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30-Minute Acrylic Portrait: Friendly Young Man in Blue

How to Paint Friendly Young Man in Blue: 30 Minutes

Unlock your artistic potential by learning to paint a vibrant portrait of a young man in just half an hour.

In the world of portrait painting, efficiency and creativity often go hand in hand. This will guide you through the process of painting a friendly young man in blue within 30 minutes. Not only does this exercise encourage quick thinking and decision-making, but it also helps you refine your artistic skills in a time-sensitive manner. The beauty of this approach lies in its simplicity and accessibility, making it perfect for both beginners and experienced artists looking to enhance their techniques.

Materials Needed

To embark on this exciting painting journey, ensure you have the following materials ready:

  • Acrylic Paints:
    • Ivory Black
    • Raw Umber Dark
    • Burnt Sienna
    • Raw Sienna
    • Ultramarine Blue
    • Alizarine Crimson
    • Pyrrole Red
    • Indian Yellow
    • Titanium white
  • Brushes:
    • Round brush for detail work
    • Flat brush for broader strokes
  • Other Tools:
    • Palette for mixing colors
    • Matte medium for thinning paint
    • Timer for tracking your painting session
  • Canvas Preparation:
    • An 8×10 canvas panel, toned with a mix of raw umber dark and titanium white

Setting Up the Painting Process

Before diving into the painting, it is essential to prepare your canvas properly. Begin by toning the canvas with a mixture of raw umber dark and titanium white. This step provides a neutral background, allowing for better contrast when adding colors.

Once the canvas is prepared, block in the basic composition of the young man. Using a thin wash of darker paint, outline the general shapes of the head, neck, and shoulders. This initial sketch serves as a guide for placing the facial features accurately.

Blocking in the Composition

Start by identifying key features:

  1. Earlobe and Hairline: The bottom of the earlobe typically aligns with the halfway point of the face.
  2. Jawline and Shoulders: Mark where the jawline will curve and where the shoulders begin.
  3. Eyes and Nose: Establish the placement of the eyes, ensuring they are positioned correctly in relation to the nose and mouth.

By keeping the lines light, adjustments can be made easily without significant disruption to the painting.

Painting Steps

Establishing the Base Colors

After blocking in the main features, it is time to apply the base colors. Begin by mixing the appropriate shades for the skin tones and clothing. The goal is to create a vibrant, friendly appearance for the young man.

  1. Skin Tone: Use a mix of raw sienna, titanium white, and a touch of alizarine crimson to create a natural skin tone.
  2. Clothing: For the blue shirt, mix ultramarine blue with a hint of titanium white to achieve a soft, friendly blue shade.

Detailing Facial Features

With the base colors applied, the next step involves refining the facial features. Pay attention to:

  • Eyes: Add depth by incorporating darker tones around the edges. Use a mix of burnt sienna and raw umber dark to define the shadows.
  • Nose and Mouth: Sculpt the nose by using highlights and shadows to add dimension. For the mouth, emphasize the natural curvature by applying darker shades to the corners and lighter shades to the center.

Creating Shadows and Highlights

Shadows play a crucial role in portrait painting, providing depth and realism. Observe the light source carefully and identify where the shadows fall on the face. Utilize a combination of raw umber dark and ivory black to create darker shadows, and titanium white for highlights.

  1. Cheekbones and Forehead: Define the cheekbones with darker shades while keeping the forehead lighter to indicate light reflection.
  2. Jawline: Establish the jawline shadow with a gentle gradient, allowing it to flow seamlessly into the neck.

Tips for Success

To enhance your painting experience, consider these helpful tips:

  • Achieving Smooth Skin Tones: Many artists struggle with muddy skin tones. Understanding color theory and using complementary colors can help avoid this common pitfall. Use the free PDF guide “Fix Muddy Skin Tones in Your Acrylic Portrait here,” .
  • Using Reference Images: Reference images are invaluable in portrait painting. They provide a clear visual guide for proportions and colors. When selecting an image, look for good lighting and strong contrasts to help create depth in your work.

