjust the length and shape of nose (if needed) and add shading.

STEP THREE

Add more depth to the eyes.

STEP FOUR

Refine the mouth and mustache.

Ready to paint?

Now, before you begin…(Yes, still need to ask, because some folks are just discovering these Masterclass lessons 🙂 )

Are you registered for the challenge?

If not, register below for FREE and I’ll send you:

a downloadable/ printable”Welcome Kit” with a Supplies List and a Palette Color Layout Guide.
high-resolution images of the photo we’ll be painting from for this challenge.
each new lesson that comes out in this Masterclass series.
a link to my private Facebook group, where you can do this challenge with other artists, get feedback and help on your portrait, and not feel alone.

REGISTER TODAY. The challenge is ongoing, something you can do at your own pace. It’s not too late to enter!

Register for the Challenge!

Watch my in-depth Masterclass acrylic online tutorial below to see these steps in action.

After learning from this video, you’ll know exactly how to do it.

Make sure to watch the ENTIRE video first before diving into the painting. It will be worth it to do that. Then, I’d like you to go back and refer to whatever steps you need to as you paint. That way, you won’t miss any of the instruction and tips that will help you make this portrait your very best.

Here’s the video…

[PORTRAIT CHALLENGE] Masterclass Lesson #7: Painting Fantastic Facial Features

Moving Forward…

Thank you so much for all your effort you’ve put into doing this challenge with me and so many other artists. You’re almost there…your finished portrait is in sight.

Hey, if you’re having some challenges with your Portrait Challenge portrait, I just want to let you know, that’s natural! Painting portraits is difficult even for artists who have been doing it for years. But step-by-step instruction and encouragement from other students helps a lot. Many people in our group are doing with little to no experience, and they’re doing a knock-out job, even if they’re struggling in certain areas.

So, if you do feel stuck at this point, or find your results are less than what you expected, keep in mind this is a learning experience. You will get better as you practice painting portraits in the glazing technique, as so many others have.

That being said, if I can help in any way, please leave a comment or send me an email. I get a lot of requests, but I’ll do my very best to help. Also, make sure you join our amazing Facebook group, Realistic Acrylic Portraits, because you will receive helpful tips and encouragement from other students, some of whom are farther ahead in the portrait painting journey.

I’ll see you in our next class! What is it going to be? Painting the Final Details, Nuances, and Finishing Well. I’m excited to share that with you! Until then, be blessed in your painting and you and your family stay safe and healthy.

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!

Let me know if you have any questions about the challenge that I didn’t answer. Leave your question in the comments below and I’ll get back to you!

Paint realistic skin tones step by step masterclass

[PORTRAIT CHALLENGE] Masterclass Lesson #6: Creating Smooth Blending and Skin Tones

The Acrylic Portrait Painting Challenge Masterclass, Lesson #6, is out!

In our last lesson, I showed you how to add depth to the dark value of the hat, shadowed areas of the face, and some of the darker areas within the background.

Now that we have a good underpainting foundation in place, it’s time to transition into the “middle” portion of the painting. In other words, we’re working our way towards what the final surface of the portrait will look like.

I want to show you specifically how to create smooth blending and establish realistic skin tones.

It’s important to think of this process like outlining the boundaries of a nation, state (province) or county.

I know, we shouldn’t mix geography with art lessons, but I think this metaphor will help you understand the concept I’m trying to get across…

us map-shading-color-value-acrylic-portrait

How a US map is like color, shading, and value in an acrylic portrait

I live in the state of Wisconsin, U.S.A. It has its own distinct shape and location within the United States of America. Now, the U.S.A. has its own distinct shape and location within the continent of North America.

In the same way, in a portrait, you may have a small area of value/ skin tone with its own distinct shape and location within the larger area of value/ skin tone. What you want to do is pay attention to the boundary lines on these specific shapes by studying your reference photo.

You won’t see a sharp line you will on a map, unfortunately. But you will see a marked difference where one value/ color ends and another begins.

How to use the idea of a map to improve the realism on your acrylic portrait

You will see a shape emerge. Note that shape.

Then transfer what you see onto your painting. It’s as simple (and challenging!) as that.

You will see shapes within shapes within shapes. The more you can train your eyes to spot these shapes, the better you will become at realistic painting. That’s half the battle. The other half is technique: getting the paint to do what you want it to do.

This concept of “Nations and States” is powerful once you get a hold of it and use it regularly in your acrylic portrait painting! Now, let’s get onto the lesson…

What we want to do at this stage:

Begin the process of adding smooth shading and skin tones throughout the portrait.

We will be adding:

a large “warming” glaze to the entire shadow area of the man’s face.
glaze on the highlighted area of the face, adding depth and the beginning of skin tones, so the area is not just plain white or off white.
small glazes (“states”) on the shadow side (“nation”) of the face to further define the pinkish skin tones.

We will do this using the acrylic glazing technique, where we mix a TINY amount of acrylic paint into a LARGE amount of clear acrylic matte medium. It’s best to go very, very light when you start your painting. You should just barely see a difference. However, at this stage you will getting a bit more opaque, because you have enough layers down already to give you some smoothness in the overall appearance.

Also, as always, make sure you rinse your brush off thoroughly between glazes. Any extra water in the heel of the brush may cause your glazes to drip or get streaky.

