5 Steps on How to Paint a Vibrant Acrylic Portrait

Learn the classical glazing technique for depth and luminosity

Acrylic painting is an exciting medium known for its versatility, but achieving the depth and vibrancy often associated with oil paintings can seem challenging. However, by employing the classical glazing technique, a method favored by old masters like Rembrandt, Titian, and Vermeer then you can produce rich, luminous results with acrylics. This blog post will guide you through 5 essential steps to create a vibrant acrylic portrait using this time-tested method.

This tutorial shows the entire process of painting a portrait. Here are the steps I show in this tutorial:

Start with a Detailed Sketch.
Apply the Initial Glaze Layers
Layer and Build Gradation
Introduce Vibrant Colors
Focus on Nuances and Details

1. Start with a Detailed Sketch

Every masterpiece begins with a solid foundation, and in portrait painting, that foundation is the sketch. Before you start adding color to your canvas, take time to create a detailed and accurate sketch of your subject. For this project, an 11×14 portrait of three girls in a park serves as an example.

By using a sepia-tone prismacolor colored pencil, you can establish proportions and likeness. Accuracy in this stage helps set the stage for a calm and confident painting process. Once your sketch is ready, seal it with a clear matte medium. This acts as a protective layer, ensuring that the pencil lines remain intact as you begin adding paint.

Tip: Use a flat brush (¾ inch to 1 inch wide) to apply the matte medium. Make sure the application is smooth and even, allowing it to dry thoroughly before proceeding to the next step.

2. Apply the Initial Glaze Layers

The heart of this painting method lies in glazing, where thin, transparent layers of paint are applied over one another to build depth and richness. Unlike traditional opaque acrylic painting, the classical glazing technique requires a mixture of 95% matte medium to 5% paint. This creates a very light wash that enables you to gradually build colors without overwhelming the canvas.

Begin by mixing raw umber dark with ultramarine blue to create lifelike skin tones and shadow areas. These first layers will be almost imperceptible, but they provide a strong base for the layers that follow.

Tip: The first layers of glaze should be incredibly light. This allows for adjustments in color or value without the need to paint over mistakes. The glazing method helps avoid the common frustration of muddy colors often encountered in acrylic painting.

3. Layer and Build Gradation

Once the initial glaze is applied, it’s time to focus on layering. As you build up more layers, you’ll notice how the painting starts to take on a more vibrant and realistic appearance. The goal here is to create a seamless transition between light and dark values, blending tones smoothly to replicate the natural shading found in your reference photo.

In this step, more raw umber dark and ultramarine blue are used to deepen the shadows on the forehead and hair. This layering process helps achieve the subtle gradation required for realistic portraits.

Technique: As you layer, ensure that each glaze is thin and transparent. Too much paint in a single layer can cause the painting to look heavy and lose the delicate transparency that glazing provides.

4. Introduce Vibrant Colors

To make your portrait truly vibrant, it’s essential to introduce bold colors into the glazing process. In this example, a dash of Liquitex hot pink was added to the dress to intensify the color and give it a glowing effect. The key is to use these bright colors sparingly, applying them in thin layers so that they blend harmoniously with the existing hues.

When applying glazes to areas like the clothing, make sure to leave the white areas exposed. This technique, known as “preserving the luminosity,” ensures that highlights remain bright and eye-catching, adding to the overall vibrancy of the portrait.

Tip: When adding vibrant glazes, thin the paint with medium and apply it cautiously. This helps prevent overpowering the existing layers while enhancing the color saturation.

5. Focus on Nuances and Details

The final step in this process involves refining the smaller details and nuances that bring a portrait to life. For example, the highlights in the hair, shadows in the creases of clothing, and the subtle changes in skin tone around the eyes require careful attention.

In the final layers, you can also experiment with a semi-opaque mixture, using titanium white, raw umber dark, and organic red-orange to add warmth and depth to the skin tones. With each new layer, the portrait takes on more life, depth, and realism. At this stage, it’s important to use more opaque layers sparingly, as glazing is best suited for large areas, while more detailed parts, such as fingernails or eyes, may benefit from a slightly thicker application of paint.

Technique: If you notice that certain areas appear too flat or lack depth, consider adding a dark glaze to emphasize the shadows. Because mixing ultramarine blue with raw umber dark creates a rich, deep tone perfect for refining these darker areas without relying on black paint.

Conclusion: Patience Is Key

As you add each layer of glaze, then always remember that patience is vital. Because acrylic glazing requires multiple layers, sometimes ten or more to achieve the desired depth and luminosity. Each layer builds upon the last, contributing to the portrait’s final vibrancy. While it may take time, the results are well worth the effort.

By following these five steps, you can create a stunning acrylic portrait with vibrant colors and lifelike depth, all while employing the classical glazing technique favored by the old masters.

For further resources and guides, visit realisticacrylic.com and check out my free courses to enhance your acrylic painting journey.

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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!

How to Paint Realistic Clothing in Acrylic Portrait

Learn the art of painting realistic folds and fabrics with acrylic in portraiture

Painting realistic clothing in an acrylic portrait can be both a challenge and an opportunity to showcase your skills. Fabric, with its intricate folds, highlights, and then textures, adds depth and movement to the subject. In this tutorial, we’ll walk you through step-by-step instructions on how to paint clothing using acrylics, focusing on shadows, mid-tones, highlights, and fabric types such as lace and tulle. Whether you’re painting a simple dress or more complex ruffles, this guide will equip you with the techniques to bring realism into your acrylic portrait.

