Real Time Tutorial Archives - Page 7 of 14 - Realistic Acrylic Portrait School

The Secrets on How to Realistically Shade White Clothing

/ Real Time Tutorial Video Tutorial
/ By Matt Philleo

The secrets to perfectly shading white clothing in acrylic paint.

White clothing in portraits can be challenging to paint, especially when aiming for a realistic look. Unlike darker hues, white requires a delicate balance of shading and highlighting to convey depth and texture without losing its brightness. In this tutorial, you’ll learn the secrets to realistically shading white clothing using acrylics, ensuring your portrait stands out with life-like detail.

Understanding the importance of value over color

When it comes to painting realistic portraits, value—the lightness or darkness of a color—is far more critical than the actual color itself. Many artists tend to focus heavily on color, especially when working on skin tones or clothing, but the true key to realism lies in mastering value. By correctly identifying and applying the right values, you can create a strong sense of depth and form, making your artwork more convincing.

To aid in this process, consider using a value checker tool. This simple yet effective tool allows you to compare the values in your painting with those in your reference photo, ensuring accuracy and enhancing the realism of your work. You can find a downloadable value checker tool online, which can be easily set up on your canvas for quick reference.

Key techniques for shading white clothing

1. Strategic Placement of Darker Areas

Identifying Shadowed Regions: White clothing, although light, will have areas where light doesn’t reach, resulting in shadows that are darker than you might expect. Observing your reference photo carefully, identify these shadowed regions, such as under the arms, around folds, and where the fabric tucks into itself.
Mixing the Right Shades: Start by mixing a gray using raw umber, ultramarine blue, alizarine crimson, and titanium white. These colors will allow you to create a range of gray tones that can simulate shadows on white fabric. Adjust the mixture as needed to achieve the correct shade—warmer or cooler depending on the specific area you are working on.

2. Layering for Depth

Building Up Shadows Gradually: Instead of applying a single dark tone, build up shadows in layers. Begin with a lighter gray and gradually darken the area with additional layers. This approach allows you to control the depth of the shadow and create a smoother transition between light and dark areas.
Enhancing Realism Through Glazing: Glazing is a technique where thin layers of translucent paint are applied over dry layers to subtly alter the color and value. This method can be particularly effective when shading white clothing, as it helps to blend the shadows seamlessly into the lighter areas without harsh lines.

3. Balancing Warm and Cool Tones

Using Color Temperature to Your Advantage: White clothing often reflects the surrounding environment, which can result in slight variations in color temperature across the fabric. Warmer areas may have a hint of raw umber or alizarine crimson, while cooler areas might reflect ultramarine blue. By subtly shifting the color temperature in your shading, you can add a level of sophistication and realism to your painting.
Avoiding Flatness: It’s crucial to avoid making the white clothing appear flat. By carefully blending warm and cool tones, and paying attention to the subtleties in your reference photo, you can maintain the fabric’s texture and three-dimensionality.

Tips for Achieving Professional Results

Use a Small Round Brush for Precision: A size 4 round brush is ideal for applying shadows in tight areas and for adding fine details to your shading. This brush type allows for greater control, especially when working on intricate folds or small sections of fabric.
Keep the Light Source in Mind: Always be aware of the light source in your reference image. The direction and intensity of the light will dictate where the shadows fall and how dark they should be. This understanding is key to creating a realistic portrayal of white clothing.
Avoid Pure Black: While it might be tempting to use black paint for the darkest shadows, this can result in a harsh and unnatural appearance. Instead, mix your own dark grays using a combination of ultramarine blue, raw umber, and alizarine crimson. This custom mix will give you a more natural and harmonious shadow that complements the rest of the painting.
Don’t Overlook the Highlights: While shading is essential, so are the highlights. Adding subtle highlights with titanium white in the areas where the light hits the fabric the most will enhance the three-dimensional effect of the clothing.

Shading white clothing in acrylic portraits can be challenging, but with the right techniques, it becomes an achievable task that adds a tremendous amount of realism to your artwork. By focusing on value, carefully layering your shadows, and paying attention to the subtleties of color temperature, you can master this skill and elevate your portrait painting to new heights. Remember, practice is key, so keep experimenting with different shades and techniques until you find what works best for you.

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!

LEARN MORE

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,

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 Titanium White Clothing Highlights

/ Real Time Tutorial Uncategorized Video Tutorial
/ By Matt Philleo

Learn grisaille with expert tips on painting highlights and shadows in Acrylic

A grisaille is a monochromatic painting over a earth-toned ground (background) that you add color glazes on top of. Using my portrait painting of Paul the Apostle praying, I’ll show you how to use a small round brush and make your clothing look realistic with the strategic placement of highlights. You can use this technique in your portraits today!

Painting titanium white clothing highlights in an acrylic grisaille is a technique that adds a remarkable depth and realism to your portraits. In this tutorial, we’ll explore how to turn the form from dark to light using layers of paint, achieving a stunning chiaroscuro effect inspired by the old masters. This guide will walk you through the steps to create lifelike clothing folds and wrinkles, focusing on the careful balance of light and shadow.