Conclusion

Painting a friendly young man in blue in just 30 minutes may seem challenging, but with practice and perseverance, it can be a rewarding experience. Because this exercise encourages artistic growth and helps you develop essential skills in portrait painting. Remember to have fun and embrace the process. For further resources and guides, visit realisticacrylic.com to enhance your acrylic painting journey.

LEARN MORE

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

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

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

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,

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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!

30-Minute Acrylic Portrait:

How to Paint Pensive Young Woman: 30-Minute Acrylic Portrait

Master the alla prima technique to capture expression, lighting, and form in a half-hour acrylic portrait.

Welcome to another 30-minute acrylic portrait session! In this tutorial, we will walk through the process of painting a pensive young woman with red hair. While acrylic painting can take several hours or even days using layered techniques, today we’ll focus on alla prima—a method where you paint wet-on-wet in one sitting. This exercise helps artists become more efficient by focusing on capturing the subject’s gesture and overall expression in a short period. With practice, you can improve your speed, brushstroke accuracy, and confidence.

Follow this step-by-step guide to complete a beautiful, expressive portrait in just 30 minutes.

Materials and Color Palette

Before diving into the actual painting process, it’s essential to know the materials you’ll be using. For this quick portrait, the following supplies are necessary:

  • Colors:
    • Ivory Black
    • Raw Umber Dark
    • Burnt Sienna
    • Raw Sienna
    • Ultramarine Blue
    • Alizarine Crimson
    • Pyrrole Red Orange (or Cadmium Red Medium)
    • Indian Yellow
    • Titanium White
  • Brushes:
    A mix of flat and round brushes, including filberts for blending skin tones and hair.
  • Canvas Preparation:
    The canvas is pre-toned with a light wash of burnt sienna mixed with titanium white, giving the flesh tones a warm underlayer. This helps speed up the process since the mid-tones are already in place, leaving you to focus on shadows and highlights.

Step 1: Sketching the Composition and Features

Blocking in the Shapes:

Start by mixing raw umber dark with ivory black and a little matte medium to thin the paint. Use a flat brush to sketch the basic composition of the portrait. Focus on capturing the shapes of the young woman’s hair, face, and neck. This quick block-in will define the main forms and ensure your proportions are correct.

  • Tip: Focus on the overall gesture and avoid getting bogged down with small details at this stage. Pay attention to the negative spaces between the subject’s contours and the background.

Step 2: Identifying Shadows and Highlights

With the basic form sketched out, move on to blocking in shadows. Using the same mixture of raw umber black, deepen the darker areas, such as her neck, jawline, and the left side of her face.

For the highlights, mix titanium white with burnt sienna and pyrrole red orange to create a warm skin tone. Apply this mixture to the areas where light naturally hits her face, including the forehead, cheeks, and chin. This initial contrast between light and dark will help shape the face’s three-dimensional look.

  • Tip: Use a filbert brush to blend these highlights smoothly into the surrounding skin tones for a softer transition. Quick, choppy strokes can help with texture, while longer, smoother strokes are ideal for refining the skin’s appearance.

Step 3: Refining the Facial Features

Now that the major shadows and highlights are established, begin working on the facial features. Thin the paint with matte medium to give yourself flexibility in making corrections. Use a smaller round brush to block in her eyes, nose, and mouth.

  • Eyes: Place the eyes about two-thirds of the way up from the chin to the top of the head. Make small marks to indicate their placement, followed by the eyebrows, nose, and mouth.
  • Nose: The bottom of the nose should align with the lower third of the face. Use shadows to accentuate its form and add dimension.
  • Mouth: Capture the subtle expression by carefully observing the shape of her lips and how they relate to the other facial features. There’s a slight smile, so a careful balance of shading around the mouth will be essential.

Step 4: Painting the Hair

For the red hair, create a mixture of burnt sienna, pyrrole red orange, and a hint of alizarine crimson. This combination will yield a vibrant, natural red that complements the subject’s expression.