Step 1: Preparing Your Palette for Clothing Colors

Before you begin painting the fabric in your portrait, it’s essential to select the right colors. In the video, Matt Philleo uses a combination of alizarin crimson, naphthol red, and a touch of hot pink to capture the vibrant tones of the fabric. To get started:

Choose your base colors: Mix naphthol red and alizarin crimson for a rich fabric color. For lighter areas, use titanium white to brighten the colors.
Adjust for highlights and shadows: Use more titanium white to lighten the tones for highlights, and for shadows, add more dark tones such as burnt umber or a touch of black to deepen the values.

Remember, painting clothing isn’t just about matching the color exactly but also capturing the texture and form of the fabric.

Step 2: Blocking in Shadows and Mid-Tones

In this case, one of the key techniques in painting fabric is establishing strong contrasts between shadows and highlights. I start by darkening certain areas to bring depth to the folds in the clothing. Here’s how you can do it:

Identify the shadows: Begin by applying darker colors to areas where the fabric folds. Because this will create the illusion of depth.
Blend into mid-tones: Gradually soften the dark shadows into mid-tones using a mix of your base colors with of course a touch of matte medium. The medium will thin the paint, making the transitions smoother and less stark.

Use a round brush for this process, as it helps you cover larger areas and also create sharp, precise lines when needed. I also recommend using a versatile brush that can handle both wide strokes and fine details, especially for painting small portraits.

Step 3: Adding Highlights for Realism

Painting highlights on fabric helps to capture the sheen and texture of the material. In the video, I will highlight the edges of the fabric folds, then create contrast against the shadows. Here’s how to add highlight effectively:

Use opaque layers: When you reach this stage, start adding opaque layers with titanium white mixed with your base color (e.g., hot pink or naphthol red).
Focus on the light source: Pay attention to the direction of your light source. For outdoor scenes, as Matt points out, cooler light often creates cooler highlights, so adjust the warmth of your lighter tones accordingly.

Using these lighter tones, gently brush over the highest points of the fabric folds where the light hits. This will give the illusion of three-dimensional texture, making the fabric appear realistic.

Step 4: Handling Different Textures—Lace and Ruffles

When painting more complex textures like lace or tulle, attention to detail becomes crucial. I’ll demonstrates painting lace-like fabric (also known as tulle) in the video by focusing on its intricate, airy texture. To capture such details:

Paint in negative space: Instead of painting every single lace pattern, leave certain areas untouched to mimic the holes and transparency of the fabric. This “negative space” technique saves time while maintaining the fabric’s appearance.
Create patterns with light strokes: For ruffles or lace, use very light, almost feathery strokes. This gives the fabric its delicate, flowing look.

For the ruffled parts, focus on the edges where the fabric folds over itself, using slightly darker shadows to accentuate the depth and highlights to make the texture stand out.

Step 5: Building Up Layers for More Depth

Acrylic glazing is an excellent technique to add depth to fabric. As your painting progresses, I gradually builds up layers using matte medium to retain some transparency in each layer. Because this technique allows underlying colors to show through, adding a sense of richness to the fabric.

Layer gradually: Don’t rush the process. Build up thin layers of paint over time, adding opacity and detail as needed.
Keep adjusting tones: Constantly adjust your color mixes with matte medium, darkening some areas and lightening others to create a balance of highlights, mid-tones, and shadows.

This layering process not only adds depth but also gives the painting a more polished, professional look, making the clothing appear realistic and multi-dimensional.

Step 6: Detailing the Final Touches

Once the fabric’s main areas are established, it’s time to focus on the finer details. In the video, I’ll show you how to fine-tune small creases and folds in the clothing. To do this:

Use a smaller brush: A smaller brush will give you more control to add fine details, such as thin lines for wrinkles or subtle highlights along fabric edges.
Final highlights and shadows: At this stage, you should focus on reinforcing the most prominent highlights and deepening the darkest shadows. This contrast will give the fabric a more realistic appearance.

Pro Tips for Painting Clothing in Acrylic Portraits

Use transition colors: Blend colors smoothly between highlights and shadows to avoid a harsh look.
Work in thin layers: Acrylics dry quickly, so work with thin, transparent layers to build up color and depth without creating a heavy texture.
Experiment with brushes: A versatile round brush like the one I use that allows for both wide coverage and detailed work.

Conclusion

Painting clothing in an acrylic portrait requires attention to detail, patience, and a good understanding of how light interacts with fabric. By following these steps preparing your palette, blocking in shadows and mid-tones, adding highlights, handling textures, and building up layers you’ll be able to paint realistic clothing with ease. Remember to take your time and adjust colors as you go to create depth and realism in the fabric.

With practice, you’ll master the art of painting clothing in acrylic portraits, bringing your work to life with vibrant colors and textures that draw the viewer’s eye.

For further resources and guides, visit realisticacrylic.com and check out my free courses to enhance your acrylic painting journey.

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!

How to Paint a Realistic Mustache in Acrylic Portrait

Step-by-step guide to paint a lifelike mustache in your acrylic portrait with ease.

Achieving realism in a portrait requires attention to detail, especially when it comes to facial features like mustaches. In this guide, we will explore the step-by-step process of how to paint a realistic mustache in acrylic portrait.

