Video Tutorial Archives - Page 7 of 20 - Realistic Acrylic Portrait School

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!

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!

How to Convert a Tracing to Sketch: Painting Process

/ Real Time Tutorial Sketching Video Tutorial
/ By Matt Philleo

Transform your tracing into a detailed sketch: techniques for realistic portrait

When creating a detailed portrait painting, a tracing can provide a solid foundation, but the real artistry lies in refining that tracing into a fully realized sketch. Tracing outlines gives you the basic proportions, but they often miss critical details that are essential for realism. In this post, we’ll walk you through the process of converting a traced outline into a well-refined sketch, using the example of a portrait of the apostle Paul praying.

Understanding the Role of Tracing in Art

A Solid Start:

Tracing can save time, especially for complex portraits or when accuracy is critical. By using tools such as a projector, you can quickly lay down the basic structure. However, tracing alone doesn’t provide all the necessary details, especially when aiming for realism. For example, simple outlines of hands or facial features will lack the subtleties of light, shadow, and wrinkles.

Step-by-Step Guide to Refining a Tracing

Assess the Tracing
After completing your tracing, take a moment to assess its accuracy. Then, look for areas where the proportions are correct but still lack detail. In our example of Paul praying, the tracing provided the basic layout of the figure but left out critical nuances in the facial features and folds in the fabric.
Start with the Most Important Features
Begin with, refining by focusing on the most significant elements of the portrait. In the case of this sketch of Paul, the face is where we started. When, using tracing as the base, it’s essential to add details such as wrinkles, shadows under the eyes, and the curvature of the facial features. But tracings often simplify features, which means you’ll need to carefully draw in the missing details. Also, pay attention to how the light hits the face and creates shadow, especially in areas like the nose and mouth.
Correcting Proportions and Perspectives
If your reference photo features a unique perspective, then like a worm’s eye view (looking up from below), the tracing may not capture all the nuances. In my sketch of Paul, refining the eye’s position and size was crucial, but given the upward angle of the face. While keeping the eyes proportional and always make sure they reflect the right shape is vital to ensuring the overall accuracy of the portrait.
Utilize Tools for Precision
A battery-operated eraser can be a game-changer when correcting small mistakes in a sketch. This tool allows you to erase specific areas without disturbing the rest of your drawing. Erasers also help lighten lines that are too dark, adding more subtlety to your shading.
Refining Shadows and Values
Tracing can often leave large areas of the sketch looking flat or featureless. After refining the major facial features, the next step is to work on the shadows and values. For instance, the shadow under Paul’s chin, the folds in his clothing, and the contours of his hands all required careful attention. By adding shading, you can indicate areas of light and dark, giving the sketch depth and volume. As you shade, remember to leave room for reflected light, which is the subtle illumination on areas that aren’t directly hit by light but still have a glow.
Focusing on Fabric and Wrinkles
The clothing, especially when it has folds and creases, is another area where tracings often fall short. In Paul’s prayer portrait, the tracing missed many of the intricate wrinkles that give the fabric its realistic texture. To add this realism, pay close attention to the way fabric bunches and folds in real life. Observe the direction of the creases, and emphasize key folds to give your sketch depth. Fabric in motion, like the bending of a sleeve, will show wrinkles in a more dynamic manner.

Tips and Techniques for Converting a Tracing to a Sketch

Don’t Rely Solely on the Tracing: Tracing is just the first step. Always refer back to your reference photo or real-life model to capture the subtleties.
Take Your Time with Key Features: Spend extra time refining the eyes, nose, and mouth—especially in a portrait. These areas are often simplified in tracings and need additional work to feel realistic.
Use Multiple Tools: Incorporate erasers, different grades of pencils, and even digital tools (if sketching digitally) to refine your work.
Pay Attention to Light: Always consider where your light source is coming from. Tracings don’t provide shadows, so it’s up to you to add this layer of realism.
Zoom in and Out: Step back and view your work from a distance occasionally. This helps you see the sketch as a whole and ensures that the proportions and shading are balanced.

Realism Through Sketch Refinement

One of the major issues with relying too much on tracing is that it simplifies the image. The forms can become too basic, losing the intricate shapes and contours that make a drawing feel realistic. As you continue refining your tracing, keep adding subtle details. In the case of Paul’s hand, for example, the tracing left out the finer details of the fingers clasped together. Adding these small details later can be done by freehand drawing, improving the overall realism.