Work in layers, starting with the darker shadows to indicate the depth of the hair. Then, add mid-tones and finish with highlights using a lighter mixture of titanium white and pyrrole red orange.

  • Tip: The texture of the hair can be suggested using short, directional strokes to mimic the flow and volume. Pay attention to where light hits the hair, adding highlights in those areas.

Step 5: Final Touches and Enhancing Contrast

To bring everything together, add the final highlights and enhance the contrast in key areas, such as the bridge of the nose, the cheekbones, and the lips. For the background, use a mixture of raw sienna and burnt umber to create a neutral tone that contrasts with the warm colors of her face and hair.

As the painting progresses, keep in mind the subtle shadows that give depth to her expression. Soft transitions between light and shadow will make the portrait feel more lifelike.

  • Tip: Step back from your painting regularly to check the overall balance of the portrait. This will allow you to see the piece with fresh eyes and make any necessary adjustments before the timer runs out.

Technique and Tips for Success

  • Alla Prima Technique: This wet-on-wet approach forces you to make decisive brushstrokes and prevents overworking the paint. Embrace the loose and expressive nature of this method.
  • Color Harmony: Use a limited palette to ensure harmony in the skin tones, shadows, and highlights. The pre-toned canvas will help unify the colors.
  • Efficient Brushwork: Each brushstroke counts in a 30-minute portrait. Focus on broad strokes for the initial block-in, then refine with smaller brushes for detail work as time allows.

Conclusion: Practice Makes Perfect

Completing your artwork in a 30-minute acrylic portrait painting is challenging but highly rewarding. Because with practice, this exercise will sharpen your skills, improve your brush control, and help you capture the essence of your subject quickly and confidently. By then focusing on the most important aspects of light, shadow, and expression, you’ll be amazed at what you can achieve in a short time.

Start with this tutorial and see how your speed and efficiency improve over time!

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

LEARN MORE

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

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

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

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,

Signature_200dpi_sm.jpg

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!

30-Minute Acrylic Portrait:

How to Paint Young Woman with Black Hair: 30- Minute Acrylic

Discover the power of the alla prima acrylic technique with a quick and efficient 30-minute portrait painting exercise.

Painting a portrait in just 30 minute acrylic might seem like a daunting task, but with the right technique and a little practice, you can create stunning results. So in this guide, we’ll walk through how to paint a young woman with black hair using acrylics, focusing on the alla prima technique, where you paint wet-on-wet in one session. Because this exercise will help you improve your speed and efficiency, making it easier to tackle more detailed and time-consuming works in the future. Let’s dive into the process!

Materials and Tools Needed:

Before you start, gather the following materials:

  • Canvas: 8×10 inch toned canvas board (gray works best for portraits).
  • Acrylic Paints: Ivory black, raw umber dark, burnt sienna, raw sienna, ultramarine blue, titanium white, alizarin crimson, and phthalo blue.
  • Brushes: A variety of flats, filberts, and rounds (inexpensive brushes like “Fine Touch” work well for portraits).
  • Palette: For mixing colors.
  • Matte Medium: To adjust the fluidity of the paint.

Step 1: Preparing the Canvas and Plotting the Portrait

To begin, tone your canvas with a neutral gray to establish a balanced base. Then gray background allows for better contrast between your light and dark areas and helps guide your values throughout the painting process.

Using a mixture of raw umber dark, ivory black, and matte medium, start by loosely sketching the proportions of the young woman’s face. So it’s crucial to get the structure right at this stage. Focus on blocking out key elements like the position of the eyes, nose, mouth, and overall shape of the head.

Tip: Take your time to plot out the general anatomy and features. Once the structure is clear, the rest of the painting will flow smoothly.

Step 2: Blocking in the Hair

In this case the hair, start by mixing ivory black with a bit of raw sienna and ultramarine blue. Because ultramarine blue adds richness and depth to the black, making the hair appear more dynamic. While using a flat brush, block in the larger shapes of the hair, paying attention to where the light hits and where the shadows fall.