Preparation: Setting the Foundation

Before diving into the mustache details, it is essential to have a strong foundation. This means the portrait’s basic values and underpainting should already be established. The key here is to ensure the right light and shadow balance, especially around the mouth and upper lip area.

Materials Needed:

Titanium white: To create highlights.
Raw umber dark: For adding depth to shadows.
Indian yellow: To create natural warm tones.
Matte medium: To thin the paint for smooth application.
Size 8 round brush: Ideal for detailing and creating fine lines.

Step 1: Start with Base Layers

Begin by thinning out your titanium white with matte medium. Then add a small amount of raw umber dark and Indian yellow to create a subtle hue. Also, using your size 8 round brush, you can bring it to a chisel edge for precise strokes.

It is important to start with some base layers of paint before adding any detail. Because these layers help create a three-dimensional effect and establish the direction and placement of the mustache.

Step 2: Block in the Mustache Hairs

Once the base is set, it’s time to start picking out individual hairs. This layer is more about refining the mustache’s texture and creating a natural flow. The technique is to avoid making the hair uniform. Instead, examine your reference photo carefully and note the irregularities and directions in which the hairs grow.

When painting more lifelike, it varies on the brushstrokes in different directions. And then you can have some hairs cross over each other or even extend past the upper lip slightly.

Tip: Don’t aim for perfection with each hair. What matters is the overall impression of the mustache.

Step 3: Focus on Highlights and Shadows

During this stage, the mustache will need to appear more defined. Then pay close attention to where light is hitting the hair and where shadows are forming.

Highlights: For the lighter hairs, use a mix of titanium white with a touch of raw umber to avoid making them too bright. And then adding matte medium will create a translucent effect that gives the hairs a softer appearance. This is essential for portraying finer hairs and giving the mustache a more natural look.
Shadows: Towards the bottom of the mustache, each hair will cast a shadow on the hair beneath it. This can be achieved by mixing raw umber dark with the base color, creating a more pronounced shadow effect.

Step 4: Add Nuances for Depth

As you continue, it is also crucial to add some depth and nuance by including small pockets where the skin beneath the mustache is visible. This gives the mustache a more realistic appearance, as it doesn’t look like a flat shape, but rather, individual hairs growing from the skin.

Tip: To avoid the mustache looking too uniform, ensure there are spots where the skin shows through the hair. This not only creates depth but also keeps the painting from appearing too rigid.

Step 5: Blending and Detailing

If any part of the mustache appears too harsh, lightly dab the area with your finger or blend it with a dry brush. Then the idea is to soften any overly defined strokes and make the hairs appear more naturally integrated into the face.

Additionally, darken a few sections towards the edges where the hairs thicken. Adjust the tones subtly to suggest the transition from thicker hairs at the center to finer, lighter hairs towards the outer edges.

Step 6: Final Highlights for Depth

In the last stages, take straight titanium white and add a few highlights to the topmost layer of the mustache. These highlights will catch the light, adding a touch of realism. However, be mindful not to overdo this step.

Placing these small highlights on the lighter side of the mustache (usually where light is hitting) will add depth and dimension. Focus on areas where the mustache might catch the most light, such as the tips of individual hairs or the outer edge.

Technique Recap: Important Tips

Use a Reference Photo: Always have a clear reference photo when painting a mustache. This helps you capture the unique characteristics and flow of the mustache, ensuring it looks natural.
Layer Your Paint: Don’t rush into details too quickly. Begin with base layers to build up depth gradually. Adding layers of thin, translucent paint will help create the texture and realism you’re aiming for.
Mix Colors for Realism: Avoid using pure white or pure black. Mix titanium white with raw umber or Indian yellow to soften the brightness, and add raw umber dark to create natural shadows.
Vary Hair Directions: A mustache doesn’t have hairs growing in just one direction. Ensure that the hairs have some variation by crosshatching and layering.
Thin the Paint: Use matte medium to thin the paint. This not only helps in creating translucent effects but also prevents the painting from looking too heavy or artificial.
Dab for Subtle Effects: When blending, gently dab with your finger or a clean brush. This softens the edges and makes the mustache look more organic.

Conclusion

Painting a realistic mustache in an acrylic portrait involves patience and attention to detail. Then, by focusing on layering, highlights, shadows, and texture, you can create a lifelike mustache that adds character to your portrait. Remember, then the key is in the subtle nuances the tiny details that make the painting come alive. So next time you’re working on an acrylic portrait, use these techniques to bring out the best in your subject’s mustache.

If this tutorial was helpful, don’t forget to leave a comment or ask any questions. Happy painting!

By following these tips, you’ll be able to paint a realistic mustache that enhances the overall look of your acrylic portrait.

If you’re looking for more instructional videos on how to improve your acrylic painting, visit www.realisticacrylic.com for more tutorials and check out my free courses here. .

Get your free gift from me!

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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!

Why Teeth are Not White and How to Paint Them Realistically

Discover why teeth in portraits should not be painted white and learn how to achieve realistic results in acrylic painting

When painting portraits, especially in acrylics, artists often encounter a common misconception: that teeth should be painted pure white. However, this approach can lead to unrealistic and unnatural results. In this blog post, we’ll explore why teeth are not actually white and how to paint them realistically in your portraits. This guide will help you create a more lifelike appearance in your acrylic paintings by adjusting the way you depict teeth.

Why Are Teeth Not White in Portraits?