Understanding the Grisaille Technique

Grisaille is a monochromatic painting technique often used as a foundation for creating depth and form before adding color. It involves painting in shades of gray to establish the light and dark areas of your composition. This technique is particularly effective when working with acrylics, as it allows for layering and glazing to build up nuanced tones.

Materials You’ll Need

Titanium White Acrylic Paint
Raw Umber
Ultramarine Blue
Dioxazine Purple
Burnt Sienna
Matte Medium
Small Round Brush
Flat Brush

Step 1: Laying Down the Foundation

Begin by applying a grisaille layer to your painting surface. This initial layer will serve as the foundation for your highlights and shadows. Mix Raw Umber with a touch of Ultramarine Blue to create a brownish-gray tone, and apply it evenly over your sketch. This underpainting will help guide the placement of your highlights later on.

Step 2: Blocking in the Shadows

Next, focus on the shadow areas of the clothing. Use a mix of Raw Umber, Ultramarine Blue, and Dioxazine Purple to create a deep, rich shadow color. Apply this mixture to the folds and creases of the clothing, emphasizing the areas where light is least likely to reach. This step is crucial for creating the contrast needed to make the highlights pop.

Step 3: Introducing Titanium White Highlights

Now it’s time to add the titanium white highlights. Mix Titanium White with a small amount of raw sienna to warm up the color slightly, preventing it from appearing too stark against the darker tones. Using a small round brush, carefully apply the white paint to the areas where light naturally hits the fabric. Focus on the tops of folds, the edges of wrinkles, and any raised areas that would catch the light.

Step 4: Blending for a Smooth Transition

To achieve a realistic look, it’s essential to blend the highlights into the surrounding shadow areas. Add a touch of matte medium to your palette to thin the white paint, making it more translucent. Gently blend the white into the adjacent darker areas using a flat brush. This blending technique creates a smooth transition between light and dark, enhancing the three-dimensionality of the fabric.

Step 5: Enhancing the Nuances

After the initial highlight layer, take a step back and assess the overall balance of light and dark in your painting. If needed, add additional layers of titanium white to intensify the highlights. Conversely, you can deepen the shadows by glazing over them with a mixture of burnt sienna and raw umber. The key is to build up the layers gradually, allowing each one to dry before applying the next.

Step 6: Fine-Tuning the Details

The final step involves refining the details to bring the fabric to life. Use a small round brush to add sharper highlights to the most prominent areas, such as the edges of folds or the tips of wrinkles. This attention to detail will make the clothing appear crisp and well-defined. For softer areas, use a blending brush to gently feather the edges of the highlights, creating a more subtle transition.

Tips and Techniques

Use a Reference Photo: Working from a reference photo can help you accurately place the highlights and shadows on the clothing. Study how light interacts with the fabric and try to replicate those effects in your painting.
Layering: Acrylics dry quickly, so take advantage of this by building up layers of paint to create depth. Start with thinner, more transparent layers and gradually increase the opacity as you refine the details.
Balance Sharp and Soft Edges: For a realistic effect, balance sharp edges where the light hits the fabric directly with softer edges where the light fades into shadow. This contrast adds dimension to the painting.
Experiment with Glazes: Glazing allows you to adjust the color temperature and value of your highlights and shadows without losing the underlying detail. Try glazing with burnt sienna to warm up the highlights or with ultramarine blue to cool down the shadows.
Patience is Key: Achieving realistic highlights and shadows takes time and patience. Don’t rush the process—allow each layer to dry fully before applying the next to avoid muddying the colors.

Mastering the technique of painting titanium white clothing highlights in an acrylic grisaille is a rewarding process that can dramatically improve the realism of your portraits. By carefully layering and blending light and shadow, you can create clothing that appears lifelike and three-dimensional. Practice these techniques, and with time, you’ll find that your portraits take on a new level of depth and sophistication.

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!

LEARN MORE

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,

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 Build Shading & Color: Acrylic Grisaille Techniques

I’ll show you the blending techniques to smooth out transitions

Introduction

Achieving depth and realism in acrylic painting requires a strong foundation in shading and color techniques. And also, one of the most effective methods to build this foundation is through the grisaille technique—a monochrome painting method that sets the stage for vibrant colors. In this guide, we will explore how to build up shading and color using acrylic grisaille techniques methods. Whether you’re a seasoned artist or just beginning, these techniques will help you elevate your portrait painting skills.

The Importance of a Strong Foundation: Understanding Grisaille

The grisaille technique involves creating a detailed underpainting in shades of gray or another neutral tone. This method allows artists to focus on the tonal values, ensuring that the light and shadows are accurately represented before introducing color. By mastering grisaille, you build a solid foundation for your painting, making the subsequent application of color much more effective.

Tip: When working with grisaille, it’s crucial to achieve a full range of tonal values—from the darkest shadows to the lightest highlights. This range will serve as the backbone of your painting, giving it depth and realism.

Transitioning from Grisaille to Color

Once your grisaille underpainting is complete, the next step is to start building color on top. Glazing involves applying transparent layers of paint over the monochrome underpainting, allowing the underlying tones to influence the color above.

Technique: Start by mixing small amounts of your chosen colors with a glazing medium to create a translucent effect. This ensures that your initial layers are light and can be easily built up. Apply these layers gradually ,but focusing on the areas that require more warmth or coolness.