Leave room for highlights by using lighter brushstrokes in specific areas, such as the top of the head and the strands framing the face.

Tip: Then use firm pressure to make sure the paint penetrates the texture of the canvas and blending the darker areas with lighter values will give the hair more volume and realism.

Step 3: Adding Facial Features

Now that the hair is blocked in, it’s time to focus on the face. Then begin with the lighter skin tones. Mix titanium white with a bit of raw sienna and pyro red orange. Because this combination provides a warm, natural skin tone, apply the highlight colors to the areas where light hits the most, such as the forehead, cheeks, and chin.

For the shadows, mix raw umber dark with alizarin crimson to create a soft, reddish shadow. Apply this to the areas that fall into shadow, particularly on the right side of the face where light is less prominent.

Pay close attention to the subtle transitions between light and dark. This is key to achieving a realistic, three-dimensional effect.

Tip: Use smaller round brushes for the finer details like the eyes, nose, and mouth. Keep the brushstrokes loose, especially in the early stages, to avoid overworking the paint.

Step 4: Defining Light and Shadow

The success of a portrait depends heavily on how well you capture the play of light and shadow. In this painting, the light source is on the left, casting most of the face in a soft glow. The right side of the face falls into shadow, which adds depth and contrast.

To enhance this, add more ivory black and burnt sienna to the shadow areas on the face and neck. The interplay between light and dark will help define the features and make the portrait more striking.

Tip: Don’t be afraid to use more intense shadows. They can be adjusted later with highlights or softened through blending.

Step 5: Refining the Details

At this point, it’s time to go back and refine the smaller details. Use a fine brush to suggest the eyebrows, eyes, and mouth. For the eyes, a mix of raw umber dark and a tiny bit of alizarin crimson will give depth to the pupils, while white highlights can be added for reflection.

For the lips, mix pyro red orange with alizarin crimson to create a subtle pink tone. The lips should be softly blended into the surrounding skin, paying attention to where light and shadow fall on them.

Step 6: Final Touches and Adjustments

As the portrait nears completion, make any necessary adjustments to the values and colors. Add more contrast where needed, especially in the hair and facial features. Blend areas that appear too harsh and add highlights to areas that need more light.

Finally, step back from your painting and evaluate it from a distance. This will help you see the overall composition and balance.

Tips for Painting Efficiently:

  1. Set a Timer: Limiting yourself to 30 minutes encourages you to work quickly and make decisive brushstrokes.
  2. Practice Frequently: The more you paint quick portraits, the better you’ll get at gauging proportions and capturing likenesses in less time.
  3. Use a Limited Palette: Restricting your color choices can speed up the mixing process and ensure consistency throughout the painting.
  4. Focus on Large Shapes First: Start with the overall shapes and proportions before moving to the details. This prevents overworking smaller areas and maintains balance.
  5. Take Breaks to Evaluate: Step away from the painting to view it with fresh eyes. This will help you identify areas that need improvement or adjustment.

Conclusion

Painting a young woman with black hair in 30 minute acrylics is an excellent way to hone your skills, improve your speed, and gain confidence. By focusing on the key elements of light and shadow, blocking in major shapes, and refining the details efficiently, you can create a striking portrait in a short amount of time. Try incorporating this exercise into your regular painting routine to see significant improvement in your portraits.

Remember, practice is key, and with each portrait, you’ll get closer to mastering the alla prima technique. Happy painting!

 If you struggle with muddy skin tones and blotchiness in your portraits, download my free pdf guide called fix muddy skin tones in your acrylic portrait download here . 

 LEARN MORE

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


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

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

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,

Signature_200dpi_sm.jpg

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!

 

30-Minute Acrylic Portrait: Man in the Dark Brown Cap

30-Minute Acrylic Portrait: Man in the Dark Brown Cap

Master the art of portrait painting in just 30 minutes with this step-by-step guide on how to paint a man wearing a dark brown cap, using quick alla prima techniques.