One of the biggest mistakes beginner artists make is painting teeth too white in their portraits. While it’s easy to assume that teeth are white, the reality is far from it. Teeth are not naturally as bright as we imagine them. When you compare a piece of white paper next to the teeth in your reference photo, you will notice a significant difference in value. Even in the best lighting conditions, teeth tend to appear darker due to various factors.

Light and Shadows Affect Teeth Color

A key reason why teeth are not as white as you think is because of the shadows cast by the mouth, lips, and other surrounding features. When you observe a person, you’ll notice that these shadows darken the teeth significantly. Even in bright lighting, the teeth may still appear off-white rather than pure white. For instance, mustaches or beards can further reduce the perceived brightness of teeth, making them look even darker.

How to Paint Teeth Realistically in Acrylic

When painting teeth in a portrait, it’s essential to capture this balance between light and shadow. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you create a more natural depiction of teeth:

1. Analyze Your Reference Photo

Before applying any paint, take a close look at your reference photo. Hold a piece of white paper up to the teeth and notice the difference in value. This will give you a clear idea of how much darker the teeth are compared to pure white. Observing this contrast will help you determine the right shades to use in your painting.

2. Use Off-White Tones

Instead of using pure white, opt for off-white tones to depict the teeth. Colors such as a soft ivory, light gray, or a pale beige are excellent choices. Mixing a touch of raw umber or burnt sienna into your white paint can help you achieve a more realistic tone for the teeth.

3. Add Shadows for Depth

The shadows cast by the lips and mouth should not be overlooked. Use darker tones around the edges of the teeth to emphasize the depth created by these shadows. You can blend a mix of dark brown or blue-gray tones to add subtle shadows, making the teeth recede naturally into the mouth.

4. Highlight Selectively

While teeth are not pure white, they do have highlights in certain areas where light directly hits them. These highlights can be painted with white, but should only be applied sparingly. Focus on small areas, such as the tips of the teeth or the spots where light reflects the most. By adding these highlights carefully, you’ll make the teeth appear shiny and dimensional without them looking unnaturally bright.

5. Blend for a Smooth Transition

Teeth have a smooth surface, so it’s important to blend the colors and shades gently. Avoid harsh lines or abrupt transitions between shadows and highlights. Use a soft brush to blend the darker tones into the lighter areas for a seamless finish.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

When it comes to painting teeth realistically, there are a few common pitfalls to watch out for:

Avoid using pure white for the entire tooth surface. This can make the teeth appear flat and unnatural.
Don’t ignore the shadows around the mouth and lips. These shadows are what give the teeth depth and realism.
Don’t over-highlight the teeth. Applying too much white will make them stand out unnaturally. Only use highlights in select areas where light naturally hits.

Tips for Achieving Lifelike Results

Here are some additional tips to ensure your teeth look realistic in your acrylic portrait:

Layer your colors: Start with darker tones for the base of the teeth and gradually layer lighter shades on top to build depth.
Use small brushes: Precision is key when painting teeth, so opt for small, fine-tipped brushes to work on the details.
Work with a reference: Always keep a reference photo handy to guide you in accurately capturing the teeth’s value and shading.

Conclusion

Teeth in a portrait should never be painted stark white. Understanding the role of light, shadows, and the natural off-white color of teeth is crucial for creating a realistic portrait. By following the techniques outlined in this post, using off white tones, incorporating shadows, and highlighting selectively, you can paint teeth that look natural and lifelike in your acrylic portraits.

For more tips and tutorials on painting realistic acrylic portraits, visit RealisticAcrylic.com and check out our other tutorials for more insights into mastering portrait painting.

As you can see, teeth are darker value, and you can often achieve it by using a mixture of raw umber and titanium white for the shadows, raw sienna-titanium white for the mid-tones and titanium white-slight bit of indian yellow only for the highlights.

It all comes down to painting correct tonal value–that is, the correct level of light and dark. If you’d like a tool to help you with that, then I have something for you…

I created a tool that you can use to measure the tonal value of any area of your portrait in question against your reference photo. I call it the “Value Checker.” Download and print a copy for yourself today and apply it to the portrait you are currently working on. And you will see an immediate improvement in the realism!

Get the full-resolution 8 1/2″ x 11″ version below…

Get the Value Checker Tool

Let me know how this helps! What did you think of this tip on NOT painting teeth white? Did it surprise you?

I’d love to hear how your art journey is going. Shoot me an email and let me know. Or leave a comment. Be blessed in your portrait painting!

Yours for Better Portraits,

Matt

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 Paint Dog and the Foot: Time-Lapse Acrylic Portrait

Learn the acrylic glazing technique to capture realistic pet portraits

I’ll do that by sharing with you a recent acrylic portrait I did, capturing an experience of a woman who was hiking with her dog, and ended up laying down in the snow!

She wanted me to capture that moment of her dog and her foot shown as she snapped the photo from the ground.

This was an 11 x 14, acrylic on canvas, shown in a 5 minute- timelapse format. I painted it using the acrylic glazing technique, where we mix small amounts of paint into large amounts of clear acrylic medium to make the layers translucent, building up amazing depth and luminosity.

Creating a beautiful pet portrait is a fulfilling and meaningful way to immortalize a cherished companion. In this time-lapse tutorial, we explore the process of painting a dog alongside a boot in a snowy environment. This painting captures a special moment where the subject hiked with her dog and playfully fell into the snow. Using the acrylic glazing technique, this tutorial demonstrates how to gradually build up layers, create texture, and capture fine details with accuracy.