Enhancing Depth with Strategic Shading

Shading is essential for creating the illusion of three-dimensionality. Of course, in this stage, darker tones are applied to areas that naturally recede or are less exposed to light. I use ultramarine blue, alizarine crimson, and raw umber dark to create a rich black for deep shadows.

Tip: Use a larger brush to blend these dark tones smoothly into the surrounding areas. This blending technique is particularly effective in creating the soft transitions found in realistic portraits.

Example: I apply dark tones in both of the subject’s head and around the arm, emphasizing the depth and making the figure stand out against the darker background.

Balancing Light and Color

As you continue to add layers, it’s important to maintain a balance between light and color. I mix raw sienna with ultramarine blue and alizarine crimson, then adding a touch of titanium white. This mix is used to lighten areas while maintaining the chromatic intensity, ensuring that the colors remain vibrant but not overpowering.

Technique: Gradually build up the highlights by layering lighter colors over the initial glaze. This creates a smooth transition from shadow to light, enhancing the overall realism.

Example: Lighter tones are introduced to the area around the window, where the light source is imagined to be, creating a natural-looking glow that contrasts with the darker areas.

Final Touches: Adding Details and Textures

The final stage involves refining the details and textures that bring the portrait to life. This includes subtle adjustments to the facial features, hair, and clothing. I’ll show you how to add texture to the hair by mixing raw sienna and burnt sienna, then applying it with small, deliberate strokes.

Tip: Use a fine brush for detailed work, especially when working on delicate areas like the eyes, nose, and mouth. This precision will help you capture the nuances of the subject’s expression.

Example: I carefully shades the area under the subject’s nostrils and adds a slight shadow below the mustache, giving the face more dimension and character.

Mastering the Art of Shading and Color Building

The transition from grisaille to full color is a crucial step in creating a realistic and vibrant portrait. By following the techniques outlined in this guide—starting with a strong grisaille foundation, applying color through glazing, and enhancing depth with strategic shading—you can achieve stunning results in your acrylic paintings. Remember, patience and attention to detail are keys. Take your time with each layer, and don’t be afraid to experiment with different color combinations to find what works best for your piece.

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!

LEARN MORE

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,

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!

Weird Way How to Apply Gesso to Your Canvas

Most store-bought canvases are not primed very well and can benefit from another layer or two of gesso.

Introduction:

When it comes to preparing a canvas for painting, most artists stick to traditional methods. However, there’s an unconventional technique that can give you a smoother surface and enhance the detail in your work. In this tutorial, we’ll explore a unique way to apply gesso to your canvas using a drywall taping knife. This method not only helps in creating a finer texture but also saves you from extensive sanding later on. Let’s dive into this step-by-step guide.

The Tools You’ll Need:

Before starting, gather the necessary tools and materials. You’ll need:

Gesso: The base primer for your canvas.
Matte Medium: Helps to smooth out the gesso and make it more fluid.
Drywall Taping Knife (6-inch): The star of this method for spreading the gesso evenly.
Flat Edge Paintbrush: For initial application.
Yogurt Container: To mix the gesso and matte medium.
Gloves and Apron: To protect your hands and clothing.

Preparing the Gesso Mixture:

Mixing the Gesso: Begin by pouring a small amount of gesso into a container—an empty yogurt cup works perfectly. Fill it about a quarter of the way.
Adding Matte Medium: To ensure a smoother application, add a few squirts of matte medium into the gesso. This addition will make the mixture more fluid, helping it spread more easily across the canvas.
Stirring: Use a palette knife to thoroughly mix the gesso and matte medium. Ensure the consistency is even, with no lumps or dry spots.

Applying the Gesso:

Initial Application with a Brush: Dip your flat edge paintbrush into the gesso mixture, and apply it to the top left corner of your canvas. Brush downwards, covering the entire surface. Aim for a generous, even coat.
Smoothing with the Drywall Taping Knife: After applying the gesso, grab your drywall taping knife. Starting at the top, use even pressure to smooth the gesso down the canvas. Work in long, continuous strokes to avoid leaving streaks or ridges.
Feathering the Edges: As you work, you may notice ridges forming on the surface. To remove these, lightly graze the surface with the taping knife, using minimal pressure. This technique will help blend the gesso evenly across the canvas.

Troubleshooting Common Issues:

Dealing with Ridges: If ridges persist, continue feathering them out with the knife. Adjust your pressure as needed, moving from firm to light strokes to achieve a smooth finish.
Applying Additional Layers: If the first coat is too thin, allow it to dry and then apply a second coat using the same method. This additional layer can further enhance the smoothness of your canvas.

Final Touches:

After the gesso has dried, it’s time to inspect the canvas. Look for any remaining ridges or imperfections. If you find any, lightly sand the surface using a 250 or 300-grit sandpaper. This step will ensure an ultra-smooth finish, ready for painting.

Tips for Success:

Work Quickly: Gesso can dry fast, especially in a warm environment. To prevent streaks, work swiftly when applying and smoothing the gesso.
Use the Right Tools: While a larger drywall trowel can be used, a 6-inch taping knife offers better control and precision, especially on smaller canvases.
Practice Makes Perfect: This technique may take some getting used to, but with practice, you’ll find it easier to achieve a smooth, professional-quality canvas.

