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How to Paint a Pet Portrait in Acrylic

How to Paint a Pet Portrait: Acrylic Glazing Technique

Transform your pet portraits with simple glazing methods step by step guide for you

Painting a pet portrait can be a rewarding way to capture the unique personality of a beloved animal. In this tutorial, we’ll explore how to paint a pet [dog] using the acrylic glazing technique, which adds depth and realism through thin layers of color. By the end, you’ll be able to apply this technique to create a lifelike portrait of your pet or any other animal subject.

Setting the Foundation for Your Pet Portrait

Before diving into the painting process, it’s crucial to start with a solid foundation. In this case, I’m using a 5×7-inch hardboard panel as the canvas. To ensure accurate proportions, I utilized the grid method, which helps maintain the right structure without the need for extensive freehand drawing.

  • Sketching: Use a light-colored pencil to draw a grid and map out the basic outlines of your pet’s features. This will give you a good framework without overpowering your final painting.
  • Sealing the Sketch: Once the sketch is complete, seal it using a mixture of matte medium and gesso. This helps protect the drawing and slightly mutes it to prepare the surface for glazing.

Creating Contrast Through Initial Layering

At this stage, I applied white paint to bring out the highlights in the sketch, which allows me to set up three different values—dark (from the pencil), medium (from the tinted surface), and light (from the white paint). This helps establish an excellent base before moving into the glazing process.

Step-by-Step Acrylic Glazing Technique

1. Preparing the Palette

The first step in the glazing technique is preparing a palette with the colors you’ll need. For this pet portrait, I’m working with natural tones like raw umber, burnt sienna, and a mixture of blues for areas like the background or any clothing.

  • Raw Umber Dark: A versatile brown for creating shadows and depth in the fur.
  • Burnt Sienna: Ideal for adding warmth and reddish tones, especially in areas like the ears or the snout.
  • Ultramarine Blue and Phthalo Blue: Used sparingly to build up cool tones for the background or details like clothing.

2. Mixing the Glaze

To create a glaze, mix a small amount of paint with clear acrylic medium, such as matte medium. This dilutes the paint, allowing for translucent layers that build up color gradually. Glazing helps retain the underlying details while adding a soft glow and depth.

Tip: Make sure to keep your glaze mixture fluid but not too watery, as overly diluted glazes can become streaky and hard to control.

3. Applying the First Glaze

For the first layer, I mixed a sepia tone using raw umber and matte medium. Then apply this mixture lightly with a flat brush (around half an inch in width). Because you begin by covering the broader areas of the dog’s fur, creating a soft wash that introduces subtle shadows and color shifts.

  • Technique: Use long, smooth brushstrokes to spread the glaze evenly. You want to build up the tone gradually, so don’t rush the process.
  • Patience Pays Off: Each layer should dry completely before applying the next one. This ensures the glazes stay transparent and don’t muddy the underlying layers.

4. Adding Depth with Darker Glazes

As the painting progresses, increase the intensity of your colors. Then for areas like the dog’s ears and snout, I used burnt sienna mixed with a small amount of white to cover the sketch lines and establish the mid-tones.

  • Tip: Apply the glaze in light, feathered strokes, especially around the edges of the dog’s features to maintain softness.
  • Layering Up: To add depth, apply darker glazes in multiple passes, allowing each to dry before adding more.

5. Highlighting with Lighter Tones

Although the dog in this portrait is predominantly white, it’s essential to add subtle shifts in color to avoid a flat appearance. For areas like the highlights on the fur, I used a light mixture of white and raw umber. The glazing method ensures that the layers remain translucent, which gives the fur a soft, glowing effect.

Brushwork and Finishing Touches

Choosing the Right Brush

The type of brush you use plays a significant role in the outcome of the painting. So, for this portrait, I relied on a combination of:

  • Flat brushes: For broader areas and glazing.
  • Detail brushes: For finer work around the eyes, nose, and mouth.

When applying glazes, a flat brush works best because it helps you spread the paint evenly. And of course for fine details like the dog’s fur texture around the eyes or nose, switch to a smaller detail brush.

Toning the Background

While working on the dog’s portrait, I also glazed the background. When the mixture of ultramarine blue and phthalo blue created a cool, subdued backdrop that complements the warm tones of the dog. And then the background was applied using the same glazing technique light, transparent layers that gradually deepen in tone.

Final Glaze and Adjustments

After completing the main details of the dog, it’s time to step back and assess the overall painting. Basically, you will apply the final, a very thin glaze of burnt sienna or raw umber where needed to tie the painting together and unify the colors. Because this softens the transitions between the light and dark areas, giving the portrait a more cohesive look.