In this guide, you will learn about the specific techniques used, from glazing to color mixing, that help achieve a realistic result in acrylic painting. Let’s break down this tutorial, showing you how to paint your dog and foot with depth and detail.

Understanding the Acrylic Glazing Technique

Acrylic glazing is a key technique in this portrait. Because it involves mixing layers of pure acrylic pigment with a medium like matte medium to create translucent layers. So these layers allow you to build up depth and gradually develop the painting without overwhelming the canvas with opaque paint.

When painting a complex scene like this one, it’s essential to apply very light, translucent layers. This enables you to bring every part of the canvas together gradually rather than focusing on one section at a time. The layers should be so thin that the initial strokes remain visible, contributing to the painting’s overall texture.

The glazing technique is ideal for pet portraits and snowy scenes because it lets you replicate the soft transitions of light and shadow that define both fur and reflective snow.

Step-by-Step Painting Process

Start with a Light Base Layer The painting begins with a light wash across the entire canvas. The goal here is not to paint the dog and boot in detail right away but to cover the white canvas and establish the overall value and color structure. By applying a diluted base layer, you avoid stark, distracting areas of blank space. The focus during this step is to work simultaneously on the background and foreground, ensuring that the elements come together harmoniously. Using matte medium thins the paint, allowing the first layer to be transparent and soft.

Layering for Depth Once the light base layer is in place, you can begin layering darker tones. In this tutorial, I use various earth tones such as burnt sienna, raw umber, and raw sienna to add depth to the dog’s fur and the boot. Ultramarine blue is also introduced to darken the areas that need shadow and contrast. When mixing black for the darker areas, the artist combines brown and blue instead of using black directly from the tube. This creates a more nuanced black that maintains richness, avoiding the flatness that comes with premixed black paint.

Building Fur Texture As the layers progress, more details are added to the dog’s muzzle and fur. Instead of trying to paint each strand of fur, I look at the light and dark patterns within his reference image. By carefully observing these patterns, he replicates them with thin brushstrokes, building up the texture without overwhelming the painting with too many details at once. As with many realistic pet portraits, fur should look natural and soft. Glazing helps create that smoothness by allowing you to gradually adjust light and shadow.

Painting the Boot The foot in the painting is treated with the same method as the dog. By beginning with large, simple shapes and then layering on details, the boot emerges naturally within the scene. When painting objects like a boot, it’s important to consider how light interacts with them. Here, the boot is partially illuminated by sunlight and partially in shadow, giving it dimension and form. I carefully adjust these areas with each new glaze, slowly refining the foot’s shape.

Capturing the Snow

The background in this painting consists of trees and a snow-covered ground. To portray the soft, reflective quality of snow, the artist uses lighter tones of white and light blue, creating the texture with round and flat brushes. The glazing technique is particularly useful in this context because it allows for delicate adjustments of shading, replicating the subtle shifts in color that occur in snowy environments.

Adding the final touches, small flecks of snow are painted onto the dog’s muzzle using a round brush. This detail brings the painting to life and helps ground the dog within the environment.

The Importance of a Cohesive Process

Throughout the painting process, it’s important to remember that the goal is to work evenly across the entire canvas. By developing the background and foreground together, you ensure that the painting looks cohesive. Just like a Polaroid photo slowly developing, you want the painting to evolve at a steady pace without leaving any glaring unfinished areas.

As you paint, constantly compare different areas to ensure they are progressing at the same rate. This will also help you catch any issues early, allowing for easy adjustments without needing to rework large sections of the painting.

Adding the Finishing Touches

Once the foundational work is done, the final steps are where the painting truly comes to life. This is the “icing on the cake” phase, where you add the smallest details, such as light reflections in the dog’s eyes or highlights on the snow. These finishing touches bring the painting to its full potential.

I use a round brush at this stage to achieve precision in the small details. This ensures that each part of the painting is crisp and well-defined.

Tips and Techniques for Your Acrylic Portrait

Start Light, Build Gradually: Use thin layers of translucent paint to build depth without losing the underlying structure of your painting.
Observe Light and Shadow: When painting fur or clothing, focus on the patterns of light and shadow rather than individual details.
Mix Your Own Black: Create a richer, more dynamic black by mixing ultramarine blue with burnt umber rather than using black straight from the tube.
Work the Whole Canvas Simultaneously: Develop your background and foreground together to ensure a cohesive, balanced painting.
Use Reference Photos: Always have a reference photo on hand to guide your colors, light, and shadow accuracy.
Stay Patient: Building a painting with layers takes time. Don’t rush the process, and enjoy watching the image slowly develop.

By following these techniques and maintaining a steady pace, you can create a realistic pet portrait like the one in this tutorial. Whether you’re painting a dog, a foot, or another subject, remember to start light, build gradually, and enjoy the process of bringing your canvas to life.

Conclusion: Painting a dog and foot in an acrylic portrait requires patience, attention to detail, and a mastery of techniques like glazing. By layering translucent colors and focusing on the overall structure, you can create a realistic and beautiful portrait. If you’d like to see more painting tutorials, be sure to visit Realistic Acrylic for tips, lessons, and guidance on your painting journey.

I hope that this will inspire you in your own painting.

You can take it slow and easy, working the entire canvas in stages. You don’t have to get it right in the first layer. Rather, you can slowly “steer the ship” to the right destination. You adjust for any mistakes and build on your successes in each additional layer.

Enjoy!

