Realistic Acrylic Portrait School

Category Archives for Facial Features

How To Paint Lips In Acrylic Portrait: 7 Steps

How To Paint Lips In Acrylic Portrait: 7 Steps

Detailed guide to creating realistic lips in your acrylic paintings

Introduction

Painting lips in an acrylic portrait is a delicate and crucial step in achieving a realistic and expressive face. The lips are not only central to the facial features but also convey emotions and character. In this guide, we’ll walk you through a detailed process of painting lips, focusing on blending, shading, and adding those subtle highlights that bring the lips to life.

Understanding the Structure of Lips

Before diving into the painting process, it’s essential to understand the anatomy of lips. The lips consist of various shapes, curves, and subtle color variations. The upper lip is usually thinner and has a more defined curve, while the lower lip is fuller and catches more light. The area where the lips meet is typically darker, creating a natural shadow.

Step-by-Step Guide to Painting Lips

1. Initial Shadowing

  • Begin by adding a shadow on the side of the nose that faces away from the light. Use a mixture of raw umber dark, raw sienna, and a bit of titanium white. This shadow will help in defining the nasolabial fold and the overall shape of the lips.
  • Thin out the glaze to blend it smoothly into the surrounding skin tone, creating a natural transition.

2. Defining the Lip Shape

  • Move on to the lips by refining the edges and shape. Mix titanium white, pyrrole red orange, and raw umber dark to create a base color for the lips.
  • Apply this mixture to the lips, focusing on smoothing out the values, especially on the darker side of the lips. Gradually lighten the color as you move towards the apex of the lips, where the light hits.

3. Blending and Smoothing

  • Add raw sienna to the mixture to warm up the edges of the lips. This helps in creating a realistic transition between the lips and the surrounding skin.
  • Keep your paint fluid by thinning it with water or matte medium, allowing for smooth blending without harsh lines.

4. Enhancing the Lip Contour

  • Use a combination of raw umber dark, alizarine crimson, and ultramarine blue to create a darker tone for the interior creases of the lips. This will add depth and dimension to the lips, making them appear more three-dimensional.
  • Apply these darker tones to the creases and areas where the lips naturally fold or wrinkle. This step is crucial for capturing the texture and realism of the lips.

5. Adding Highlights

  • Introduce a bit of titanium white and pyrrole red orange to the mix for the highlights. Focus on the upper part of the lower lip and the center of the upper lip, where the light naturally hits.
  • These highlights should be subtle, blending smoothly into the surrounding colors. The key is to create a soft transition that enhances the curvature of the lips without making the highlights appear too harsh or artificial.

6. Final Touches

  • Add final touches by refining the shape and edges of the lips. Use a fine brush to capture the small creases and details that give the lips their unique texture.
  • Incorporate a slight amount of ultramarine blue and raw umber dark to the bottom edge of the lips for added depth. This creates a shadow that helps the lips stand out from the surrounding skin.

7. Developing the Surrounding Area

  • Remember to consider the areas surrounding the lips as well. Shadows beneath the lower lip and slight highlights on the upper lip area can add to the realism of the portrait.
  • Use a diluted mix of the darker tones to add subtle shadows and enhance the depth of the lips.

Tips and Techniques for Painting Lips

  • Keep Your Paint Fluid: Thin your paint with water or matte medium to achieve smooth transitions and avoid harsh edges.
  • Focus on Light and Shadow: Pay attention to the light source in your painting. The lips should have a natural gradient, with the lightest areas being where the light hits directly.
  • Use a Variety of Colors: Lips are not just red or pink; they have a range of colors, including subtle blues, purples, and browns. Experiment with different tones to achieve a more realistic effect.
  • Build Layers Gradually: Start with thin layers of paint and gradually build up the color and texture. This approach allows for more control and a more natural appearance.
  • Refine Details: Use fine brushes to add small creases, highlights, and shadows that give the lips their unique character. These details make a significant difference in the overall realism of the portrait.

Painting lips in an acrylic portrait requires patience, attention to detail, and an understanding of the subtle nuances that make up this important facial feature. By following this step-by-step guide, you can achieve realistic and expressive lips that enhance the overall impact of your portrait. Remember, practice makes perfect, so keep experimenting with different techniques and colors to refine your skills.

To learn more, watch my free video tutorial on how to paint lips in your acrylic.

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 in 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 Draw Facial Features on a Pencil Sketch

How to Draw Facial Features in Pencil Sketch

Learn how to draw realistic facial features with pencil sketch techniques—Tips for perfecting eyes, nose, lips, and more.