Using a drywall taping knife to apply gesso might seem unusual, but it’s a powerful technique for artists seeking a smoother canvas surface. By following these steps, you can minimize brush strokes, reduce the need for sanding, and create a better foundation for your paintings.

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!

LEARN MORE

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,

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!

Introducing the Shading and Skin Tones Super Bundle

I’ll share with you my introduction to the shading and skin tones super bundle.

If you struggle with shading and skin tones (many artists do), I put together a special bundle of three of my favorite courses to help you.

Get the bundle here: https://realistic-acrylic-portrait-sc…

Watch the video below to learn more about the introduction of the shading and skin tones super bundle.

LEARN MORE

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,

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 Add the Finishing Touches to an Acrylic Portrait

How to Add the Finishing Touches to Acrylic

Finishing a portrait is challenging yet incredibly satisfying.

When you’re close to completing your acrylic portrait, the final touches can make all the difference. These finishing touches are where your painting truly comes to life, capturing light and shadow to give your subject depth and realism. In this tutorial, we’ll explore how to add those critical final highlights and nuances, using a mix of titanium white and warm colors to create a polished, professional look.

Setting the Stage for Final Highlights

Before diving into the highlights, it’s essential to prepare your palette. Start by adding a small amount of matte medium to your palette. This medium helps in achieving a smoother, more fluid consistency for your paint. Next, squeeze out some fresh titanium white—the key color for highlights. Mixing this white with matte medium will allow you to apply it more smoothly and blend it seamlessly into your existing colors.

Applying the Highlights

The first step in adding highlights is to identify the light source in your painting. In most portraits, the light source comes from above, which means the top of the head, forehead, nose, and cheeks will catch the most light. Using a round brush, pick up some titanium white mixed with matte medium and carefully apply it to these areas.

For instance, when adding highlights to a subject’s forehead, you may notice that the white appears too stark against the skin tone. To soften this, blend a small amount of Indian yellow and Pyrrole orange into the white. This combination introduces warmth to the highlight, making it look more natural and less harsh.

Blending for Nuance

Blending highlights into the existing skin tones can be challenging but is crucial for achieving a realistic effect. After applying the white highlights, take a small, soft brush and gently blend the edges into the surrounding colors. This step ensures that the highlights don’t appear as abrupt streaks but rather as soft transitions from light to shadow.

For example, after placing a highlight on a subject’s nose, you may need to blend it with a touch of Indian yellow to warm it up. This blending process creates a subtle nuance that makes the portrait appear more lifelike.

Enhancing Shadows for Depth

While highlights are essential for showing where the light hits, shadows play an equally important role in creating depth. To enhance the shadows in your portrait, use a darker mix of the existing skin tones. You can achieve this by adding a small amount of burnt umber or Payne’s gray to your palette.

When applying shadows, focus on areas like the underside of the chin, the sides of the nose, and the hollows of the cheeks. These are the places where the light naturally falls off, creating depth and dimension in your portrait. Remember, the goal is to enhance the existing shadows subtly, not to overpower the highlights.

Adding Highlights to Clothing and Accessories

The final step in finishing your acrylic portrait involves adding highlights to any clothing or accessories in the composition. Just like with the skin, use titanium white mixed with a bit of matte medium to create these highlights.

For example, if your subject is wearing glasses, a small highlight on the frames can make them pop. Similarly, adding a slight highlight to the fabric of the clothing can suggest texture and light interaction. Be sure to apply these highlights sparingly and blend them well, as too much can distract from the overall portrait.

Bringing It All Together

Adding the finishing touches to your acrylic portrait involves more than just a few dabs of white paint. It requires a thoughtful approach to blending, shading, and color selection. By carefully applying and blending your highlights, enhancing shadows, and paying attention to the finer details, you can bring your portrait to life with a professional polish.

These techniques will help you create portraits that not only capture the likeness of your subject but also convey a sense of light and space, making them truly stand out.

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!

LEARN MORE

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,

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 Thoughtful Man in White: 30-Minute Portrait

/ Real Time Tutorial Uncategorized Video Tutorial
/ By Matt Philleo

Back to doing another 30-minute acrylic portrait, where I paint an Alla Prima portrait in about half an hour.

Introduction:

Acrylic portrait painting doesn’t have to be a long, drawn-out process. In this tutorial, we’ll guide you through painting a thoughtful man in white in just 30 minutes. Using basic acrylic colors and simple techniques, you’ll be able to create a striking, realistic portrait, even if you’re short on time. Whether you’re an experienced artist looking for a quick exercise or a beginner learning the basics, this step-by-step process will help you loosen up and enjoy the painting experience.

Materials You’ll Need:

Acrylic Paints: Burnt sienna, raw sienna, ultramarine blue, pyrrole orange, alizarine crimson, indian yellow, titanium white, matte medium, Ivory black
Brushes: Ranging from ¾ inch flat to small size 2 rounds
Palette
Canvas or Hardboard

Step 1: Block in the Form

Before diving into the finer details, it’s essential to block in the basic shapes and composition of the face. Begin by taking some raw umber dark mixed with matte medium to sketch the outline of the portrait. Using a flat brush, loosely shape the head, focusing on the angles of the facial structure. This stage should remain simple, allowing you to visualize the placement of major features such as the eyes, nose, and mouth.