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!

How to Block in Hair for an Acrylic Portrait

How to Block-in Hair on Your Acrylic Portrait

The steps to block-in hair, adding depth and realism with layered glazing techniques.

When creating a realistic portrait, the process of blocking-in hair plays a crucial role in establishing depth and capturing lifelike textures. In this tutorial, you will learn step-by-step how to block in hair on an acrylic portrait . By following these essential techniques, you’ll discover how to mix tones, apply glazes, and build up layers to make your portrait more three-dimensional.

Understanding the Block-in Process for Hair

Before diving into the specifics, it’s essential to understand the “block-in” technique. Blocking-in refers to the initial stage where you establish basic shapes, values, and shadows before adding detailed layers. This foundational stage is critical for creating a structured framework for your portrait, ensuring that as you add more layers, the hair appears realistic, cohesive, and well-blended.

Step 1: Establishing the Background and Hair Boundaries

The first step in blocking-in hair is defining the broader sections of the portrait. In the video, I start by setting up a muted, cloudy background. Using colors like ultramarine blue and raw umber dark, blends these shades to create a smooth transition from cooler to warmer tones. Because this method can also apply to your portrait’s background, ensuring the hair and face blend seamlessly into the backdrop without looking disconnected.

Once your background is set, begin focusing on the hair. Start by identifying the boundaries and large sections of hair. At this stage, do not worry about small details like individual strands; instead, focus on the bigger shapes and how the hair flows around the face and neck.

Step 2: Darkening the Hair with Cool Tones

To create depth, it is essential to start with darker tones. I recommend that using a mixture of raw umber dark and ultramarine blue for the base layer. By adding the blue, you cool down the mix, which is vital when working with shadows. The darker, cooler tones help create the illusion of depth, mimicking the way light interacts with the hair in dimly lit areas.

As I explain, the cooler tones mimic the appearance of shadows when light is scarce. The mixture of ultramarine blue and raw umber dark serves as the ideal “Payne’s gray” substitute, but with more versatility since you can customize the shade based on your needs. Apply this mixture lightly over the larger sections of hair, focusing on the areas that will remain in shadow.

Step 3: Defining Local Values and Shapes

Once the darker base coat is applied, it’s time to define the local values. Local values refer to smaller, nuanced changes in light and shadow. Instead of focusing on the entire area, look for pockets of darker tones that indicate hair bends, waves, or areas where light is blocked.

For example, the hair under the chin or near the ear will often feature shadows. I use precise brushstrokes to form the shadowed sections, while leaving lighter areas untouched to create contrast. This helps in defining the unique shapes that hair takes on.

Use a fine-tipped brush to enhance the details and smaller sections. At this stage, you don’t need to be exact, but try to match the general direction and flow of the hair. Your initial layers are meant to be flexible, allowing you to adjust later.

Step 4: Gradation and Layering for Hair Striations

Acrylic portraiture thrives on the glazing technique, which involves building layers of translucent paint to achieve a gradual change in value. In this step, focus on blending your dark tones into lighter ones by applying thin layers of glaze. I use clear medium to thin his paint and slowly introduces gradation into the hair.

To add natural-looking striations (the small, subtle streaks of hair), use the tip of your brush and apply long, delicate strokes. These strokes should be thin and follow the natural grain of the hair. Remember to vary the pressure on your brush. For darker areas, apply more pressure, while lighter sections need less to avoid over-darkening.

Step 5: Highlighting Key Areas and Adding Definition

After laying down the foundational layers and working on the shadows, the next step involves highlighting. In the reference image, I notices that there’s a distinct highlight at the top of the hair. Using a slightly lighter mixture of raw umber dark, he begins to emphasize these sections.

To create highlights, focus on the areas where light naturally hits the hair such as the crown, or where the hair parts. A light touch with a fine brush can enhance these areas, bringing dimension and texture. Be careful not to overdo the highlights; subtlety is key.

For instance, adding a soft glaze using the clear medium allows you to leave some areas lighter. Later, you can apply a reddish glaze, which, as I take notes, will provide a ton of luminosity and help the hair “pop” out of the portrait with vibrant, warm tones.

Tips and Techniques for Effective Hair Block-in

Use a Cool Base for Dark Hair: When blocking in darker hair, use cool tones mixed with raw umber and ultramarine blue. This ensures the shadowed areas appear more realistic and avoid a flat, monotone appearance.
Vary Brush Strokes: For a natural hair texture, use different brush strokes long strokes for defining edges and shorter, dabbing strokes for blending. This combination will give your painting more depth and a smoother transition between light and shadow.
Gradation is Key: Gradually build layers using the glazing technique. Thin out your paint with clear medium and apply transparent layers. This technique will allow you to adjust tones without overpowering the base layer.
Pay Attention to the Reference Photo: Use the reference photo to determine where the highlights and shadows fall. Aligning shadows with landmarks like the lips, nose, or chin ensures proportional and accurate placement.
Don’t Overdo Highlights: Highlights should be subtle. Too much highlighting can make the hair look unrealistic and take away from the depth created by the shadows.

Conclusion: Building Up for Realism

Blocking-in hair is all about establishing the basic framework before moving on to finer details. By using cool tones, creating gradation, and employing glazing techniques, you can achieve a realistic and lifelike portrayal of hair. Remember, the key is patience building up layers slowly ensures that the final result will have depth, texture, and vibrancy.