The Final Sketch

By the end of this process, the sketch of Paul went from a simple traced outline to a fully developed, refined sketch, capturing all the essential details necessary for a realistic portrait. Then remember, tracing is just the foundation; the true artistry comes in the refinement. Through careful observation, adding shadows, correcting shapes, and focusing on details like fabric and facial features, you’ll create a sketch that serves as a strong base for a lifelike painting.

Sketching Fundamentals: From Tracing to Freehand Mastery

1. Starting with a Strong Foundation

When beginning a portrait sketch, the initial step often involves tracing. Although tracing can be a helpful tool, it should not be relied upon exclusively. As shown in the video, How to Convert a Tracing to a Sketch, Part #2 tracing an image with an overhead projector helps establish basic proportions but lacks the fine details and accuracy needed for a refined sketch. To improve the likeness and detail, learning freehand sketching or using a grid method is essential.

2. Choosing the Right Tools

A dark umber or dark brown colored pencil is highly recommended for initial sketching. These pencils provide a good contrast against the canvas, making it easier to refine details. Precision is crucial, and using a battery-operated eraser can greatly enhance accuracy. This tool allows for fine adjustments and corrections, particularly in areas requiring detailed work, such as the fingers in our example.

3. Refining the Sketch

Once the basic outline is established, focus on refining the sketch by adding detailed features. For instance, when sketching Paul the Apostle’s hands, attention must be given to the length and placement of each finger. Details such as fingernails and the interplay of light and shadow play a significant role in achieving realism.

4. Incorporating Reference Photos

Using reference photos is vital for accuracy. In this video, a photo shoot in a studio mimicking the lighting of a Caravaggio painting provided a valuable reference. This photo helps ensure that the contrast and structure of the hands are correctly depicted. When sketching, always use a reference photo to guide the placement of details and ensure a realistic portrayal.

Advanced Techniques for a Professional Finish

5. Shading and Blocking in Values

Shading is crucial for adding depth and dimension to your sketch. I uses shading to differentiate between light and dark areas, such as on the clothing and objects in the scene. This technique help me in creating a three-dimensional effect and enhancing the overall realism of the portrait.

6. Adding Textural Details

For a more lifelike result, add texture to elements like clothing and objects. In the example, I use triangular shapes to suggest folds and creases in the fabric, and shading to indicate the structure of a drinking vessel. Textural details contribute to the overall realism and visual interest of the portrait.

7. Creating a Believable Environment

When sketching elements like the background, it’s important to consider how they contribute to the overall scene. The video demonstrates adding elements such as prison bars and a scroll to place the subject in a believable context. Accurate depiction of the environment adds to the narrative and helps the viewer connect with the portrait.

Final Adjustments and Presentation

8. Reviewing and Making Final Adjustments

Before concluding the sketch, review all elements for accuracy and completeness. This step is essential for a polished and professional finish.

9. Presenting Your Work

Once the sketch is complete, it’s time to prepare for the painting process. Ensure that your sketch is well-detailed and ready to serve as a solid foundation for your acrylic portrait. Proper preparation at this stage will significantly influence the final outcome of your painting.

Tips and Techniques for Effective Portrait Sketching

Use Quality Materials: Invest in good quality pencils and erasers to achieve precise details.
Practice Freehand Sketching: Develop your freehand skills to avoid over-reliance on tracing methods.
Utilize Reference Photos: Use high-quality reference photos to guide details and proportions.
Focus on Shading: Effective shading adds depth and dimension to your sketches.
Pay Attention to Texture: Adding textural details enhances the realism of your portrait.

By incorporating these techniques and following a structured approach, you can improve your portrait sketching skills and create more compelling and realistic artwork. For additional tips and resources, visit www.realisticacrylic.com and check out the tutorial on fixing muddy skin tones, then download here.

Feel free to share your own sketching techniques or ask questions in the comments below. Happy sketching!

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 Eyes in your Acrylic Portrait

How to Paint Realistic Eyes in Your Acrylic Portrait

/ Video Tutorial
/ By Matt Philleo

Bring your portraits to life: Essential techniques for painting realistic eyes

Introduction

Painting realistic eyes is one of the most essential skills in portraiture, as they serve as the focal point of a portrait, bringing the subject to life. But with just a few carefully placed strokes, you can transform a flat, lifeless face into one that captivates with expression and detail. In this tutorial, we’ll walk you through how to paint eyes in your acrylic portrait using subtle nuances, helping you achieve realism with ease.

1. Gather Your Materials

Before diving into painting the eyes, ensure you have the right materials on hand. You’ll need:

Acrylic paints (raw umber dark, ultramarine blue, alizarine crimson, burnt sienna)
Brushes (small round brush for precision)
Clear acrylic medium (for glazing technique)
Palette for mixing colors
Reference photo for accuracy

These basic materials will help you create the details necessary for capturing the eyes realistically.

2. Start with a Good Reference Photo

To paint eyes accurately, a reference photo is essential. I will emphasize in this video by using a detailed reference image, ensuring that the direction, shape, and placement of the eyes are correct. Choose a clear, high-quality photo that shows the eye’s reflections and shadows. The finer details in the photo will guide your painting process.

3. Mix the Right Colors

I starts by using a neutral palette of raw umber dark, ultramarine blue, alizarine crimson, and burnt sienna. These colors create a natural-looking shade for painting eyes, particularly for the whites of the eyes and the shadows. Eyes aren’t stark white; they have subtle shadows and variations that can be achieved by using these earth tones.

Use a small amount of acrylic medium to thin the paint, creating translucent layers that give depth without overwhelming the painting.

4. Focus on Nuances

When painting eyes in a portrait, subtle details make all the difference. Start by using a small brush to add tiny dabs of color where the pupils and irises will go. In my technique, I carefully apply these nuances to make the face “come alive.”

Pupils and Irises: Use a small, round brush to lightly dab the area where the pupils should be. A gentle touch is key—if the paint is too thick, it can appear unnatural.
Shadows Around the Eyes: Create depth by darkening areas around the eyes. This enhances realism and makes the eyes stand out from the rest of the face. You can apply glazing layers to build up the shadows gradually.
Highlights: Adding a small highlight in the eye, just above the pupil, can simulate light reflection and create vibrancy.

By focusing on these small changes, you will see an immediate improvement in the overall appearance of the eyes.

5. Use Glazing for Depth

I utilize the acrylic glazing technique, which is perfect for painting eyes. Glazing allows you to create many thin, transparent layers that build up depth while preserving the sketch underneath.

Here’s how you can apply glazing when painting eyes:

Thin Your Paint: Mix a little clear acrylic medium with your paint. This will allow you to create subtle gradients around the eyes.
Layer Gradually: Apply the paint in thin layers, letting each one dry before adding the next. This technique creates a luminous effect, especially when building up the shadows and highlights.
Blend Carefully: The beauty of glazing lies in its ability to blend naturally. With soft, sweeping strokes, smooth the edges where the light and dark areas meet.

6. Adjust the Eyes to Match the Angle of the Face

When working on a portrait, it’s crucial to place the eyes correctly in relation to the direction the face is facing. In this demonstration, make small dabs of paint on the left side for a subject looking to the right, ensuring the gaze is aligned with the overall pose. Be mindful of the orientation of the head and use tiny corrections to ensure the eyes appear natural.

For a subject looking to one side, the whites of the eyes should show more prominently on the opposite side.
Use reference points like the nose and mouth to position the eyes accurately.

7. Refine the Expression with Small Details

After placing the pupils, irises, and surrounding shadows, it’s time to refine the expression. I often emphasize this point: small touches around the eyes can drastically change the emotion conveyed.

Add Eyelashes and Creases: With a fine brush, add delicate lines for the eyelashes and the creases of the eyelids. These are not stark black lines but rather subtle strokes that suggest the texture.
Smooth Out Harsh Lines: Dab your brush lightly on any overly sharp edges. This helps blend the painted areas for a softer, more natural appearance.

8. Final Touches: Creating Cohesion with the Rest of the Face

Eyes should not stand out unnaturally from the rest of the face. Make sure the tones and shadows around the eyes blend into the surrounding areas. This creates a seamless transition, adding to the realism of the portrait.

If the eyes appear too sharp or bright, use a glazing technique to tone them down, layering slightly darker hues over the highlights. You may also want to darken the shadows underneath the brows and beside the nose to help frame the eyes and make them pop without looking out of place.

Painting eyes in an acrylic portrait might seem challenging, but with careful attention to details and the use of glazing techniques, you can achieve stunning results. I demonstrates, it’s the small nuances—tiny dabs of color, subtle shadows, and highlights—that truly bring a portrait to life. By following these steps, you’ll enhance the depth and realism of your artwork, leaving your viewers captivated by the expressions in your subject’s eyes.

Tips and Techniques:

Use a Fine Brush: Precision is key when painting small areas like eyes.
Glazing Technique: Layer thin, transparent washes to build depth without losing the initial sketch.
Subtle Highlights: Add a touch of light to the eyes to give them vibrancy and a lifelike appearance.
Work Slowly: Patience is vital for getting the right amount of detail in the eyes.

By using these techniques, you’ll be able to master the art of painting eyes, transforming your portraits into realistic works of art.

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!

First Steps of Painting Trees and Grass in Your Acrylic Portrait

How to Paint Realistic Trees & Grass in Your Acrylic

It’s important to know how to paint greenery in your acrylic portrait.

In this tutorial, we’ll explore how to paint realistic trees and grass using the acrylic glazing technique. This approach allows for gradual layering of colors, which adds depth and vibrancy to your landscape. Acrylic glazing helps build up the scene, much like how an oil painting develops, while maintaining the versatility and quick-drying benefits of acrylics.

Whether you’re working on a portrait background or a full landscape, these methods will enhance your painting’s realism. So, grab your brushes and let’s dive in!

Materials You’ll Need

Before starting, make sure you have these essential tools:

Acrylic paints (Raw umber, ultramarine blue, indian yellow, phthalo blue)
Matte medium
Flat brushes
Palette
Reference photo (optional)

Step-by-Step Guide to Painting Trees and Grass

1. Prepare Your Palette and Materials

Begin by setting up your palette with the necessary colors. In this painting, raw umber and ultramarine blue will serve as the foundation for shadows, while indian yellow and phthalo blue will add vibrancy to the lighter areas. Make sure to have a matte medium to thin out your paints for glazing.

Transitioning between vibrant and muted colors is key. As you work in darker areas, shift away from highly saturated colors like Indian Yellow to cooler tones like ultramarine blue.

2. Start with a Sketch

Begin with a light sketch on your canvas, which will act as a guide for placing trees and grass. Use thin layers of paint to avoid covering up your sketch too early. In the initial stages, the painting may resemble a watercolor, but as you apply more glazes, it will begin to take on the characteristics of a full-bodied acrylic painting.

3. Apply the First Layer of Glazes for the Grass

When painting grass, start by applying a base layer using vibrant colors like Indian yellow and phthalo blue. This combination gives the grass a rich, glowing appearance. As you move further away into the background or shadows, use cooler and less intense tones like raw umber.

For glazing, thin out your paint with matte medium to make it translucent. This will allow previous layers to show through, creating depth. Layering slowly is crucial—don’t rush the process.

4. Develop Shadows Within the Shadows

Once the initial glaze dries, begin adding darker tones to create depth. In this case, mix raw umber dark with ultramarine blue. The deeper shades of color should be applied sparingly to the areas that are farthest from the light source. This technique, known as adding “shadows within the shadows,” adds dimension and makes your painting more realistic.

In places where light barely reaches, such as underneath trees or in between clumps of grass, carefully brush in darker glazes. Thin these glazes with matte medium to ensure the darkness isn’t overpowering.

5. Blending Techniques for a Smooth Transition

To achieve a seamless blend between light and dark areas, use a dry brush technique. As the paint on your brush begins to run out, use the remaining paint to blend areas softly. Gently sweep the brush back and forth in different directions, blending the layers into each other.

Switching between horizontal and vertical brush strokes can smooth the transitions between glazes, ensuring a more natural look for both trees and grass.

Tips & Techniques for Realistic Trees and Grass

Use Cooler Colors for Depth: Darker areas should have cooler, less intense colors. Avoid overly vibrant shades in the shadows to maintain realism.
Layer Gradually: Build your painting slowly, one thin layer at a time. This helps the colors blend well and creates a smooth transition from light to dark.
Reference Photos: Keep a reference photo nearby to help guide your light and shadow placement. Analyze where the darkest areas should be in relation to the light source.
Be Patient: The glazing technique takes time. Allow each layer to dry completely before moving on to the next. This prevents muddying your colors and ensures each layer adds value to the final 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!

Category Archives for Video Tutorial

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:

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:

Step 2: Blocking in the Shadows

Technique Tip:

Step 3: Cutting Around the Edges

Technique Tip:

Step 4: Balancing Opacity and Transparency

Technique Tip:

Step 5: Smoothing Out the Dark Layers

Technique Tip:

Step 6: Enhancing the Richness of Shadows

Achieving Contrast in Chiaroscuro Painting

Transform your tracing into a detailed sketch: techniques for realistic portrait

Understanding the Role of Tracing in Art

A Solid Start:

Step-by-Step Guide to Refining a Tracing

Tips and Techniques for Converting a Tracing to a Sketch