Key Tip: Don’t worry about precision here—keep your brushstrokes loose and expressive. This helps you to map out the portrait without getting bogged down by small details.

Step 2: Blocking in the Shadows

Once the form is in place, it’s time to focus on the shadows. Mix burnt umber dark with titanium white and a bit of ivory black to create an opaque shadow color. Apply this mixture to areas that are in shadow, such as the left side of the face, under the eyes, and along the nose. This will add depth and contrast, essential for creating a dynamic portrait.

The technique here is reminiscent of chiaroscuro, where light and dark areas are emphasized to create a dramatic effect. Block in the shadows confidently, using bold brushstrokes to establish the form.

Key Tip: Don’t shy away from using darker tones early on. Acrylic paint dries quickly, so building layers can enhance the depth and texture of the painting.

Step 3: Adding Mid-tone Colors

After the shadows are established, it’s time to build the mid-tones, the colors between the darkest shadows and the brightest highlights. Start by mixing titanium white, raw sienna, pyrrole orange, and indian yellow to create a vibrant flesh tone. Adjust the mixture with burnt sienna for darker areas and natural crimson for warmth.

Apply these mid-tones to the face, paying attention to the areas where the light transitions from shadow. The left side should be slightly darker, while the right side, where the light hits, will be lighter. This will give the face dimension and form, making the portrait appear more lifelike.

Key Tip: Use smooth, even strokes when applying mid-tones to maintain a realistic texture. Acrylic paint can be layered easily, so work in gradual transitions from shadow to light.

Step 4: Refining the Details

Now that the base layers are in place, it’s time to refine the details. Add darker tones around the eyes and nose to define the facial structure. For example, darken the area between the eyebrow and the eye socket to create a natural fold. Use a smaller brush to add fine lines and define the contours of the lips and nasolabial fold.

To finish, add small highlights on the right side of the face, especially on the cheekbones, nose, and upper lip. These highlights should be applied sparingly to avoid overpowering the portrait.

Key Tip: Refining doesn’t mean over-detailing. Keep the brushstrokes purposeful and expressive, focusing only on key areas to maintain the loose, painterly feel of the piece.

Step 5: Final Touches

With just a few minutes left on the timer, step back and evaluate your portrait. Are the contrasts between light and shadow strong enough? Does the portrait convey the expression and mood you intended? This is the time to make quick adjustments, such as deepening shadows or adding a bit more brightness to the highlights.

Remember, the goal of this exercise is not perfection but rather to explore a fast, expressive approach to portrait painting.

Key Tip: If you find any areas too intense, simply blend them out with a clean brush and matte medium. This technique softens transitions and adds a professional touch to your artwork.

Completing a thoughtful man’s portrait in just 30 minutes is a great way to practice and improve your acrylic painting skills. This quick exercise allows you to work on shadow, form, and mid-tone application, while also honing your ability to observe and simplify complex details. The best part? You can keep coming back to this technique, each time improving your speed and accuracy.

Tips & Techniques:

Use Bold Brushstrokes: Especially in the blocking stages, don’t hesitate to be bold and expressive with your brushwork.

Use Matte Medium: To keep the paint flexible and transparent when needed.

Work from Dark to Light: Establish shadows first, then build up mid-tones and highlights.

Pay Attention to Light Source: Always keep the direction of light in mind to maintain consistency.

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!

LEARN MORE

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,

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 Do Shading and Skin Tones on Small Faces

How to Shading & Skin Tones on Small Faces

Having trouble shading and toning small faces?

Introduction

When painting small faces in acrylic portraits, achieving the right balance of shading and skin tones can be tricky. The key lies in understanding light values and applying the glazing technique to create realistic tones and depth. In this post, I will guide you through a step-by-step process that will help you refine your acrylic portrait and improve your ability to paint smaller, more intricate details.

Step 1: Understanding Light Values

Before working with color, it’s essential to focus on values. Values refer to the lightness or darkness of an area, and they must be correctly identified and applied before considering color. For small faces, areas like the nose, chin, and cheeks are crucial for defining the facial structure. Often, light comes from above, casting subtle shadows and highlights that bring out the form.

Tip: Use reference photos to study where light falls and shadows form on the subject’s face.

Step 2: Selecting Colors for Skin Tones

To achieve realistic skin tones, choose a mix of burnt sienna and titanium white as your base. Adding raw sienna or pyrrole orange can help create warmth and chromatic variation. Start with these hues and adjust the mix depending on the tone you want to achieve. For example, titanium white will cool the skin tone, making it lighter, while raw sienna adds warmth.

Technique: Mix your colors with matte medium to create a transparent glaze that gives your painting more luminosity. Matte medium thins the paint while keeping it translucent, allowing for subtle layers of color that add depth without overwhelming the details.

Step 3: Applying Glazes for Smooth Shading

Glazing is crucial for achieving smooth transitions between light and shadow. When working on small faces, apply thin, semi-opaque glazes to slowly build up the skin tone. Make sure to adjust the transparency by adding more matte medium to control how much of the underlying paint shows through.