Whether you are a beginner or an experienced painter, mastering the block-in process is crucial for creating beautiful acrylic portraits that stand out. Start with the shadows, define the mid-tones, and finish with highlights for hair that looks three-dimensional and natural.

For more tutorials and painting tips, visit RealisticAcrylic.com and take your portrait painting skills to the next level!

Did you enjoy this video?

Share it with your artist friends if you think they will find it helpful! Also, if you need more help, hop onto courses.realisticacrylic.com where we concentrate on just acrylic portraits, and how to make yours the best it can be.

My goal is to make your life as acrylic portrait artist easier by giving you tips, lessons, and tutorials.

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!

real time acrylic portrait video lesson tutorial

The 30-Minute Acrylic Portrait: “Happy Man in Black”

/ 30-Minute Acrylic Portrait
/ By Matt Philleo

Transform your painting skills: Create a striking 30-minute acrylic portrait with ease!

Let me show you how in the latest episode of the 30-Minute Acrylic Portrait. I’ll demonstrate on an 11″ x 14″ commissioned portrait of a pastor (“the happy man in black”) painting quickly with no sketch underneath.

paint acrylic portrait faster — Professional portrait artist Matt Philleo painting an acrylic portrait in 30 minutes at his studio in Chippewa Falls, WI

Although this more opaque, painterly style is not as precise as the glazing technique that most people know me for, it’s fun to loosen up and push yourself to see what you can accomplish in a half an hour.

By the way, I will be adding more to this portrait after the show is done (maybe an hour or two of video), and I plan on including it here as bonus videos in the classes section, here at Realistic Acrylic Portrait School.

You will learn how to:

refine any proportions that were off
adjust the original blocked-in values
smooth out your shading.
enhance contrast between the subject and background
add detail

Interested? Sign up here and I’ll let you know when I post those lessons…

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

Okay, without further ado…here is Season 2, Episode 1 of the “30-Minute Acrylic Portrait.”

Let me know what your thoughts—have you ever tried doing a portrait like this and would it help you paint faster?

Also, I’m thinking of doing a 30-minute acrylic portrait show with my usual glazing technique, complete with a sketch underneath, rather than this more aggressive opaque style. I’m curious what we could accomplish in a half an hour with that technique, though we certainly wouldn’t be able to complete a painting. But the 30-minute challenge may push us to create the foundation a little faster, hopefully without sacrificing quality.

Is that something you would be interested in seeing?

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!

4 Ways on How to Tell Your Acrylic Portrait is Done

Master the signs of completion: Ensure your acrylic portrait is perfectly finished!

Is it time to “call it quits?” on your painting? How can you tell?

You don’t want to overdo it, but neither do you want to leave the portrait looking unfinished. You want to amaze people with that picture, give a great gift or get paid, and have the satisfaction of a job well done.

But how?

Here are 5 ways to know your painting is done. In this article, I’m going to use a little tough love, artist-to-artist. Ok with that? Alright, here we go…

1. You’re not adding any value to it.

If you’ve been working on a one-subject 16″ x 20″ portrait for say, 50 hours, it’s time to say enough is enough.

Test: get an “innocent bystander” (in my case, usually it’s my wife) to look at your painting from a distance of six feet away, and then come back into your studio a couple of hours later. If they can’t tell the difference, you’re done.

By continuing on, you’re not adding anything significant to the bottom line of the painting.

You’re not adding any value.

Nobody will notice the little details you’re adding if they don’t make an impact from six feet away. Most of the time, as artists, we fuss over some small portion of the painting that has us stumped. It’s like the kid who takes all his time on one question in the timed exam and then fails the test because he should have skipped the question, completed the rest of the test, and then come back and finish that one problem.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying details aren’t important. I love detail and it makes an acrylic portrait look fantastic. But if you’re struggling with one square inch of your painting, leave it alone and come back to it if you need to. But chances are, you don’t.

2. You’re making it worse.

Yes, it’s possible to make a painting worse, the more you work on it.

I’ve done that.

I’ve had some paintings where I should have left well enough alone. That little dimple on the persons’ face was so good, I thought I should make it perfect.

But then I messed it up. So I had to try to restore what I had before, and then leave it alone. Then I found myself messing up another area.

Pretty soon, I realized, the painting is done. Time to sign it!

3. You just hit the unforgiving end of a deadline.

If you are a professional or semi-professional artist, doing portraits on commission, you know what I’m talking about when I say you hit the end of a deadline. Or you might be doing it as a hobby, but you have an occasion, like a birthday or Christmas, that dictates the painting must be done and wrapped by a certain time.

You know that a portrait must get in the client’s hands today, or at the very least, you have to email a proof image for the client to approve. You put in as many hours as you can. You bring out the coffee and energy drinks if you have to (have you ever tried coffee with a couple of black tea bags thrown in?...that will keep you up!) and you pull an all-nighter if need be.

But eventually, you run out of hours, and you just have to call the painting done, out of necessity.

Young woman painting a portrait at her easel. (Image courtesy of Pexels.com)

This, by the way, is why I advocate the glazing technique. You can work your entire painting at once, and even if you feel like it is 80% done, oftentimes, it’s done enough to please the client.

If you’re like those artists who have a white canvas and work it like a drawing, from left to right, making everything detailed and finished section-by-section, then you’ll always have a white section of canvas that’s undone until the very end.

And there’s no way you can pass off that portrait as finished.