Creating a portrait in 30 minute acrylic portrait may sound challenging, but with the right technique and mindset, it’s achievable. In this guide, you’ll learn how to paint a man wearing a dark brown cap using the alla prima method. This method focuses on speed and efficiency, helping artists prioritize the most essential details to bring a portrait to life quickly. Here, we break down the steps and share tips on how to improve your acrylic portrait skills.

Introduction to Alla Prima Portrait Painting

Alla prima, or wet-on-wet painting, is a technique that involves completing a painting in one sitting. Unlike traditional methods that allow layers to dry between applications, alla prima encourages you to work quickly and efficiently. This guide demonstrates how to use this method for a 30-minute acrylic portrait of a man in a dark brown cap. The goal isn’t perfection but improvement in speed and technique while capturing the subject’s essence.

Palette and Materials

Before diving into the portrait, it’s crucial to have the right tools. For this tutorial, the following colors are used:

  • Ivory Black
  • Raw Umber Dark
  • Burnt Sienna
  • Raw Sienna
  • Ultramarine Blue
  • Alizarine Crimson
  • Pyrrole Red Orange
  • Indian Yellow
  • Titanium White

You will also need matte medium for thinning the paint, a few brushes (flats and rounds), and a canvas or canvas board. Using matte medium helps create smoother transitions, which is vital when working quickly.

Step-by-Step Guide to Painting

1. Start with a Quick Composition Sketch

The first step is to block in the basic shapes of the portrait. Using a mix of raw umber dark and ultramarine blue, sketch out the composition. The key is to focus on the overall structure and the visual weight of the painting.

Pay attention to the man’s hat, which should slightly extend beyond the picture plane, and block in the large areas like the hat, jawline, and clothing. These early strokes are foundational, so don’t worry too much about small details. Instead, concentrate on the positioning and proportions of the major features.

2. Block in Shadows

Next, switch to a smaller flat brush and begin blocking in the shadows. Shadows are essential for giving the portrait depth. For this step, mix raw umber dark with titanium white for opacity, and add a bit of alizarine crimson and ultramarine blue to neutralize the warmth.

Focus on the shadows under the hat, around the nose, and beneath the chin. The key here is to simplify the shadow shapes—don’t get bogged down with unnecessary details at this stage. Instead, aim for bold, confident strokes that define the light and dark areas.

3. Apply Skin Tones

Now it’s time to paint the skin tones. Use titanium white mixed with raw sienna and burnt sienna to create a base skin tone. You can warm it up with a bit of alizarine crimson for areas that need more pinkish tones, such as the cheeks or lips.

Block in the skin areas quickly but precisely, making sure to cover the face, neck, and ears. Don’t worry if some skin tones blend into the shadow shapes—these can be refined later.

4. Blend and Define Features

Once the basic tones are blocked in, it’s time to refine the features. Using a small brush, blend the darker shadow areas into the lighter skin tones. Pay attention to crucial areas like the nose, cheeks, and eyes.

For the man’s cap, switch to a darker mix of raw umber dark and ivory black to add more dimension. Use the same blend to define the man’s beard and eyebrows, making sure to capture the triangular shadow shapes around the eyes and the strong furrows in his brow.

5. Add Highlights

Highlights are what make the portrait pop. Use titanium white with a bit of burnt sienna to paint the brighter areas of the face. This mix will create a natural, soft glow, mimicking the effect of sunlight hitting the skin. Focus on the forehead, nose bridge, cheekbones, and the top of the lips.

This step is also where you can refine small details like the earring or the slight texture on the man’s lips. Be careful not to overwork these details, though, as you’re working within a tight time frame.

6. Final Touches

In the last few minutes, focus on refining the transitions between light and dark areas. Use a small round brush to add subtle touches to the beard and mustache. Add a bit of ultramarine blue mixed with titanium white to give the shadows a cooler tone, creating more depth.

Don’t forget to check the overall composition. Make sure the man’s cap is correctly placed, and the shadows and highlights are balanced. At this stage, you can also add finishing touches like small wrinkles or texture to the man’s clothing.