Drawing realistic facial features in a pencil sketch requires attention to detail, patience, and a clear understanding of proportion and shading. Whether you’re working on a self-portrait or creating a likeness of someone else, refining key elements such as the eyes, nose, and lips is essential to achieving a lifelike representation. In this guide, we will walk you through the process of drawing facial features with a focus on capturing the unique characteristics of each part of the face.

Getting Started with Basic Outlines

In the initial phase of drawing, it is important to loosely block in the outlines of the facial features. This helps establish the general proportions and placement of the eyes, nose, mouth, and other elements. A 2H pencil is recommended for these initial light strokes since it produces faint lines that are easier to adjust as needed.

  1. Grid Method: Using a grid is a helpful tool to maintain the correct proportions and ensure that facial features are aligned accurately. Lightly sketch the outlines of the eyes, nose, lips, and overall head shape using the grid as a guide.
  2. Basic Shapes: The eyes are often drawn as almond shapes or football-like structures, but it’s essential to avoid making them overly stylized or cartoony. Each person’s eyes differ in size and shape based on their eyelids and other factors.

Drawing the Eyes

Eyes are arguably the most important feature when it comes to capturing expression and realism in a portrait. The goal is to draw them in a way that reflects their actual appearance rather than relying on preconceived ideas of how eyes look.

  1. Shape of the Iris and Pupil: Start by drawing the iris, the round part of the eye. It’s common for beginners to make the iris appear too flat or symmetrical, but this doesn’t account for natural variations in eye shape. The pupil is drawn in the center of the iris but with care taken to ensure it looks natural.
  2. Upper Eyelid and Fold: The upper eyelid often casts a shadow over the iris, creating depth in the eye. Add the crease or fold above the eyelid if applicable—this fold is more prominent in some people and less so in others. Remember, eyes appear squintier in some angles, so adjust based on your reference.
  3. Reflection in the Eye: A small highlight or reflection is usually seen on the surface of the eye, which should be placed carefully. This reflection comes from light sources in the environment and adds a realistic touch.
  4. Adding Eyelashes and Eyebrows: Be subtle when drawing the eyelashes—overdoing it can make the portrait look exaggerated. For eyebrows, use soft, feathered strokes to simulate the hair texture, paying attention to the density and shape.

Refining the Nose

The nose can be tricky due to its three-dimensional structure, but using shading can greatly assist in creating depth and realism.

  1. Nostril Shape: Focus on drawing the correct nostril shapes without making them too bold. The nostrils should not be drawn as harsh, circular outlines but rather suggested through soft shading and curvature.
  2. Shading and Contours: The nose has subtle curves and contours that require delicate shading. The areas around the nose bridge and the sides should be shaded to indicate depth. Pay close attention to the light source, as it will dictate where shadows fall.

Drawing the Mouth and Teeth

The mouth, especially the lips, can define the emotion and personality of the subject.

  1. Shape of the Lips: When drawing the lips, focus on the shape and volume of both the upper and lower lips. The upper lip typically has a more defined curve, while the bottom lip is fuller. The key is to use shading to indicate the volume rather than relying on harsh outlines.
  2. Teeth Placement: When drawing teeth, avoid drawing each tooth with equal emphasis. The front two teeth are generally more prominent, while the side teeth appear smaller due to perspective. Pay attention to how the teeth curve in the mouth, as they are never viewed head-on in a natural smile.
  3. Creases and Shadows: The small crevices or gaps between the teeth and lips, as well as the shadow under the bottom lip, are essential for a realistic representation. These areas should be subtly shaded to create depth and natural transitions between features.

Adding Final Details and Shading

At this stage, your portrait will have all the major features sketched out. Now, it’s time to refine the details and add depth through shading.

  1. Refining the Eyes: Darken the pupil slightly while maintaining the reflection highlight. Add more definition to the iris by shading its outer edges lightly.
  2. Highlighting with Erasers: Use a kneaded eraser to pick out highlights, especially on the cheekbones, tip of the nose, and the top of the upper lip. This helps to bring out the areas that naturally catch more light.
  3. Blending for Smooth Transitions: Use a blending stump or tissue to soften harsh lines and blend shading smoothly across the face. This helps create a realistic, three-dimensional effect, especially around curved areas like the cheeks and forehead.
  4. Layering Shading: Build up the depth of the sketch by gradually darkening certain areas, such as the eyes, nostrils, and under the chin. Shading should be applied in layers rather than all at once to give more control over the darkness and contrast.