Now, that’s not to say we don’t strive for our best work. Don’t turn in a painting to a client that’s not representative of your style, that’s not finished well. But the 80%-100% level of completion in a painting is a very grey area, a very thin line. It’s where you may not be adding much value to the portrait.

There’s a saying: “your work will expand to fill the time you allot for it.”

That holds true with paintings as well. If you have a tight deadline to meet, if you value your reputation as an artist, you’ll find a way to get the artwork done.

Unless the client is able to give you some wiggle room on the deadline, better to turn in a painting that doesn’t look perfect to you, than say, “Sorry, it’s not done,” when they absolutely needed it by a certain time.

4. Your client approves the portrait.

Again, let’s say you are a professional artist and you email your client a proof image. They love it. They are ready to pay you.

Don’t you dare add one more drop of paint to that canvas! It’s done.

“But I just noticed an eyelash that’s missing,” you say. “I’ve got to paint it in there.”

No. Leave it. Your client approved this version of the painting, and if you add more paint, it’s a different version. When they come to pick it up, they might say, “it doesn’t look like the proof. Something’s different.”

Then you’d have to try and restore it to what it was. What a nightmare! You’d waste the client’s time, your time, and possibly even lose the commission.

Not worth the gamble.

They approve it=you’re done.

If you think the painting could be improved, save that sentiment for your next painting.

Now, with all these points, it’s good to remember that sometimes a painting is not done and needs more work. Some artists give up on a painting too early. Don’t do that. If you stick with a painting that’s causing you frustration, it will build your endurance as an artist, and you will be able to paint better the next time. It’s just like working out at a gym. Finish your reps, and you will be stronger the next week.

As an example of how to finish a painting successfully, here is a portrait I did not too long ago of a pastor, a memoriam portrait. It’s one of my favorites. I posted some videos of it in the past, but here I want to show you how I finish and sign it.

Let me know how this article helps! It’s been a while since I’ve last posted, but I hope to get back into the swing of things again!
If you have any questions or comments for me, please leave them below. May God bless you in your painting!

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!

acrylic portrait painting while camping at yurt

Portrait Painting of a Veteran at the Yurt

/ Flesh Tones Glazing Shading Skin Tones Uncategorized Video Tutorial
/ By Matt Philleo
/ 4 COMMENTS

Is it possible to do portrait painting while you’re away from your home, your usual studio area?

This was something I’ve always wanted to do: create art while camping. And for all the years I’ve gone camping, I’ve never been able to successfully do it.

But finally, at the end of June, my brother and I decided to go camping at a rustic yurt up in Cable, WI. Where is that? Let’s just say, it’s “way up north.” 🙂 And what is a yurt? It’s a round tent-like house, a permanent structure made of lattice wood, bound together with steel cable, and covered with fabric. We rented it through Airbnb for two days.

Acrylic portrait artist Matt Philleo ready to paint at a yurt in Cable, Wisconsin

We parked at the bottom of the hill and carried our gear up about a mile. We realized how out of shape we were! I also had my painting supplies: easel, palette, and brushes with me. In the middle of hiking and cooking, we decided to both do a little work: my brother wrote (he’s an author) and I painted.

I know. You’re probably thinking I should have painted the scenery up there, and yes, it was beautiful. But I had a commissioned portrait from a photo to get done: a painting of a veteran that served in the gulf war. And I love painting people, so it hardly seemed like work.

After bacon, eggs, and oatmeal for breakfast, it was time for painting.

Here is a video showing the beginning part of the process. In this video, I am basically blocking in the values with just raw umber dark and ultramarine blue. Of course, it’s all thinned out and made translucent with matte medium.

And then, here’s the next video in the process. Here I’m adding some color with burnt sienna, alizarine crimson and a few other colors. We’re starting to build up some skin tones. Also working on the flannel shirt. It takes a lot of layers to get it dark enough to look realistic!

After lunch, we hiked, and then came back and did more work: refining the shadows and making sure the likeness is accurate.

Sometimes your sketch just won’t cut it. It will get you about 80% of the way there, and you do the remaining 20% with paint. As you apply the paint, you can change the shape of the nose, the distance between the eyelids, lengthen the smile, etc., to adjust whatever might have been off during your sketch.

Of course, there is more to go on the painting. I’ll share the rest with you soon. I wasn’t able to finish it at the yurt, but I put in several hours. So, not only did I get to spend some great quality time with my brother, but I got to do some enjoyable work as well. After the big move, I finally feel like I’m getting into a regular groove of painting and posting tutorials. Thanks so much for your patience.

UPDATE: Here is the final video of this portrait, painted at my regular studio…

And a photo of it…

I really enjoyed painting this for the client, putting all the elements–the map of Iraq, the capitol building, and the people together into one cohesive portrait that I hope will be a cherished keepsake for the family for years to come.

I hope this painting has encouraged you and given you some ideas to use in your own portrait painting. I would love to help you learn to paint portraits your very best. Let me know if I can be of more help to you in any way.

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!

Quick Tip to Set Up a Canvas in Your Easel

Have you ever been frustrated trying to paint the edges of your canvas on an acrylic portrait, because the easel clamps are in the way?

You try to paint the background smoothly, with gestural strokes that flow off the edge of the painting but are inhibited by the easel itself. Let me show you a quick tip to overcome that problem.

How do YOU keep your paintings in place on your easel, and yet make it possible to paint all edges easily? Let me know. Always on the lookout for good ideas. 🙂

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!