Painting a pet portrait using the acrylic glazing technique is a satisfying way to capture the intricate details and personality of a beloved animal. By layering thin glazes of color, you can achieve both depth and luminosity that bring the painting to life. Whether you’re working on a commissioned piece or a personal project, these steps will help guide you toward creating a beautiful, realistic acrylic pet portrait.

Tips and Techniques Recap:

  1. Grid Method: Use it to ensure accurate proportions when sketching.
  2. Matte Medium and Gesso: Seal your sketch for a solid foundation.
  3. Glazing: Mix paint with matte medium for translucent layers.
  4. Brushwork: Use flat brushes for glazing and detail brushes for finer work.
  5. Patience: Allow each layer to dry fully before applying the next glaze.
  6. Highlighting: Subtle, lighter tones enhance depth and realism.

 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!

I’ll show you how he gives his acrylic pet portrait depth as adds shading, nuances and differentiates the dog from the background by using the correct values in shadows.

LEARN MORE

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

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

 

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

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

Thank you so much for taking the time to read this tutorial and watch the video. That means a lot to me.  I hope you find it very helpful in your portrait painting.  

 

Yours for Better Portraits,

 

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!

Sketching Your Painting Accurately

How to Sketch Your Painting Accurately

Every house has a foundation. A painting is no different.

Sketching is the foundational step for creating a compelling painting, whether it’s a portrait or a landscape. Because ensuring that your initial drawing is accurate will set the stage for a successful painting. So, let’s explore how you can refine your sketching techniques to produce a detailed, realistic sketch every time and learn how to sketch your painting accurately.

Understanding the Importance of Sketch Accuracy

One of the most critical aspects of a painting is the accuracy of the sketch. A well-executed sketch serves as a blueprint for your painting. If the proportions or features are off, it can affect the entire piece, making it harder to fix issues later on. Focusing on precision at the sketching stage will save time, reduce frustration, and elevate the final artwork.

In this tutorial, we’ll look at several key points to improve sketch accuracy, using examples from a portrait critique.

Tools and Techniques for Accurate Sketching

Accurate sketching requires the right tools and techniques. Below are some methods that will help ensure that your initial drawing is precise.

  1. Use a Grid Method
    • The grid method is one of the most reliable ways to sketch your painting accurately. By dividing both your reference photo and your canvas into a grid of equal-sized squares, you can focus on one square at a time, drawing what you see in each section. This helps break down complex subjects into manageable portions, making it easier to capture fine details.
    • Tip: Lightly draw the grid on your canvas with a pencil so that it can be easily erased later.
  2. Measure Proportions Carefully
    • When sketching a portrait or any subject, it’s important to get the proportions right. Use a pencil to measure distances between facial features or elements of your painting. For instance, the distance between the eyes, nose, and mouth should be proportionate to the rest of the face.
    • Technique: Hold your pencil at arm’s length and use it to compare the size of one part of the face with another.
  3. Check Your Angles
    • Often, artists overlook the importance of angles. When sketching, observe the angles between key features, such as the tilt of a head or the angle of a jawline. A small discrepancy in an angle can change the entire expression of your subject.
    • Tip: When drawing, use a straight edge or a reference line to guide the angles.
  4. Define Shape and Shadows
    • Pay close attention to both the shape and shadow of the features you’re drawing. For example, the shape of a mouth is more than just the lips — it also includes the shadows cast by the lips and surrounding areas. This attention to detail will give your sketch depth and realism.
    • Tip: Use faint lines at first to outline shadows, and darken them later as needed.

Key Areas to Focus on While Sketching

Some specific areas of a portrait or subject can be particularly tricky to sketch accurately. Here are some tips to help:

  1. Drawing the Mouth
    • The mouth is an area where subtle differences can greatly affect likeness. Pay attention to the shape of the lips, the shadows they cast, and the angles at the corners of the mouth. Make sure to differentiate between the lips and the shadows below them.
    • Technique: To make the mouth look realistic, avoid hard lines. Instead, use shading to define the lower lip and the soft shadow underneath it.
  2. Capturing Expressions
    • A portrait’s success often hinges on capturing the subject’s expression accurately. Focus on small details like wrinkles and creases around the mouth and eyes. These features often emphasize expressions, such as smiles or frowns, and can add realism to your sketch.
    • Tip: Observe how wrinkles and lines behave when someone smiles. They are essential to conveying emotion.
  3. Eyes and Their Importance
    • The eyes are the focal point of many portraits. Getting the shape, angles, and light reflections in the eyes correct is crucial for capturing likeness and depth. Crow’s feet (wrinkles around the eyes) often enhance the realism of a smiling face.
    • Technique: Use both horizontal and vertical lines to create a grid around the eye area. This helps maintain the proper distance between the eyes and makes them symmetrical.