Start with the lighter areas: Apply a semi-opaque layer to the nose and chin, which typically catch more light.
Darken the cheeks: Using a slightly darker glaze, apply this color to the cheeks to create contrast with the highlighted areas.

Tip: Wipe off excess paint to avoid streaks and ensure the glaze goes on smoothly. This prevents any harsh lines from forming, which could make the face appear less realistic.

Step 4: Enhancing Shadows for Depth

Once the basic skin tones are in place, it’s time to enhance the shadows, particularly around the eyes, jawline, and nose. Shadows are often underpainted, leading to faces that lack depth. When shading small faces, it’s vital to ensure that areas such as the eye sockets are sufficiently darkened to enhance realism.

Tip: Don’t be afraid to go darker in these areas—shadows help ground the subject and bring the highlights into sharper focus.

Step 5: Adjusting Skin Tone with Chromatic Intensity

As you build up layers of glazes, add small amounts of pyrrole orange or Indian yellow to intensify the chroma. This helps achieve a more natural skin tone that has subtle color variations. Skin isn’t a flat color but rather a dynamic surface with slight shifts in hue.

Technique: Add a little matte medium to each glaze to increase translucency, making the layers more vibrant and realistic. Apply the glaze lightly to areas like the neck or cheeks to enhance warmth, blending softly into the surrounding tones.

Step 6: Adding Final Shading and Highlights

To finish the shading process, concentrate on the jawline and neck area, particularly where light reflects off the subject’s clothing. For example, red clothing can reflect onto the neck, casting a warm glow. In such cases, mix pyrrole orange with matte medium and apply it sparingly to mimic this effect.

Finally, add a final layer of highlights using a lighter glaze of titanium white. These highlights should be carefully placed on areas like the tip of the nose or chin to emphasize light reflections and bring the painting to life.

Tips for Success:

Keep your reference close: Position your reference photo close to your canvas or easel so you don’t lose focus on important details.
Layer gradually: Acrylic painting is best done in layers. Don’t rush the process by applying too much paint at once.
Use multiple glazes: Thin, multiple layers of glazes help achieve a smooth and realistic finish.
Mix paints properly: Ensuring the correct mix of color and matte medium is crucial for achieving the right transparency.
Adjust shadows properly: Eye sockets and other shadowed areas should be dark enough to provide contrast.

Shading and adjusting skin tones on small faces in an acrylic portrait can be accomplished through careful observation and the application of glazing techniques. Focus on values first, and build up skin tones through thin, transparent layers. By following these steps, you’ll improve the depth and realism in your portraits, making even the smallest details shine.

If you want to learn more about perfecting your acrylic portraits, download my free PDF guide, “Fix Muddy Skin Tones in Your Acrylic Portrait now.

LEARN MORE

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,

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 Add Highlights to Background Trees in Your Acrylic Portrait

How To Add Highlights To Background Trees In Acrylic Painting

/ Real Time Tutorial Tips and Techniques Video Tutorial
/ By Matt Philleo
/ 1 COMMENT

Creating a depth with layered highlights in background trees

Adding highlights to background trees can transform the overall look of your acrylic painting, bringing depth and realism to your artwork. In this tutorial, we will explore how to effectively apply highlights using a semi-opaque glaze to suggest the texture and lighting of background foliage. You’ll learn the nuances of mixing colors, selecting the right brushes, and how to use these techniques to add beautiful details to your painting.

Step 1: Prepare Your Colors and Materials

Before you begin, ensure you have your colors mixed and materials ready. For this tutorial, we will primarily use the following colors:

Titanium White
Indian Yellow
Phthalo Blue

These colors will help create a vibrant greenish-yellow tone for your highlights. Begin by mixing a small amount of titanium white, Indian yellow, and a touch of phthalo blue. The result will be a soft, yellow-green that works well for depicting leaves hit by sunlight.

Tip: Balance the Chromatic Intensity

When mixing colors for the highlights, aim for a hue that’s slightly lighter and warmer than the mid-tones of your background trees. This will ensure your highlights blend smoothly without appearing too stark.

Step 2: Apply the Initial Highlights

Using a round brush, begin applying the semi-opaque glaze in areas where light naturally hits the leaves. A delicate touch is essential to achieve a soft, realistic effect. Allow your brush to dance lightly across the surface, adding small, irregular dabs of color. These represent leaves catching light through the foliage.

Technique: Layer the Highlights Gradually

Start with a lighter glaze and build the highlights gradually.
Avoid heavy strokes—let the leaves appear naturally.
Apply the glaze sparingly, focusing on areas where the sun would naturally illuminate the leaves, such as the tops of trees or branches.

Step 3: Adjust the Color Mix for Shadows

As you move to darker areas of the background, adjust your color mix by adding more phthalo blue and Indian yellow. This will deepen the tone and create a more chromatic variation, essential for achieving a balanced look across the painting.

Tip: Keep the Highlights Balanced

If the glaze starts to appear too light or chalky over the darker areas, adjust by darkening the mixture. You can add a small amount of ultramarine blue and raw sienna to muddy the glaze slightly, helping it blend with the darker sections of your background.