Tips and Techniques for a Realistic Pencil Sketch

  • Use Reference Photos: Always refer back to your subject or a reference image, as it’s easy to fall into drawing features as you think they look rather than how they truly appear.
  • Be Patient with Details: Taking the time to refine small details, such as the reflections in the eyes or the shadows around the nose, can make a significant difference in the overall realism of your drawing.
  • Avoid Over-Shading: While shading adds depth, too much shading can flatten the image or create unnecessary contrast. Subtle transitions between light and dark areas are key.
  • Stay Loose in the Early Stages: Keep your lines loose and light during the blocking stage. It’s easier to adjust proportions and correct mistakes if the initial lines are not too bold.
  • Use the Grid Method: If you’re struggling with proportions, a grid can help break down the facial features into smaller, manageable sections, making it easier to replicate accurately.

By following these steps and techniques, you will be well on your way to creating a lifelike and expressive pencil sketch portrait. Remember, practice is essential, and over time, you’ll improve your ability to capture the subtle details that make each face unique.

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. . Happy painting.

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!

 

How to Paint Realistic Reflections on Eyes in Your Acrylic Portrait

Eyes are the most important feature of an acrylic portrait. When you paint the eyes correctly, everything else seems to fall into place so much easier. 

In this video, I’ll show you how to paint realistic reflections, using two complementary colors in addition to white, and getting the shape of the reflection just right. Then this originally was a BONUS video in the Acrylic Portrait Painting Challenge Master Class, now available in the All-Access Membership at Realistic Acrylic Portrait School.

Even though it is technically over, you can take the Acrylic Portrait Painting Challenge (it’s FREE!) and paint along with us! 8 master class lessons are posted to help you paint a portrait you can be proud of!

REGISTER TODAY. The challenge is ongoing, something you can do at your own pace. It’s not too late to enter! After you join, I’ll send you the supplies list and reference photos to paint from.

Register for the Challenge!

WATCH NOW…

Lesson #8: How to Paint Realistic Reflections on Eyes in Acrylic

Paint realistic reflections on eyes in your acrylic portrait

 Questions? Suggestions? Thoughts? Let me know, below in the comments. Please share your sketches in our Facebook group and share this post with your friends!

LEARN MORE

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


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.

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.  

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!

paint realistic acrylic portrait step by step

Spring 2021 Acrylic Portrait Painting Challenge: Finishing Your Portrait With Confidence

Let’s help you finish your painting!

In this lesson, we will be wrapping up the Masterclass series for the challenge! I’ll show you how to add some more nuances and details to the portrait of “Cora.” First, we’ll add a glaze to her hair to enrich the overall color. Next, we will enhance some nuances on her eyebrows, dial in the color of the eyes, and paint in the reflections. Finally, we’ll add in the skin tone for her arm in the lower corner and follow up with some work on her lace.

But even though we are nearly done with this portrait painting, it’s not too late to join in the fun!

YOU, too, can paint a portrait!

Take the Acrylic Portrait Painting Challenge (it’s FREE!) and paint along with us!

REGISTER TODAY. The challenge is ongoing, something you can do at your own pace. It’s not too late to enter! After you join, I’ll send you the supplies list and reference photos to paint from.

Register for the Challenge!

WATCH NOW…

Lesson #8: Finishing Your Portrait Confidently

paint realistic acrylic portrait step by step

Professional artist and instructor Matt Philleo will teach you how to paint an acrylic portrait you can be proud of with this Portrait Painting Challenge!

 

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

Take the 2021 Spring Portrait Painting Challenge!

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

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

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

Register for the Challenge!

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

—Matt

Questions? Suggestions? Thoughts? Let me know, below in the comments. Please share your sketches in our Facebook group and share this post with your friends!

acrylic portrait painting with glazing technique

Spring 2021 Acrylic Portrait Painting Challenge: Painting Delicate Details and Nuances

After building the foundation with several layers of value, form, and color, we can then start to “dial in” the detail and nuances.

In this master class lesson (7 of 8), I’ll demonstrate how to add specific detail shapes to “Cora’s” hair. I’ll also add some additional shading to her forehead with a very translucent glaze. Next, I darken the left side of her face while smoothing out some of the rough application of previous glazes with a semi-opaque layer that’s cooler in tone. Finally, I add nuances to her eyes, lips and chin.

But even though we are well along in this portrait painting, it’s not too late to join in the fun!

YOU, too, can paint a portrait!

Take the Acrylic Portrait Painting Challenge (it’s FREE!) and paint along with us!

REGISTER TODAY. The challenge is ongoing, something you can do at your own pace. It’s not too late to enter! After you join, I’ll send you the supplies list and reference photos to paint from.