Refining Your Sketch for Accuracy

Once the basic sketch is in place, the next step is to refine it. This includes erasing unnecessary lines and sharpening the ones that define key features.

Tip: Build up shadows gradually by layering light strokes rather than making heavy marks.

Erase Gently

Avoid heavy erasing, as it can damage the surface of your paper or canvas. Use a kneaded eraser, which is softer, to remove lines without leaving smudges.

Tip: Rather than rubbing, dab the eraser to lift the pencil marks gently.

Adjust Proportions if Needed

Even after you’ve completed your sketch, don’t be afraid to adjust proportions if something seems off. It’s much easier to make these corrections before you start painting.

Technique: Stand back from your sketch and look at it from a distance to check if the proportions still look accurate.

Use Sketchy Lines for Shadows

Instead of using solid lines, use light, sketchy strokes to define areas of shadow. This helps to give the drawing a more natural and softer look, which will enhance the realism when you start painting.

Watch my tutorial to learn more about  sketching your painting accurately.

LEARN MORE

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

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

 

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

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

Thank you so much for taking the time to read this tutorial and watch the video. That means a lot to me.  I hope you find it very helpful in your portrait painting.  

 

Yours for Better Portraits,

Signature_200dpi_sm.jpg

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

Spring 2021 Acrylic Portrait Painting Challenge: Gridding Your Canvas for an Accurate Sketch

One of the biggest struggles portrait artists have is getting an accurate likeness. In this lesson, I will show you how to grid your canvas, so that you will be able to not only make a sketch with good proportions but also get a good likeness too.

I’ll show you exactly how to do it in this video

How to grid your canvas to get an accurate sketch for your acrylic portrait

Gridding Your Portrait for an Accurate Sketch

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

Take the 2021 Spring Portrait Painting Challenge!

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

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

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

Register for the Challenge!

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

—Matt

Acrylic portrait painting reference

Take the Fall Acrylic Portrait Painting Challenge!

Have you ever wondered if you could paint a portrait?

You can.

Take the Fall Acrylic Portrait Painting Challenge.

Last Spring, over 700 artists took the challenge and many painted an amazing portrait, their very first time. This jump-started some of the artists into doing commissioned portraits or painting beautiful pictures of their children and grandchildren.

In the challenge, we’ll all paint the same image together and I’ll teach you how to do it, step-by-step with demonstration videos.

 

Acrylic portrait painting reference

Reference image for the Fall Acrylic Portrait Painting Challenge. Photograph by Jonah Greenman, used with permission

The Acrylic Portrait Painting Challenge is free to join and participate.

Register below to get the Welcome Kit, which includes the Supplies List, the Full Resolution Reference Image with a Grid, Palette Layout Guide, and the Masterclass Video Lesson Schedule.

 

Register for the Challenge

 

I look forward to seeing you paint a portrait you can be proud of!

And now, here are the Masterclass Lessons:

acrylic portrait painting while camping at yurt

Portrait Painting of a Veteran at the Yurt

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

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

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

yurt camping portrait painting

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

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

acrylic portrait painted from photo

Painting an acrylic portrait from photo inside a yurt while camping, 11 x 14 acrylic on canvas ©2019 by Eau Claire area portrait artist Matt Philleo

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

And a photo of it…

realistic acrylic portrait painting

Custom realistic acrylic portrait of a veteran and his wife painted by Eau Claire area portrait artist Matt Philleo, 11 x 14, acrylic on canvas, ©2019 by Matt Philleo

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

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

Yours for better portraits,

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

 

 

 

 

set up canvas in easel

Quick Tip to Set Up a Canvas in Your Easel

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

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

 

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

Yours for Better Portraits,

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

 

 

 

4 Acrylic Portrait Painting Questions Answered

4 Questions About Acrylic Portrait Painting, Answered

Recently, I was asked some questions about acrylic portrait painting. I hope the answers I shared with this artist can be of help to you as well.

1. How do you prepare your canvas panel for painting with Acrylics?

If I am using a hardboard panel, I will gesso it with 4-5 layers. It takes that many to really get a good surface. I lightly sand in between coats with a 150 or finer grit sandpaper.

sanding canvas board

Sanding a canvas panel in preparation for painting an acrylic portrait

On the last couple of layers, I mix the gesso with matte medium to make it go on smoother. If I am using a store bought canvas covered panel, I will add 1 or 2 layers of gesso and matte medium to smooth out the grooves in the canvas, sanding in between. This allows me to get a smooth surface for portrait painting.

2. You spoke of layering your paint when composing a portrait.  Please briefly explain.

I use the glazing technique to slowly bring the portrait from a white canvas to completion. The glazing technique is achieved by mixing your paint with clear acrylic medium (usually matte medium) to disperse the pigment, thus allowing light to pass through.

Although you could use water, it’s not recommended, because it breaks down the acrylic resin binder, causing a rough visual texture and possible poor adhesion. For a smoother look, you want to use clear acrylic medium.

acrylic portrait from a photo

Custom commissioned realistic acrylic portrait from a photo painted by Eau Claire area artist Matt Philleo, ©2019 Fine Art by Matt Philleo

Why do I paint with layers with the glazing technique?
Here’s why: by creating semi-transparent or translucent layers, the light passes through them, reflecting off the white primer beneath, and then back to your eye. It gives the painting a radiance, a glow. It also causes the deeper colors to be more saturated, more vivid.
Finally, it allows me to create smooth gradients. We all know that acrylic, because it dries so quickly, is difficult to blend. The glazing technique overcomes that limitation by using the strategic placement of layers and dilution of pigment with medium to create the transition from one value or color to another, rather than by relying on blending only while the paint is wet.

3. You mentioned using a Prismacolor pencil for making your diagram.  What color do you recommend?

I recommend using burnt ochre or sienna brown for most portraits because it matches easily with the skin tone. For people with a very pink skin tone, terra cotta could also be used. Those with a dark complexion might require using dark brown. If you prepare the canvas as I demonstrate in my teaching videos, you will find colored pencil very easy to erase, and it doesn’t smear much either. That, coupled with being able to match the skin tones right away, makes it the perfect pencil to sketch with.

colored pencil for acrylic portrait sketch

Using colored pencil for your acrylic portrait sketch makes things a lot easier. Technique discovered and developed by Matt Philleo.


4.  Do you do the painting from start to finish in one setting?

large acrylic portrait painting

Acrylic portrait artist Matt Philleo posing in front of a 48″ x 72″ commission painting for a client in Brunei

Rarely. Only if I’m doing a study (like my 30-minute acrylic portrait.) Usually it takes me 5-10 hours for a 8″ x 10″, 15-30 for a 16″ x 20, and 40+ for a 24″ x 30″ or larger.

I hope these questions and answers were helpful to you as well. I know some of this stuff seems pretty basic, but it’s good for all of us to pause and think about why we do what we do. It then makes the doing that much more significant.

Let me know if you have any questions of your own about acrylic portrait painting and I’ll do my best to help!

Yours for Better Portraits,

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

realistic acrylic portrait painting lesson

Step-by-Step Process of a Memoriam Portrait (Video Lesson)

Sometimes as portrait artists, we are called to capture the memory of a lost loved one. It’s a very special thing, a privilege that we given, to be able to do that for someone.

I don’t take it lightly.

Recently, I just finished up a commissioned portrait for a friend, whose pastor has recently passed away. This is an 11″ x 14″ acrylic on canvas. I want to show you the entire process, but I’m going to start in this post with just the sketch and first couple layers. Then, we’ll just add on with more steps to this same post.

Many of my blog readers prefer more video content rather than written, so that’s how I’m going to do it here.

 

Step 1: Blocking in the First Shadows and Tones

 

 


Step 2: Filling in the Initial Skin Tone Glaze

 

 


Step 3: Integrating the Background and Hair Color

 


Step 4: How to Paint the Hair

 


Step 5: How to Paint Nuances in the Skin Tones

 

 

LEARN MORE

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

Would you like to know when I post another video lesson on this portrait? Click the button below to get my art tips and keep learning!

 

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

 

Hope you enjoyed this acrylic portrait painting tutorial. As always, let me know how I can help you with your portraits or if you have a question. Leave me a comment below!

Be blessed in your painting,

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

 

learn acrylic portrait underpainting lesson

How to Block in Colors and Values in Your Acrylic Portrait

Creating a beautiful acrylic portrait involves several steps, and one of the most crucial is blocking in colors and values. This stage establishes the foundation for your painting, allowing you to build layers of detail and depth. In this blog post, we will delve into the process of blocking in colors and values, drawing insights from me.

What is the best way to start an acrylic portrait?

Do you just begin with a white canvas, and fully paint everything from left to right, as you would in a drawing?

That’s how I used to paint, until I learned the glazing technique. I would painstakingly render every detail, and move across the surface of the canvas. But I always had a lot of white canvas staring me in the face.

After learning the glazing technique, instead, I could begin to slowly develop the portrait, like an Polaroid photograph.

Psychologically, it felt less intimidating. And it was fun to watch the process of the painting methodically taking shape.

In this video tutorial today, I’m going to show you how I begin my painting–what colors I use, where I put them and why, using this 16″ x 20″ commissioned portrait of three children…

 

 

 
 

LEARN MORE

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

Hopefully, this may provide you with a different approach to acrylic portrait painting, especially if you’re used to simply covering your painting opaquely across the surface of the canvas.

Let me know how this tutorial helps!

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