Category Archives for Masterclass
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
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!
- How to Paint Foliage Using the Acrylic Glazing Technique
- How to Trace for an Accurate Portrait Sketch
- How to Paint Realistic Eyes in Your Acrylic Portrait
- How to Add Raw Umber Dark & Ultramarine Blue to Your Portrait
- How to Make Your Own Raw Umber Dark
- How to Paint Realistic Trees & Grass in Your Acrylic
- How to Block In Skin Tone Values Using Glazing Technique
- How to Paint Vibrant Reds in Your Acrylic Portrait
- How to Glaze Background Colors & More Acrylic Portrait
- How to Paint White Clothing in Your Acrylic Portrait
- How to Easily Transition from a Sketch to a Painting
- How to Block In Shading & Skin Tones in Your Acrylic
- How to Build Up Color on Acrylic Pet Portrait
- How to Build Up Form on Clothing with Acrylic
- How to Paint Dark Clothing Using Acrylic Glazing Technique
- How to Paint a 24 x 30 Acrylic With 30 People
- How to Do Smooth Shading with Acrylic
- How to Sketch an Acrylic Portrait with a Grid
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.
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!
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.
WATCH NOW…
Lesson #8: Finishing Your Portrait Confidently
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!
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!
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.
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!
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!
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.
WATCH NOW…
Lesson #6: Building Up Richness, Depth, and Luminosity
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!
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!
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.
WATCH NOW…
Lesson #5: Sculpting Shading and Skin Tones in Your 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!
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!
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!
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.
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 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!
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!
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.
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…
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…
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
REGISTER TODAY. The challenge is ongoing, something you can do at your own pace. It’s not too late to enter!
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!
[PORTRAIT CHALLENGE] Masterclass Lesson #8: Finishing Your Portrait Well
The Acrylic Portrait Painting Challenge Masterclass, Lesson #8, is out!
This is our FINAL lesson together.
It’s kind of sad to see the challenge drawing to a close. As I write this, it’s been an entire month since I started this challenge on April 6, 2020.
My goal was to create a way for artists to overcome the challenges of being in COVID-19 lockdown, create something beautiful with their time, and grow their skills as artists.
Many, many have risen to the challenge and done exactly that. If you’re reading this, and you’ve taken the challenge; you’ve gone through steps 1-7, I’m so proud of you! It’s not easy to paint a realistic portrait in acrylic, let alone during a quarantine. But you did it! And you’ve encouraged many others along the way.
Acrylic Portrait Painting Challenge example portrait 16 x 20 acrylic on canvas, ©2020 by Matt Philleo
Because of that, you are a better artist, and have grown in character as a human being.
Your portrait —hopefully—is nearly done. What next? How do we “bring it home”, so to speak?
Let me show you, below!
Six Steps to Finishing Your Portrait Well
STEP ONE: Double-check the tonal values. Use my Value Checker tool for that.
STEP TWO: Double-check and add more detail to the eyes.
STEP THREE: Add vibrance to areas where certain shadows and highlights meet
STEP FOUR: Refine the shadows
STEP FIVE: Redefine the edges of your subject and objects
STEP SIX: Paint pin-point highlights on the face
When is the painting done?
Watch the video to find out…
[PORTRAIT CHALLENGE] Masterclass Lesson #8: Finishing Your Portrait Well
Is it too late to join the challenge? No, not at all. This challenge is meant to be ongoing—something you can do at your own pace. The lessons are free and they aren’t going anywhere.
If not, register below for FREE and I’ll send you:
- a downloadable/ printable”Welcome Kit” with a Supplies List and a Palette Color Layout Guide.
- high-resolution images of the photo we’ll be painting from for this challenge.
- each new lesson that comes out in this Masterclass series.
- a link to my private Facebook group, where you can do this challenge with other artists, get feedback and help on your portrait, and not feel alone.
REGISTER TODAY. It’s not too late to enter!
Where do we go from here?
I am so happy that you have done this challenge with me and hundreds of other artists. I give you a virtual high-five for the effort and dedication you have put in.