Here’s how to do it:

STEP ONE

First, mix the “warming glaze” for the shadow side of the face: Use raw sienna and mix with a large amount of matte medium (10% paint to 90% medium) as shown in the video lesson. “Scoop” a large amount of glaze onto your 3/4″or 1″ flat brush. A few of the glazes will get a little darker, with ratios of as much as 30% paint to 70% medium. Make sure you watch the video to know where and when to change the ratio. “Next, glaze
Glaze on the highlight side of face, to “tie-in” with the shadow side, develop mid-tones and create depth: Use raw sienna and organic pyrrole orange (or a cadmium orange) and mix it 5% paint to 95% matte medium. Test the glaze and see if you need to add more pigment or more medium. You should just barely see a difference in what you apply.
Add small glazes in specific locations (“states”) on the shadow side of face using organic pyrrole orange, raw sienna, and a bit of alizarine crimson if needed to darken the glaze without adding too much chromatic intensity.

STEP TWO

Add another layer of shading to the man’s hat and the background: Use raw umber dark, ultramarine blue, and a touch of alizarine crimson. How much of each? It depends on what the hat looks like right now as you paint. Is it too bluish? Add more raw umber dark. Is it too brownish? Add more ultramarine blue. Is it too greenish? Add alizarine crimson—just a pinch.
Take the same glaze you used for the hat and add some shadows below his hat: Because it is right underneath the brim of his hat, the shadows will be quite dark in value. Add a bit of raw umber dark (or raw umber) and a bit of alizarin crimson if necessary to warm up the glaze, especially as you transition into the lighter parts of the skin tones.
Clean off your brush and apply a blue glaze to the highlighted areas in his shirt: Mix ultramarine blue and phthalo blue (just a bit—it’s a VERY strong pigment) into a large amount of matte medium (95% to 5%, ratio to start with, and test to see if you need to change it) We want to bridge the gap between the shadows and the highlights, adding much-needed depth to this area of the painting.

STEP THREE

Repeat Step 1, with slight adjustments. Follow the video for more detailed instruction.

Ready to paint?

Now, before you begin…(Yes, still need to ask, because some folks are just discovering these Masterclass lessons 🙂 )

Are you registered for the challenge?

If not, register below for FREE and I’ll send you:

a downloadable/ printable”Welcome Kit” with a Supplies List and a Palette Color Layout Guide.
high-resolution images of the photo we’ll be painting from for this challenge.
each new lesson that comes out in this Masterclass series.
a link to my private Facebook group, where you can do this challenge with other artists, get feedback and help on your portrait, and not feel alone.

REGISTER TODAY. The challenge is ongoing, something you can do at your own pace. It’s not too late to enter!

Register for the Challenge!

Watch my in-depth Masterclass acrylic online tutorial below to see these steps in action.

After learning from this video, you’ll know exactly how to do it.

Make sure to watch the ENTIRE video first before diving into the painting. It will be worth it to do that. Then, I’d like you to go back and refer to whatever steps you need to as you paint. That way, you won’t miss any of the instruction and tips that will help you make this portrait your very best.

Here’s the video…

[PORTRAIT CHALLENGE] Masterclass Lesson #6: Creating Smooth Blending and Skin Tones

Moving Forward…

If you have gotten this far in the challenge, I’m proud of you! It’s not easy to try something new, especially during a challenging time (COVID-19 as I write) but you are making a difference in your own life by developing the talent God gave you and you will be making a difference in others lives when you freely share the beautiful artwork you create with those you love or want to impact.

I’ll see you in our next class! What is it going to be? Painting fantastic facial features. I’m excited to share that with you! Until then, be blessed in your painting and you and your family stay safe and healthy.

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!

Let me know if you have any questions about the challenge that I didn’t answer. Leave your question in the comments below and I’ll get back to you!

“Can I paint a portrait?”

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

It was last year around this time that I got news of my state doing a lockdown because of the new coronavirus that was spreading like wildfire.

Let’s address the elephant in the room: tracing as a portrait artist. Is it OK? Is it cheating?

I’m going to give you 5 reasons why I believe tracing is OK.

Now, with all that said, here are some caveats on tracing.

Learn the art of painting beard hair with this simple and effective technique

Step-by-Step Guide to Painting Beard Hair

1. Start with a Base Color

2. Block in the Values

3. Create Realism with Minimal Detail

Techniques to Improve Beard Hair Painting

1. Use Color Blocks to Imply Detail

2. Choose the Right Brush

3. Blend Your Colors

4. Focus on Contrast

Tips for a Realistic Beard in Acrylics

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Conclusion

Have you ever wondered if you could paint a portrait?

The Acrylic Portrait Painting Challenge Masterclass, Lesson #8, is out!

Six Steps to Finishing Your Portrait Well

Where do we go from here?

Paint a Realistic Acrylic Portrait You Can Be Proud Of with Matt Philleo

(Thursday-Saturday, 3 Day)

August 26-30, 2020

Ridgecrest Conference Center Black Mountain, North Carolina

Learn more below…

The Acrylic Portrait Painting Challenge Masterclass, Lesson #7, is out!

Here’s what to do…

Moving Forward…

The Acrylic Portrait Painting Challenge Masterclass, Lesson #6, is out!

What we want to do at this stage:

Here’s how to do it:

Moving Forward…

Ridgecrest Conference Center
Black Mountain, North Carolina