Register for the Challenge!

WATCH NOW…

Lesson #7: Painting Delicate Details and Nuances

Learn how to do smooth shading, skin tones, details, and nuances in this FREE online portrait painting class by Matt Philleo at Realistic Acrylic Portrait School

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

Take the 2021 Spring Portrait Painting Challenge!

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

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

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

Register for the Challenge!

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

—Matt

Questions? Suggestions? Thoughts? Let me know, below in the comments. Please share your sketches in our Facebook group and share this post with your friends!

acrylic portrait painting with glazing technique

Spring 2021 Acrylic Portrait Painting Challenge: Building Up Richness, Depth and Luminosity

Acrylic is a fantastic medium for portrait painting, but it can be so challenging to use! That is why I am teaching you the glazing technique to open a lot of possibilities and ease your frustration. 

Historically, the Old Masters used small amounts of pigment dispersed in larger amounts of linseed oil or mineral spirits to create a sense of volume and depth in their paintings. Light shines through and you can see a bit of each layer beneath the ones on top.

We can use that technique to our advantage with acrylic. By applying several translucent layers, there is an increased sense of depth, shading, contrast and color saturation and luminosity.

In this particular lesson, I’ll demonstrate how to add richness to the mid-tones of the girl’s face and hair. We will also add more contrast to the image with a couple of layers to the background, and turn the form of her figure with a precisely placed glaze on her clothing.

But even though we are well along in this portrait painting, it’s not too late to join in the fun!

Take the Acrylic Portrait Painting Challenge (it’s FREE!) and paint along with us!

REGISTER TODAY. The challenge is ongoing, something you can do at your own pace. It’s not too late to enter! After you join, I’ll send you the supplies list and reference photos to paint from.

Register for the Challenge!

WATCH NOW…

Lesson #6: Building Up Richness, Depth, and Luminosity

acrylic portrait painting with glazing technique

Learn how to create a vibrant acrylic portrait where the colors are not flat or muddy. In this FREE step by step master class, I’ll show you how!

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

Take the 2021 Spring Portrait Painting Challenge!

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

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

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

Register for the Challenge!

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

—Matt

Questions? Suggestions? Thoughts? Let me know, below in the comments. Please share your sketches in our Facebook group and share this post with your friends!

paint shading skin tones acrylic portrait

Spring 2021 Acrylic Portrait Painting Challenge: Sculpting Shading and Skin Tones in Your Acrylic Portrait

Acrylic portrait painting, in many ways, is like creating a sculpture. We want to truly make our faces look realistic and three-dimensional. In this master class video lesson, I show you how to do exactly that.

We’re breaking a fine art portrait painting down into bite-size steps that YOU can do.

Specifically, in this video lesson, I demonstrate how darkening your background can really make the face stand out in a lifelike way.

What colors should we use for the shadows? I’ll show you how to mix them, what brushes to use to apply them, and HOW to do it. Get the shadows right, and 80% of the battle is won, so to speak in your portrait.

What colors for the skin tones?

In this video, you’ll learn the correct color to mix, how to create glazes with matte medium and apply it to the face smoothly.

This is still very much the beginning. More lessons to come.

Take the Acrylic Portrait Painting Challenge (it’s FREE!) and paint along with us!

REGISTER TODAY. The challenge is ongoing, something you can do at your own pace. It’s not too late to enter! After you join, I’ll send you the supplies list and reference photos to paint from.

Register for the Challenge!

 

WATCH NOW…

Lesson #5: Sculpting Shading and Skin Tones in Your Acrylic Portrait

paint shading skin tones acrylic portrait

Acrylic Portrait Painting Challenge Lesson #5: Sculpting Shading and Skin Tones in Your Acrylic Portrait

 

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

Take the 2021 Spring Portrait Painting Challenge!

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

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

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

Register for the Challenge!

What’s coming up in the next lesson? More shading, more skin tones, and the start of some detail work. Follow the lessons and you will be able to create a portrait you can be proud of…even if you’re a complete beginner!

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

—Matt

Questions? Suggestions? Thoughts? Let me know, below in the comments. Please share your sketches in our Facebook group and share this post with your friends!

learn portrait painting free lesson

Spring 2021 Acrylic Portrait Painting Challenge: The Slow and Steady Way to Paint an Acrylic Portrait

If you remember the childhood story, “The Tortoise and the Hare,” you recall that the hare started out really fast and put the tortoise to shame. But then the rabbit took a nap, while the slow, while the turtle, with his slow methodical steps, passed him up and won the race!

slow acrylic portrait painting

Sometimes slow is better for painting an acrylic portrait. 

Likewise, in an acrylic portrait, we often want to see quick results. But if we take our time, and just add one layer on top of another, even though it looks like hardly anything is happening, eventually, we will end up with a great painting!

I’d like to show you how to slow down a bit, take your time, and paint your acrylic portrait layer by layer, using the acrylic glazing technique.

Take the Acrylic Portrait Painting Challenge (it’s FREE!) and paint along with us!

REGISTER TODAY. The challenge is ongoing, something you can do at your own pace. It’s not too late to enter! After you join, I’ll send you the supplies list and reference photos to paint from.

Register for the Challenge!

 

WATCH NOW…

Lesson #4: The Slow and Steady Way to Paint an Acrylic Portrait

 

In this master class lesson #4, I demonstrate how to continue darkening your darkest values on the face and background, and then work in some warmer glazes to set up the skin tones on her face. We’re going very light, using a large amount of matte medium (95%) to a small amount of paint (5%)

Watch how to do it here…

 

learn portrait painting free lesson

Learn how to paint an acrylic portrait slowly and correctly, step-by-step in this FREE master class lesson by Matt Philleo at Realistic Acrylic Portrait School!

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

Take the 2021 Spring Portrait Painting Challenge!

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

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

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

Register for the Challenge!

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

—Matt

Questions? Suggestions? Thoughts? Let me know, below in the comments. Please share your sketches in our Facebook group and share this post with your friends!

realistic acrylic portrait glazing

Spring 2021 Acrylic Portrait Painting Challenge: Applying Your First Glazes

Think of the acrylic glazing technique as a Polaroid camera print.

Remember those? You would load up the small film sheets, snap a picture and out popped the print.  Back in those days (yes, I’m old enough to remember them) this was amazing. You wouldn’t have to drop off your film and wait 3 days (or even an hour!) for it to process.

But even then, it wasn’t immediate. The image would slowly fade in, and you’d watch a vague outline of your scene start to materialize. Finally, after a minute, you’d have a beautiful print!

In the same way, instead of painting our portrait one section at a time, with thick, opaque applications of paint, we slowly fade it in, covering the entire canvas at once, in stages. We use the classical acrylic glazing technique, just like Da Vinci, Titian and Vermeer used during the Renaissance to achieve smooth, subtle nuances of color and value, vibrant colors, and incredible depth.

I’ll show you how to do it!

But first, make sure you’re registered for the challenge!

REGISTER TODAY. The challenge is ongoing, something you can do at your own pace. It’s not too late to enter! After you join, I’ll send you the supplies list and reference photos to paint from.

Register for the Challenge!

 

WATCH NOW…

Applying the First Glazes to Your Acrylic Portrait, Part 1

 

Before we can begin the painting, first we must seal in the sketch, so it doesn’t smear or muddy up our paint. Next, we need to white-out the grid lines so they don’t distract from our final painting presentation. Lastly, we mute the sketch and tone the canvas in one step, so that we don’t have a white canvas staring us in the face, and so that the sketch is softened—easier to convert to a painting.

Watch how to do it here…

 

paint realistic acrylic portrait step by step

Learn to paint a realistic acrylic portrait using the classical glazing technique in this free online class. Lesson 3: Beginning the painting process–sealing in the sketch, whiting

 

Applying the First Glazes to Your Acrylic Portrait, Part 2

Let’s begin the actual painting process! I’ll show you what colors we are using, how to block in the value structure simply with just two colors and matte medium. We’re going to go light and leave room to correct any mistakes. This will be the foundation we’ll build off of from here on out…

realistic acrylic portrait glazing

Learn to paint a realistic acrylic portrait using the classical glazing technique in this free online class. Lesson 3: Beginning the painting process

 

 

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

Take the 2021 Spring Portrait Painting Challenge!

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

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

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How to Paint Beard Hair Easily in Your Acrylic

How to Paint Beard Hair Easily in Your Acrylic

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

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

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

Step-by-Step Guide to Painting Beard Hair

1. Start with a Base Color

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

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

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

2. Block in the Values

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

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

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

3. Create Realism with Minimal Detail

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

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

How to Paint Beard Hair Easily in Your Acrylic

Techniques to Improve Beard Hair Painting

1. Use Color Blocks to Imply Detail

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

2. Choose the Right Brush

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

3. Blend Your Colors

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

4. Focus on Contrast

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

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

Tips for a Realistic Beard in Acrylics

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

Common Mistakes to Avoid

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

Conclusion

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

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

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

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


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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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