Step 4: Use Different Brushes for Varying Effects

Switching brushes during the painting process can help create different textures and effects. For instance:

The round brush is great for detailed highlights and small leaf shapes.
A filbert brush can be used to create more painterly, out-of-focus leaves, giving the background a softer, blurred effect.

This transition between brush types will create a contrast between the crispness of the highlighted leaves and the soft appearance of the background trees.

Technique: Blending the Highlights

Use the filbert brush to blend the edges of your highlights into the mid-tones and shadows.
Focus on adding smaller leaf shapes at different angles to suggest movement and depth.

Step 5: Fine-Tune the Details

Once you’ve applied your initial highlights, it’s time to refine the details. You don’t want to over-detail every section—just a few carefully placed dabs of light color can enhance the effect. Aim for balance by leaving some areas less detailed while others are slightly more refined.

Tip: Create Variation in Highlight Intensity

Vary the intensity of your highlights by alternating between slightly lighter and slightly darker hues. This will make your background trees appear more dynamic and realistic.

Step 6: Blend and Add Warmth

As you work on the upper areas of the trees, ensure that the highlights are slightly warmer in tone compared to the surrounding colors. Mixing titanium white with Indian yellow can create a warmer highlight that mimics the effect of sunlight filtering through the leaves.

Technique: Use Warm and Cool Tones

When adding highlights to the trees, consider the lighting conditions in your painting. For areas where direct sunlight hits, opt for a warmer yellowish tint. In contrast, cooler highlights with more blue are suitable for areas in shadow or indirect light.

Step 7: Final Touches and Adding Depth

In the final stages, focus on fine-tuning the leaves and highlights. You can add depth by placing a few outliers—small spots of light—away from the main group of leaves. This will create a natural, unstructured look that enhances realism.

Tip: Avoid Overworking the Highlights

Overworking the highlights can make your painting look artificial. Instead, apply your brushstrokes with intention, leaving areas of contrast between light and dark to maintain a balanced composition.

Bring Your Background to Life with Highlights

By adding highlights to your background trees, you can bring an entirely new dimension to your acrylic painting. The glazing technique allows you to control the transparency of the paint, creating subtle yet impactful lighting effects that mimic real-life foliage. With practice and attention to detail, you’ll master this technique and enhance the overall realism of your landscape paintings.

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!

LEARN MORE

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,

P.S. Did you find this post helpful or encouraging? If so, send it on ahead! Let others know with the share buttons below. I’d love to hear your comments. Thank you so much! Also, do you have a question on acrylic portrait painting you’d like answered? Let me know, and I’d be happy to help!

How to Block-in Dark Values on Chiaroscuro Acrylic

/ Real Time Tutorial Video Tutorial
/ By Matt Philleo

How to layer and blend acrylic paint for depth

When creating a chiaroscuro painting, one of the most critical steps is blocking in the dark values. This technique emphasizes the contrast between light and dark, producing dramatic lighting and depth. In this guide, you’ll learn the steps to apply dark tones strategically using acrylics, helping you to achieve a balanced and realistic portrayal. By following along, you’ll understand the key methods for effectively handling dark values to improve your paintings.

Materials and Paint Mixtures for Blocking-In

Before diving into the process, it’s important to prepare the correct materials. In this tutorial, we’ll be using a mix of raw umber dark, ultramarine blue, and burnt sienna. The combination of these colors allows for the creation of rich, dark tones. When mixed together, these shades form the ideal hues for blocking in the shadows that define the chiaroscuro technique.

Make sure to have these materials ready:

Raw Umber Dark
Ultramarine Blue
Burnt Sienna
Alizarine Crimson (optional for richness)
Flat Brushes in Various Sizes
Matte Medium

Step 1: Preparing the Dark Values

To begin with, mix raw umber dark and ultramarine blue on your palette, aiming for a deep and cool-toned black. Add a touch of burnt sienna to warm up the mixture slightly. This blend serves as the base for your dark values.

Tip:

For added richness, you can include a hint of alizarine crimson. This will introduce subtle depth to your shadows, making them more visually dynamic.

Once your color is mixed, load your brush and ensure you have enough paint to cover large sections of the painting.

Step 2: Blocking in the Shadows

Start by using a larger flat brush to block in the darkest areas of your subject. These shadows define the structure of your composition and help establish the dramatic lighting that is key to chiaroscuro. Use a bold, confident stroke to apply the dark paint, particularly in the background areas or where the deepest shadows fall.

Technique Tip:

Apply the paint in diagonal strokes for a smoother finish. As acrylic dries quickly, you’ll need to blend while the paint is still wet. Thin the paint with matte medium if needed to increase translucency, ensuring smoother transitions between values.

Step 3: Cutting Around the Edges

When working around detailed parts of the painting, such as the subject’s clothing or hair, switch to a smaller brush for precision. Carefully “cut” around these areas, making sure the dark values don’t intrude on the lighter portions of the painting.

This step is crucial for maintaining the balance between hard and soft edges, which enhances the realism of your artwork.

Technique Tip:

Leave a slight gap where highlights will go later. This will help prevent overlapping, which can muddy the dark tones. If you make a mistake, don’t worry—you can fix it with additional layers later.