Tips and Techniques for Faster Painting

  • Use Matte Medium: This helps in blending and smoothing out transitions between colors while keeping the paint fluid.
  • Work in Layers: Block in large shapes first, then refine the details. This method ensures you capture the overall structure before getting too detailed.
  • Prioritize Important Features: Focus on the essential elements of the face, such as the eyes, nose, and mouth. Minor details can be added later if time permits.
  • Use Big Strokes: Especially at the beginning, use larger brushes and bold strokes to cover more surface area quickly.
  • Limit Your Palette: Using a limited palette helps streamline the process and reduces decision fatigue. Stick to the basic colors mentioned earlier for this exercise.

Conclusion

Completing a 30-minute acrylic portrait might seem intimidating, but with practice, it becomes a valuable exercise in efficiency and decision-making. This alla prima approach encourages you to focus on the most important aspects of the portrait, allowing you to improve your painting speed while still capturing the subject’s essence.

Remember, this 30-minute acrylic portrait exercise is a way to enhance your skills, and you can always take your quick study further into a more detailed painting later. With consistent practice, you’ll find yourself becoming faster and more confident in your portrait work.

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

LEARN MORE

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

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

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

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,

Signature_200dpi_sm.jpg

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!

real time acrylic portrait video lesson tutorial

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

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,

Signature_200dpi_sm.jpg

 

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! 

 

Paint 30 minute acrylic portrait

How to Paint Smiling Girl in Yellow: 30-Minute Acrylic Portrait

Create a stunning 30-minute acrylic portrait of a smiling girl in yellow with easy-to-follow techniques

Creating a captivating 30-Minute Acrylic Portrait of a smiling girl in yellow can be a fulfilling and enjoyable artistic endeavor. In just half an hour, you can capture the essence of joy and vibrancy, making this project perfect for artists of all skill levels. Whether you’re a seasoned painter looking for a quick challenge or a beginner eager to experiment with color and expression, this guide will provide you with step-by-step instructions to bring your vision to life on canvas. Let’s dive into the techniques and tips that will help you create a stunning portrait that radiates happiness!

For today’s portrait, I’ll be painting a picture of a young woman ( a still shot image from Ray Comfort’s video interviews ) with a beautiful dark complexion and attractive smile. I like the dark shadows and forms within her face and hair, and I thought it would make for a fantastic little portrait.

This will be an 8 x 10, acrylic on canvas board.

 

smiling-young-woman-portrait-from-photo
McKaela, still shot image from Ray Comfort/ Living Waters footage used for alla prima acrylic portrait by artist Matt Philleo, 2019, used with permission.

 

I’ll demonstrate how you can paint a quick portrait study with an aggressive opaque, alla prima technique. The idea is to see what you can accomplish within 30 minutes. It will force you to think quickly, and find out what the most important aspects are that will convey the subject’s likeness and just paint them without fuss.

At the same time, I encourage you to enjoy the process and don’t fret over whether the painting looks good or not. Of course it won’t look as good as a painting you’ve spent hours on! But it’s OK. Just enjoy the process.

Later on, you can always add more layers to the painting and give it a finished look.

Ready to dive in?

Season 1, Episode 3 of the 30-Minute Acrylic Portrait…

After watching it, leave me a comment here below. I really look forward to reading and answering your thoughts and questions. Let me know how I can help and have a blessed and productive day!

Yours for better portraits,

Signature_200dpi_sm.jpg

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!

 

30-minute-acrylic-portrait-young-man-in-white

“How to Paint a Young Man in White” in 30 Minutes

Thank you to everyone who left encouraging comments and kind words on my first episode of the “30-Minute Acrylic Portrait.” Now, it’s on to Episode #2.

For today’s portrait, I’ll be painting a picture of a young man dressed in white, named Mohammed.

30-Minute Acrylic Portrait reference photo
Reference photo for 30-Minute Acrylic Portrait, used with permission from Ray Comfort at Living Waters Publications

How did I come across this photo?

Well, I was looking for interesting reference images to paint from, scouring the internet and couldn’t find much. Even stock photo sites like Pexels and Pixabay came up short.

Then I recalled a YouTube channel that I frequently watch (or have playing in the background as I paint): Living Waters.

On this channel, there are literally hundreds of videos of people being interviewed by Ray Comfort, a Christian author, evangelist and short movie producer. Every person is different and unique. I noticed the lighting on several of these interesting characters was fantastic, and the video quality high enough that I could grab some screenshots of the footage and then paint from them.

Living Waters images used for Matt Philleo portrait paintings
Living Waters YouTube Channel–reference photos for paintings, used with permission

Of course, I needed to get permission first.

So I contacted the ministry’s general email address, and got an expected automated response.

The next day, however, I got an unexpected call from Ray Comfort, granting me permission to paint portraits based on his videos. I was blown away by his generosity and thought this was also another confirmation from God to continue doing the series. I should have enough images to keep me busy for months, maybe even years. 🙂

So here we go.

Season 1, Episode 2 of the 30-Minute Acrylic Portrait…

As always, let me know what you think of this video. I encourage you to try this exercise for yourself. You don’t have to feel pressured to come up with a masterpiece. Just enjoy the process and see what you can do within half an hour.

Or you might just want to keep watching these videos for fun, sipping some coffee or tea. 🙂 Either way, thank you for watching, and I look forward to sharing more with you.

Yours for better portraits,

Signature_200dpi_sm.jpg

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!

 

acrylic portrait painting demo real time

How to Paint an Acrylic Portrait in 30 Minutes

Discover the quick and simple method to capture portraits with speed and precision

As a child, I was amazed as I watched “The Joy of Painting” host Bob Ross paint a beautiful landscape in less than 30 minutes. I was captivated by his gentle touch, his fast wet-on-wet technique, and the way he could totally put you at ease.

I can’t say I wanted to be just like Bob when I grew up, but he did help inspire me to paint.

Later on, I learned the more methodical glazing technique from Norbert Kox, where you apply layer after layer of translucent paint. It’s very time consuming, but it creates fantastic realistic effects. This is the style I have become known for.

But sometimes I just want to knock out a quick painting, have fun with it, and yet push myself.

Can I paint a somewhat respectable looking painting in half an hour?

If I do it often, will I get faster?

Could it help me paint faster, and more confidently in my “typical” more detailed portraits?

Could an exercise like this help YOU to do the same?

There’s only one way to find out.

So, with that, I’m launching a new series of videos, or something like a show called, “The 30-Minute Acrylic Portrait” Season One, Episode 1…

Tips for Success in Fast-Paced Portrait Painting

  1. Set a Timer: Keep yourself on track by setting a timer. This helps maintain focus and prevents overworking areas.
  2. Keep Your Palette Organized: Lay out your colors clearly, so you can mix shades quickly without delay.
  3. Use a Limited Palette: Working with fewer colors will simplify the process and give the portrait a harmonious look.
  4. Practice Blocking and Simplifying: Learn to capture shapes and shadows quickly by focusing on big-picture composition.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Focusing Too Much on Detail: With only 30 minutes, try to avoid getting caught up in minute details.
  • Using Too Many Colors: Stick with a few main colors for consistency and ease.
  • Overthinking the Process: Embrace a relaxed approach, letting the process unfold naturally.

Conclusion

Creating a 30-minute acrylic portrait requires simplifying techniques, focusing on essential shapes, and mastering the art of blocking in shadows and highlights. This method allows for creative expression while enhancing your confidence and ability to capture a portrait quickly. Practice makes perfect, so keep experimenting with colors, tones, and brush techniques.

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

Let me know what you think of this video. Is it helpful? Interesting? Would you like to see more?

I’d love to hear back from you with your honest thoughts.

LEARN MORE

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

Yours for better portraits,

Signature_200dpi_sm.jpg

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!

 

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