First, I give God the glory and thanks for entrusting all of us a talent to use. Next, I thank you and the other artists for taking your time and investing it into yourself as an artist and into others’ lives to encourage them.
You’ve left great comments for each other and your building skills to be able to paint a portrait you can take pleasure in and others can too.
This is what art is about. It transcends a piece of cotton canvas stretched on a wood frame, with plastic polymer resin on it. In the hands of a skilled painter, it becomes something beautiful that can last forever.
When we touch lives, bring hope and encouragement both in the creation and in the giving or selling of the art, we are doing something that has the potential to last for eternity!
So what we all have done in this group, by God’s grace, is amazing. And I believe it is just the start! 🙂
If you would like to work with me more closely, so I can personally help you become the portrait artist you’d like to be, be sure to watch my invitation at the end of the video. Whatever you decide, thank you so much for taking part in this challenge and may God richly bless your talent, and multiply it many times over!
Yours for Better Portraits,
If you found this post helpful or encouraging, would you send it on ahead? Let others know with the share buttons below. I’d love to hear your comments. Thank you so much!
Let me know if you have any questions about the challenge that I didn’t answer. Leave your question in the comments below and I’ll get back to you!
[PORTRAIT CHALLENGE] Masterclass Lesson #7: Painting Fantastic Facial Features
The Acrylic Portrait Painting Challenge Masterclass, Lesson #7, is out!
In our last lesson, I showed you how to visualize your painting as a map, and add shading and skin tones to specific spots on your portrait.
Now, in this lesson, I want to show you how to “dial-in” the facial features.
(To be upfront, I want you to know there is some video footage after Lesson 6 that I just couldn’t capture in this lesson, so it didn’t get too long for a YouTube video. All of the “in-between” BONUS videos will be posted within Realistic Acrylic All-Access Membership, after I’m finished posting these challenge lessons. The main Masterclass Lessons will be there as well as one complete course, and I will also segment them for easier viewing, since the learning interface makes that possible.)
For most of the students I serve, they do their portraits as gifts for loved ones, and on commission. So, unless you are painting only for an academic exercise, it’s important that you capture an accurate likeness of your subject.
I have painted many portraits over the years, and I can tell you from experience, it doesn’t matter how much detail I add to the painting, if the picture doesn’t look like Aunt Betty, it’s not going to sell. 🙂
So, as you are aiming for realism—that is, the accurate form, tonal values, skin tones, shading, detail, etc., you also want to work to achieve a true likeness.
Does it need to be perfect? No, just close. Usually 85-90% as accurate as the photo you’re working from (and even that is not as accurate as real life) and you’ll do well. But shoot for the 100% every time.
Let’s dive in…
Here’s what to do…
STEP ONE
- Redefine the eye-socket region.
- Redefine the eyelid folds.
- Dial-in the coloring of his eyes
STEP TWO
- Adjust the length and shape of nose (if needed) and add shading.
STEP THREE
- Add more depth to the eyes.
STEP FOUR
- Refine the mouth and mustache.
Ready to paint?
Now, before you begin…(Yes, still need to ask, because some folks are just discovering these Masterclass lessons 🙂 )
Are you registered for the challenge?
If not, register below for FREE and I’ll send you:
- a downloadable/ printable”Welcome Kit” with a Supplies List and a Palette Color Layout Guide.
- high-resolution images of the photo we’ll be painting from for this challenge.
- each new lesson that comes out in this Masterclass series.
- a link to my private Facebook group, where you can do this challenge with other artists, get feedback and help on your portrait, and not feel alone.
REGISTER TODAY. The challenge is ongoing, something you can do at your own pace. It’s not too late to enter!
Watch my in-depth Masterclass acrylic online tutorial below to see these steps in action.
After learning from this video, you’ll know exactly how to do it.
Make sure to watch the ENTIRE video first before diving into the painting. It will be worth it to do that. Then, I’d like you to go back and refer to whatever steps you need to as you paint. That way, you won’t miss any of the instruction and tips that will help you make this portrait your very best.
Here’s the video…
[PORTRAIT CHALLENGE] Masterclass Lesson #7: Painting Fantastic Facial Features
Moving Forward…
Thank you so much for all your effort you’ve put into doing this challenge with me and so many other artists. You’re almost there…your finished portrait is in sight.
Hey, if you’re having some challenges with your Portrait Challenge portrait, I just want to let you know, that’s natural! Painting portraits is difficult even for artists who have been doing it for years. But step-by-step instruction and encouragement from other students helps a lot. Many people in our group are doing with little to no experience, and they’re doing a knock-out job, even if they’re struggling in certain areas.
So, if you do feel stuck at this point, or find your results are less than what you expected, keep in mind this is a learning experience. You will get better as you practice painting portraits in the glazing technique, as so many others have.
That being said, if I can help in any way, please leave a comment or send me an email. I get a lot of requests, but I’ll do my very best to help. Also, make sure you join our amazing Facebook group, Realistic Acrylic Portraits, because you will receive helpful tips and encouragement from other students, some of whom are farther ahead in the portrait painting journey.
I’ll see you in our next class! What is it going to be? Painting the Final Details, Nuances, and Finishing Well. I’m excited to share that with you! Until then, be blessed in your painting and you and your family stay safe and healthy.
Yours for Better Portraits,
If you found this post helpful or encouraging, would you send it on ahead? Let others know with the share buttons below. I’d love to hear your comments. Thank you so much!
Let me know if you have any questions about the challenge that I didn’t answer. Leave your question in the comments below and I’ll get back to you!
[PORTRAIT CHALLENGE] Masterclass Lesson #6: Creating Smooth Blending and Skin Tones
The Acrylic Portrait Painting Challenge Masterclass, Lesson #6, is out!
In our last lesson, I showed you how to add depth to the dark value of the hat, shadowed areas of the face, and some of the darker areas within the background.
Now that we have a good underpainting foundation in place, it’s time to transition into the “middle” portion of the painting. In other words, we’re working our way towards what the final surface of the portrait will look like.
I want to show you specifically how to create smooth blending and establish realistic skin tones.
It’s important to think of this process like outlining the boundaries of a nation, state (province) or county.
I know, we shouldn’t mix geography with art lessons, but I think this metaphor will help you understand the concept I’m trying to get across…
How a US map is like color, shading, and value in an acrylic portrait
I live in the state of Wisconsin, U.S.A. It has its own distinct shape and location within the United States of America. Now, the U.S.A. has its own distinct shape and location within the continent of North America.
In the same way, in a portrait, you may have a small area of value/ skin tone with its own distinct shape and location within the larger area of value/ skin tone. What you want to do is pay attention to the boundary lines on these specific shapes by studying your reference photo.
You won’t see a sharp line you will on a map, unfortunately. But you will see a marked difference where one value/ color ends and another begins.
How to use the idea of a map to improve the realism on your acrylic portrait
You will see a shape emerge. Note that shape.
Then transfer what you see onto your painting. It’s as simple (and challenging!) as that.
You will see shapes within shapes within shapes. The more you can train your eyes to spot these shapes, the better you will become at realistic painting. That’s half the battle. The other half is technique: getting the paint to do what you want it to do.
This concept of “Nations and States” is powerful once you get a hold of it and use it regularly in your acrylic portrait painting! Now, let’s get onto the lesson…
What we want to do at this stage:
Begin the process of adding smooth shading and skin tones throughout the portrait.
We will be adding:
- a large “warming” glaze to the entire shadow area of the man’s face.
- glaze on the highlighted area of the face, adding depth and the beginning of skin tones, so the area is not just plain white or off white.
- small glazes (“states”) on the shadow side (“nation”) of the face to further define the pinkish skin tones.
We will do this using the acrylic glazing technique, where we mix a TINY amount of acrylic paint into a LARGE amount of clear acrylic matte medium. It’s best to go very, very light when you start your painting. You should just barely see a difference. However, at this stage you will getting a bit more opaque, because you have enough layers down already to give you some smoothness in the overall appearance.
Also, as always, make sure you rinse your brush off thoroughly between glazes. Any extra water in the heel of the brush may cause your glazes to drip or get streaky.
Here’s how to do it:
STEP ONE
- First, mix the “warming glaze” for the shadow side of the face: Use raw sienna and mix with a large amount of matte medium (10% paint to 90% medium) as shown in the video lesson. “Scoop” a large amount of glaze onto your 3/4″or 1″ flat brush. A few of the glazes will get a little darker, with ratios of as much as 30% paint to 70% medium. Make sure you watch the video to know where and when to change the ratio. “Next, glaze
- Glaze on the highlight side of face, to “tie-in” with the shadow side, develop mid-tones and create depth: Use raw sienna and organic pyrrole orange (or a cadmium orange) and mix it 5% paint to 95% matte medium. Test the glaze and see if you need to add more pigment or more medium. You should just barely see a difference in what you apply.
- Add small glazes in specific locations (“states”) on the shadow side of face using organic pyrrole orange, raw sienna, and a bit of alizarine crimson if needed to darken the glaze without adding too much chromatic intensity.
STEP TWO
- Add another layer of shading to the man’s hat and the background: Use raw umber dark, ultramarine blue, and a touch of alizarine crimson. How much of each? It depends on what the hat looks like right now as you paint. Is it too bluish? Add more raw umber dark. Is it too brownish? Add more ultramarine blue. Is it too greenish? Add alizarine crimson—just a pinch.
- Take the same glaze you used for the hat and add some shadows below his hat: Because it is right underneath the brim of his hat, the shadows will be quite dark in value. Add a bit of raw umber dark (or raw umber) and a bit of alizarin crimson if necessary to warm up the glaze, especially as you transition into the lighter parts of the skin tones.
- Clean off your brush and apply a blue glaze to the highlighted areas in his shirt: Mix ultramarine blue and phthalo blue (just a bit—it’s a VERY strong pigment) into a large amount of matte medium (95% to 5%, ratio to start with, and test to see if you need to change it) We want to bridge the gap between the shadows and the highlights, adding much-needed depth to this area of the painting.
STEP THREE
- Repeat Step 1, with slight adjustments. Follow the video for more detailed instruction.
Ready to paint?
Now, before you begin…(Yes, still need to ask, because some folks are just discovering these Masterclass lessons 🙂 )
Are you registered for the challenge?
If not, register below for FREE and I’ll send you:
- a downloadable/ printable”Welcome Kit” with a Supplies List and a Palette Color Layout Guide.
- high-resolution images of the photo we’ll be painting from for this challenge.
- each new lesson that comes out in this Masterclass series.
- a link to my private Facebook group, where you can do this challenge with other artists, get feedback and help on your portrait, and not feel alone.
REGISTER TODAY. The challenge is ongoing, something you can do at your own pace. It’s not too late to enter!
Watch my in-depth Masterclass acrylic online tutorial below to see these steps in action.
After learning from this video, you’ll know exactly how to do it.
Make sure to watch the ENTIRE video first before diving into the painting. It will be worth it to do that. Then, I’d like you to go back and refer to whatever steps you need to as you paint. That way, you won’t miss any of the instruction and tips that will help you make this portrait your very best.
Here’s the video…
[PORTRAIT CHALLENGE] Masterclass Lesson #6: Creating Smooth Blending and Skin Tones
Moving Forward…
If you have gotten this far in the challenge, I’m proud of you! It’s not easy to try something new, especially during a challenging time (COVID-19 as I write) but you are making a difference in your own life by developing the talent God gave you and you will be making a difference in others lives when you freely share the beautiful artwork you create with those you love or want to impact.
I’ll see you in our next class! What is it going to be? Painting fantastic facial features. I’m excited to share that with you! Until then, be blessed in your painting and you and your family stay safe and healthy.
Yours for Better Portraits,
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Let me know if you have any questions about the challenge that I didn’t answer. Leave your question in the comments below and I’ll get back to you!