Step 4: Balancing Opacity and Transparency

As you apply the dark paint, consider how opaque or translucent you want the layer to be. More opaque paint will create stronger contrasts, while translucent layers help smooth out transitions. Then, gradually build up to a fully opaque black background or shadow as you work.

Technique Tip:

If your paint dries unevenly or too quickly, but you use a perpendicular brush stroke to avoid digging into the surface. When you hold the brush lightly and ease the pressure as you near the top of the stroke, creating a smooth, seamless gradient.

Step 5: Smoothing Out the Dark Layers

Once you’ve blocked in the major dark areas, take time to smooth out any rough patches. Use a soft, diagonal stroke to blend between different tones. Work from dark to light, gradually using less paint as you move into the lighter areas of the painting. This smooth transition is essential for maintaining the realistic feel of chiaroscuro.

Technique Tip:

If areas become choppy or uneven, apply another layer of paint. To avoid this, maintain consistent brush pressure and direction.

Step 6: Enhancing the Richness of Shadows

To add more depth to your painting, apply additional layers of dark values where needed. For example, you might deepen the shadows on fabric folds or darken areas behind your subject. A careful balance of hard edges and soft transitions will bring out the three-dimensionality of your work.

Incorporating subtle shifts between cooler and warmer dark tones—achieved by adjusting your mix with ultramarine blue or burnt sienna—further enhances the richness of the shadows.

Achieving Contrast in Chiaroscuro Painting

Blocking in dark values is a vital component of creating a successful chiaroscuro painting. Then, by using a balanced mixture of raw umber dark, ultramarine blue, and burnt sienna, and applying it with precision and confidence, you can build the dramatic contrast needed for a striking and realistic result. Also, always, remember to carefully blend your strokes, maintain a balance between soft and hard edges, and layer your paint for added depth.

With practice, these techniques will help you master chiaroscuro acrylic painting, giving your portraits a sense of realism and intensity that captivates viewers.

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!

LEARN MORE

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,

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!

Category Archives for Real Time Tutorial

The secrets to perfectly shading white clothing in acrylic paint.

Understanding the importance of value over color

Key techniques for shading white clothing

1. Strategic Placement of Darker Areas

2. Layering for Depth

3. Balancing Warm and Cool Tones

Tips for Achieving Professional Results

Learn grisaille with expert tips on painting highlights and shadows in Acrylic

Understanding the Grisaille Technique

Materials You’ll Need

Step 1: Laying Down the Foundation

Step 2: Blocking in the Shadows

Step 3: Introducing Titanium White Highlights

Step 4: Blending for a Smooth Transition

Step 5: Enhancing the Nuances

Step 6: Fine-Tuning the Details

Tips and Techniques

I’ll show you the blending techniques to smooth out transitions

Introduction

The Importance of a Strong Foundation: Understanding Grisaille

Transitioning from Grisaille to Color

Enhancing Depth with Strategic Shading

Balancing Light and Color

Final Touches: Adding Details and Textures

Mastering the Art of Shading and Color Building

Most store-bought canvases are not primed very well and can benefit from another layer or two of gesso.

Introduction:

The Tools You’ll Need:

Preparing the Gesso Mixture:

Applying the Gesso:

Troubleshooting Common Issues:

Final Touches:

Tips for Success:

I’ll share with you my introduction to the shading and skin tones super bundle.

Finishing a portrait is challenging yet incredibly satisfying.

Setting the Stage for Final Highlights

Applying the Highlights

Blending for Nuance

Enhancing Shadows for Depth

Adding Highlights to Clothing and Accessories

Bringing It All Together

Back to doing another 30-minute acrylic portrait, where I paint an Alla Prima portrait in about half an hour.

Introduction:

Materials You’ll Need:

Step 1: Block in the Form

Step 2: Blocking in the Shadows

Step 3: Adding Mid-tone Colors

Step 4: Refining the Details

Step 5: Final Touches

Tips & Techniques:

Having trouble shading and toning small faces?

Introduction

Step 1: Understanding Light Values

Step 2: Selecting Colors for Skin Tones

Step 3: Applying Glazes for Smooth Shading

Step 4: Enhancing Shadows for Depth

Step 5: Adjusting Skin Tone with Chromatic Intensity

Step 6: Adding Final Shading and Highlights

Tips for Success:

Creating a depth with layered highlights in background trees

Step 1: Prepare Your Colors and Materials

Tip: Balance the Chromatic Intensity

Step 2: Apply the Initial Highlights

Technique: Layer the Highlights Gradually

Step 3: Adjust the Color Mix for Shadows

Tip: Keep the Highlights Balanced

Step 4: Use Different Brushes for Varying Effects

Technique: Blending the Highlights

Step 5: Fine-Tune the Details

Tip: Create Variation in Highlight Intensity

Step 6: Blend and Add Warmth

Technique: Use Warm and Cool Tones

Step 7: Final Touches and Adding Depth

Tip: Avoid Overworking the Highlights

Bring Your Background to Life with Highlights

How to layer and blend acrylic paint for depth

Materials and Paint Mixtures for Blocking-In

Step 1: Preparing the Dark Values

Tip: