Category Archives for Written Tutorial
[PORTRAIT CHALLENGE] Masterclass Lesson #8: Finishing Your Portrait Well
The Acrylic Portrait Painting Challenge Masterclass, Lesson #8, is out!
This is our FINAL lesson together.
It’s kind of sad to see the challenge drawing to a close. As I write this, it’s been an entire month since I started this challenge on April 6, 2020.
My goal was to create a way for artists to overcome the challenges of being in COVID-19 lockdown, create something beautiful with their time, and grow their skills as artists.
Many, many have risen to the challenge and done exactly that. If you’re reading this, and you’ve taken the challenge; you’ve gone through steps 1-7, I’m so proud of you! It’s not easy to paint a realistic portrait in acrylic, let alone during a quarantine. But you did it! And you’ve encouraged many others along the way.
Acrylic Portrait Painting Challenge example portrait 16 x 20 acrylic on canvas, ©2020 by Matt Philleo
Because of that, you are a better artist, and have grown in character as a human being.
Your portrait —hopefully—is nearly done. What next? How do we “bring it home”, so to speak?
Let me show you, below!
Six Steps to Finishing Your Portrait Well
STEP ONE: Double-check the tonal values. Use my Value Checker tool for that.
STEP TWO: Double-check and add more detail to the eyes.
STEP THREE: Add vibrance to areas where certain shadows and highlights meet
STEP FOUR: Refine the shadows
STEP FIVE: Redefine the edges of your subject and objects
STEP SIX: Paint pin-point highlights on the face
When is the painting done?
Watch the video to find out…
[PORTRAIT CHALLENGE] Masterclass Lesson #8: Finishing Your Portrait Well
Is it too late to join the challenge? No, not at all. This challenge is meant to be ongoing—something you can do at your own pace. The lessons are free and they aren’t going anywhere.
If not, register below for FREE and I’ll send you:
- a downloadable/ printable”Welcome Kit” with a Supplies List and a Palette Color Layout Guide.
- high-resolution images of the photo we’ll be painting from for this challenge.
- each new lesson that comes out in this Masterclass series.
- a link to my private Facebook group, where you can do this challenge with other artists, get feedback and help on your portrait, and not feel alone.
REGISTER TODAY. It’s not too late to enter!
Register for the Challenge!
Where do we go from here?
I am so happy that you have done this challenge with me and hundreds of other artists. I give you a virtual high-five for the effort and dedication you have put in.
First, I give God the glory and thanks for entrusting all of us a talent to use. Next, I thank you and the other artists for taking your time and investing it into yourself as an artist and into others’ lives to encourage them.
You’ve left great comments for each other and your building skills to be able to paint a portrait you can take pleasure in and others can too.
This is what art is about. It transcends a piece of cotton canvas stretched on a wood frame, with plastic polymer resin on it. In the hands of a skilled painter, it becomes something beautiful that can last forever.
When we touch lives, bring hope and encouragement both in the creation and in the giving or selling of the art, we are doing something that has the potential to last for eternity!
So what we all have done in this group, by God’s grace, is amazing. And I believe it is just the start! 🙂
If you would like to work with me more closely, so I can personally help you become the portrait artist you’d like to be, be sure to watch my invitation at the end of the video. Whatever you decide, thank you so much for taking part in this challenge and may God richly bless your talent, and multiply it many times over!
Yours for Better Portraits,
If you found this post helpful or encouraging, would you send it on ahead? Let others know with the share buttons below. I’d love to hear your comments. Thank you so much!
Let me know if you have any questions about the challenge that I didn’t answer. Leave your question in the comments below and I’ll get back to you!
[PORTRAIT CHALLENGE] Masterclass Lesson #7: Painting Fantastic Facial Features
The Acrylic Portrait Painting Challenge Masterclass, Lesson #7, is out!
In our last lesson, I showed you how to visualize your painting as a map, and add shading and skin tones to specific spots on your portrait.
Now, in this lesson, I want to show you how to “dial-in” the facial features.
(To be upfront, I want you to know there is some video footage after Lesson 6 that I just couldn’t capture in this lesson, so it didn’t get too long for a YouTube video. All of the “in-between” BONUS videos will be posted within Realistic Acrylic All-Access Membership, after I’m finished posting these challenge lessons. The main Masterclass Lessons will be there as well as one complete course, and I will also segment them for easier viewing, since the learning interface makes that possible.)
For most of the students I serve, they do their portraits as gifts for loved ones, and on commission. So, unless you are painting only for an academic exercise, it’s important that you capture an accurate likeness of your subject.
I have painted many portraits over the years, and I can tell you from experience, it doesn’t matter how much detail I add to the painting, if the picture doesn’t look like Aunt Betty, it’s not going to sell. 🙂
So, as you are aiming for realism—that is, the accurate form, tonal values, skin tones, shading, detail, etc., you also want to work to achieve a true likeness.
Does it need to be perfect? No, just close. Usually 85-90% as accurate as the photo you’re working from (and even that is not as accurate as real life) and you’ll do well. But shoot for the 100% every time.
Let’s dive in…
Here’s what to do…
STEP ONE
- Redefine the eye-socket region.
- Redefine the eyelid folds.
- Dial-in the coloring of his eyes
STEP TWO
- Adjust the length and shape of nose (if needed) and add shading.
STEP THREE
- Add more depth to the eyes.
STEP FOUR
- Refine the mouth and mustache.
Ready to paint?
Now, before you begin…(Yes, still need to ask, because some folks are just discovering these Masterclass lessons 🙂 )
Are you registered for the challenge?
If not, register below for FREE and I’ll send you:
- a downloadable/ printable”Welcome Kit” with a Supplies List and a Palette Color Layout Guide.
- high-resolution images of the photo we’ll be painting from for this challenge.
- each new lesson that comes out in this Masterclass series.
- a link to my private Facebook group, where you can do this challenge with other artists, get feedback and help on your portrait, and not feel alone.
REGISTER TODAY. The challenge is ongoing, something you can do at your own pace. It’s not too late to enter!
Register for the Challenge!
Watch my in-depth Masterclass acrylic online tutorial below to see these steps in action.
After learning from this video, you’ll know exactly how to do it.
Make sure to watch the ENTIRE video first before diving into the painting. It will be worth it to do that. Then, I’d like you to go back and refer to whatever steps you need to as you paint. That way, you won’t miss any of the instruction and tips that will help you make this portrait your very best.
Here’s the video…
[PORTRAIT CHALLENGE] Masterclass Lesson #7: Painting Fantastic Facial Features
Moving Forward…
Thank you so much for all your effort you’ve put into doing this challenge with me and so many other artists. You’re almost there…your finished portrait is in sight.
Hey, if you’re having some challenges with your Portrait Challenge portrait, I just want to let you know, that’s natural! Painting portraits is difficult even for artists who have been doing it for years. But step-by-step instruction and encouragement from other students helps a lot. Many people in our group are doing with little to no experience, and they’re doing a knock-out job, even if they’re struggling in certain areas.
So, if you do feel stuck at this point, or find your results are less than what you expected, keep in mind this is a learning experience. You will get better as you practice painting portraits in the glazing technique, as so many others have.
That being said, if I can help in any way, please leave a comment or send me an email. I get a lot of requests, but I’ll do my very best to help. Also, make sure you join our amazing Facebook group, Realistic Acrylic Portraits, because you will receive helpful tips and encouragement from other students, some of whom are farther ahead in the portrait painting journey.
I’ll see you in our next class! What is it going to be? Painting the Final Details, Nuances, and Finishing Well. I’m excited to share that with you! Until then, be blessed in your painting and you and your family stay safe and healthy.
Yours for Better Portraits,
If you found this post helpful or encouraging, would you send it on ahead? Let others know with the share buttons below. I’d love to hear your comments. Thank you so much!
Let me know if you have any questions about the challenge that I didn’t answer. Leave your question in the comments below and I’ll get back to you!
[PORTRAIT CHALLENGE] Masterclass Lesson #6: Creating Smooth Blending and Skin Tones
The Acrylic Portrait Painting Challenge Masterclass, Lesson #6, is out!
In our last lesson, I showed you how to add depth to the dark value of the hat, shadowed areas of the face, and some of the darker areas within the background.
Now that we have a good underpainting foundation in place, it’s time to transition into the “middle” portion of the painting. In other words, we’re working our way towards what the final surface of the portrait will look like.
I want to show you specifically how to create smooth blending and establish realistic skin tones.
It’s important to think of this process like outlining the boundaries of a nation, state (province) or county.
I know, we shouldn’t mix geography with art lessons, but I think this metaphor will help you understand the concept I’m trying to get across…
How a US map is like color, shading, and value in an acrylic portrait
I live in the state of Wisconsin, U.S.A. It has its own distinct shape and location within the United States of America. Now, the U.S.A. has its own distinct shape and location within the continent of North America.
In the same way, in a portrait, you may have a small area of value/ skin tone with its own distinct shape and location within the larger area of value/ skin tone. What you want to do is pay attention to the boundary lines on these specific shapes by studying your reference photo.
You won’t see a sharp line you will on a map, unfortunately. But you will see a marked difference where one value/ color ends and another begins.
How to use the idea of a map to improve the realism on your acrylic portrait
You will see a shape emerge. Note that shape.
Then transfer what you see onto your painting. It’s as simple (and challenging!) as that.
You will see shapes within shapes within shapes. The more you can train your eyes to spot these shapes, the better you will become at realistic painting. That’s half the battle. The other half is technique: getting the paint to do what you want it to do.
This concept of “Nations and States” is powerful once you get a hold of it and use it regularly in your acrylic portrait painting! Now, let’s get onto the lesson…
What we want to do at this stage:
Begin the process of adding smooth shading and skin tones throughout the portrait.
We will be adding:
- a large “warming” glaze to the entire shadow area of the man’s face.
- glaze on the highlighted area of the face, adding depth and the beginning of skin tones, so the area is not just plain white or off white.
- small glazes (“states”) on the shadow side (“nation”) of the face to further define the pinkish skin tones.
We will do this using the acrylic glazing technique, where we mix a TINY amount of acrylic paint into a LARGE amount of clear acrylic matte medium. It’s best to go very, very light when you start your painting. You should just barely see a difference. However, at this stage you will getting a bit more opaque, because you have enough layers down already to give you some smoothness in the overall appearance.
Also, as always, make sure you rinse your brush off thoroughly between glazes. Any extra water in the heel of the brush may cause your glazes to drip or get streaky.
Here’s how to do it:
STEP ONE
- First, mix the “warming glaze” for the shadow side of the face: Use raw sienna and mix with a large amount of matte medium (10% paint to 90% medium) as shown in the video lesson. “Scoop” a large amount of glaze onto your 3/4″or 1″ flat brush. A few of the glazes will get a little darker, with ratios of as much as 30% paint to 70% medium. Make sure you watch the video to know where and when to change the ratio. “Next, glaze
- Glaze on the highlight side of face, to “tie-in” with the shadow side, develop mid-tones and create depth: Use raw sienna and organic pyrrole orange (or a cadmium orange) and mix it 5% paint to 95% matte medium. Test the glaze and see if you need to add more pigment or more medium. You should just barely see a difference in what you apply.
- Add small glazes in specific locations (“states”) on the shadow side of face using organic pyrrole orange, raw sienna, and a bit of alizarine crimson if needed to darken the glaze without adding too much chromatic intensity.
STEP TWO
- Add another layer of shading to the man’s hat and the background: Use raw umber dark, ultramarine blue, and a touch of alizarine crimson. How much of each? It depends on what the hat looks like right now as you paint. Is it too bluish? Add more raw umber dark. Is it too brownish? Add more ultramarine blue. Is it too greenish? Add alizarine crimson—just a pinch.
- Take the same glaze you used for the hat and add some shadows below his hat: Because it is right underneath the brim of his hat, the shadows will be quite dark in value. Add a bit of raw umber dark (or raw umber) and a bit of alizarin crimson if necessary to warm up the glaze, especially as you transition into the lighter parts of the skin tones.
- Clean off your brush and apply a blue glaze to the highlighted areas in his shirt: Mix ultramarine blue and phthalo blue (just a bit—it’s a VERY strong pigment) into a large amount of matte medium (95% to 5%, ratio to start with, and test to see if you need to change it) We want to bridge the gap between the shadows and the highlights, adding much-needed depth to this area of the painting.
STEP THREE
- Repeat Step 1, with slight adjustments. Follow the video for more detailed instruction.
Ready to paint?
Now, before you begin…(Yes, still need to ask, because some folks are just discovering these Masterclass lessons 🙂 )
Are you registered for the challenge?
If not, register below for FREE and I’ll send you:
- a downloadable/ printable”Welcome Kit” with a Supplies List and a Palette Color Layout Guide.
- high-resolution images of the photo we’ll be painting from for this challenge.
- each new lesson that comes out in this Masterclass series.
- a link to my private Facebook group, where you can do this challenge with other artists, get feedback and help on your portrait, and not feel alone.
REGISTER TODAY. The challenge is ongoing, something you can do at your own pace. It’s not too late to enter!
Register for the Challenge!
Watch my in-depth Masterclass acrylic online tutorial below to see these steps in action.
After learning from this video, you’ll know exactly how to do it.
Make sure to watch the ENTIRE video first before diving into the painting. It will be worth it to do that. Then, I’d like you to go back and refer to whatever steps you need to as you paint. That way, you won’t miss any of the instruction and tips that will help you make this portrait your very best.
Here’s the video…
[PORTRAIT CHALLENGE] Masterclass Lesson #6: Creating Smooth Blending and Skin Tones
Moving Forward…
If you have gotten this far in the challenge, I’m proud of you! It’s not easy to try something new, especially during a challenging time (COVID-19 as I write) but you are making a difference in your own life by developing the talent God gave you and you will be making a difference in others lives when you freely share the beautiful artwork you create with those you love or want to impact.
I’ll see you in our next class! What is it going to be? Painting fantastic facial features. I’m excited to share that with you! Until then, be blessed in your painting and you and your family stay safe and healthy.
Yours for Better Portraits,
If you found this post helpful or encouraging, would you send it on ahead? Let others know with the share buttons below. I’d love to hear your comments. Thank you so much!
Let me know if you have any questions about the challenge that I didn’t answer. Leave your question in the comments below and I’ll get back to you!
[PORTRAIT CHALLENGE] Masterclass Lesson #5: Building up Depth With Glazes
The Acrylic Portrait Painting Challenge Masterclass Lesson #5 is out!
In our last two lessons, I showed you how to cover your entire canvas with a series of three glazes covering the entire surface of the canvas as one layer.
Now, with this lesson, I’ll show you how to continue the process of adding layers on top of layers. We want to “rotate,” going back to the first glaze we did, and go on top of it with another glaze. And then to the next, and so on. Remember volleyball? It’s kind of like that. Every person gets a turn.
Volleyball rotation like rotating glaze layers in your acrylic portrait
Here in the portrait using the acrylic glazing technique, every part of the picture gets a turn, having another glaze added to it. (There are some times when we break this rule, and I’ll show you that in the video lesson)
Here is where I’m at in the portrait, prior to this video lesson, after the work I did on Lesson #4.
Acrylic portrait painting challenge example in progress using the acrylic glazing technique, 16 x 20, acrylic on canvas by artist and instructor Matt Philleo
What we want to do at this stage:
Since we already have locked in the major differences in the color scheme and tonal value very simply, now we want to add more complexity to the painting.
We will be adding:
- depth to the dark value of the hat
- shadowed areas of the face
- and some of the darker areas within the background.
We will do this using the acrylic glazing technique, where we mix a TINY amount of acrylic paint into a LARGE amount of clear acrylic matte medium. It’s best to go very, very light when you start your painting. You should just barely see a difference.
Also, make sure you rinse your brush off thoroughly between glazes. Any extra water in the heel of the brush may cause your glazes to drip or get streaky.
Here’s how to do it:
- Mix your Glaze for Hat: Use small, fairly equal amounts of ultramarine blue and raw umber dark, and mix with a large amount of matte medium (5% paint to 95% medium) as shown in the video lesson. “Scoop” a large amount of glaze onto your 3/4″or 1″ flat brush. A few of the glazes will get a little darker, with ratios of as much as 30% paint to 70% medium. Make sure you watch the video to know where and when to change the ratio.
- Apply the Glaze: Start on the left-hand side of hat and apply the glaze with firm pressure to cut along the edges. Spread the paint out toward the right, keeping a wet edge. Flip the brush over to make use of the paint that is on both sides.
- Smooth Out the Glaze: Use diagonal criss-cross strokes to blend the glaze out rapidly. Use very light pressure at the end, just barely grazing your brush across the top. Don’t overwork the glaze. TIP: It dries quickly. If it starts to get blotchy or tacky, just leave it alone, or you’ll make it worse. You will be able to smooth it out later with more layers on top.
- See Where Else You Can Employ the Glaze: Because you don’t want to waste the paint and medium, and to save time, use this same glaze on the background, adding as shown in the video lesson.
- Add a Shadow Glaze to the Face. What we want to do is add a shadow on top of the shadow. Start at the left side of his face, underneath the hat, and cut up along the edge, working your way right, and bring the glaze down into the forehead wrinkles as I show in the video. Follow the distinct shapes and patterns that you see on your reference photo.
You will repeat this process another time, with some variations.
Ready to paint?
Now, before you begin (yes, I have to ask you again, just in case 🙂 )…
Are you registered for the challenge?
If not, register below for FREE and I’ll send you:
- a downloadable/ printable”Welcome Kit” with a Supplies List and a Palette Color Layout Guide.
- high-resolution images of the photo we’ll be painting from for this challenge.
- each new lesson that comes out in this Masterclass series.
- a link to my private Facebook group, where you can do this challenge with other artists, get feedback and help on your portrait, and not feel alone.
REGISTER TODAY. The challenge is ongoing, something you can do at your own pace. It’s not too late to enter!
Register for the Challenge!
Watch my in-depth Masterclass acrylic online tutorial below to see these steps in action.
After learning from this video, you’ll know exactly how to do it.
Make sure to watch the ENTIRE video first before diving into the painting. It will be worth it to do that. Then, I’d like you to go back and refer to whatever steps you need to as you paint. That way, you won’t miss any of the instruction and tips that will help you make this portrait your very best.
Here’s the video…
[PORTRAIT CHALLENGE] Masterclass Lesson #5: Building up Depth With Glazes
Moving Forward…
Excellent job staying with me and the other artists for this challenging portrait! The acrylic glazing technique takes some getting used to, but once you really “get it” you will be able to paint with a freedom, confidence, and sense of realism that will keep you encouraged to keep on painting more and more.
In our next class, I’ll show you how to add more glazes and build up the skin tones. It’s something so many artists aspire to: create those lifelike skin tones that just look real. And now with a good foundation in place, we can do it!
I’ll see you in our next class! Until then be blessed in your painting and you and your family stay safe and healthy.
Yours for Better Portraits,
If you found this post helpful or encouraging, would you send it on ahead? Let others know with the share buttons below. I’d love to hear your comments. Thank you so much!
Let me know if you have any questions about the challenge that I didn’t answer. Leave your question in the comments below and I’ll get back to you!
[PORTRAIT CHALLENGE] Masterclass Lesson #4, LIVE: Establishing Your Color and Values
For a change of pace, we did the Acrylic Portrait Challenge Masterclass Lesson #4 as a LIVE class, and I’m excited to share it with you!
In our last lesson, I showed you how to prepare your canvas for painting by whiting out the grid lines, sealing in and muting the sketch, and preparing your palette.
Finally, we began the actual painting process with a glaze of ultramarine blue (a glaze is a small amount of acrylic paint mixed into a large amount of clear acrylic medium, usually matte medium).
Now, in this lesson (recorded LIVE), I will show you how to add the next two glazes, which will nearly cover the entire canvas with one layer.
Whereas the sketch is the actual foundation for the painting, this first layer is very important. It is like the floor joists when a house is built. The rest of the structure attaches to that, and so housebuilders take extra time to make sure they do it correctly. If they don’t they’ll end up with a structure that will end up sagging years, or even worse, collapsing!
In the same way, we want to make sure we have this first layer done correctly. Don’t feel nervous about it. You can still fix a painting that hasn’t been started correctly, and end up with a truly realistic acrylic portrait. It just will take you more time and effort to correct, and so it’s best to avoid that hassle if possible.
What we want to do at this stage:
Our main goal right now is to establish the main value and color scheme of the portrait, simultaneously. We want to “lock-in” the contrast between the lights and dark values, paying attention to their specific edges, boundaries, and shapes. If you did the sketch according to Lesson #2, then you will know almost exactly where to place your initial glazes, because your sketch tells you where to put it.
We also want to observe the major differences in color within the reference photo, simplify it to “warm and cool” tones and use our inital glazes to plot that out. Then, future layers will be added on top of them, getting more and more complex as we go along.
But the initial glaze will serve us well.
It’s like how a major highway was often once a foot trail, then a cowpath, then a dirt road, then a paved road, and finally a highway. It’s a lot easier to upgrade a road, than to try to build a new one. You’d have to bulldoze trees, cut through rocks, level the land, and even remove homes if necessary.
In the same way, with the glazing technique, we are getting the compounded effect of each previous layer adding richness and depth to the ones that come after them. That’s why you want to start off right.
Again, as I’ve said in the last lesson: begin the painting lightly. Much lighter than you think. And certainly more than you’re used to painting, if you’ve painted for a while. If you just barely see a difference in this first layer, you’re doing it exactly right!
Let’s dive into the process…
Here’s how to do it:
- Mix your Glaze for the Skin Tone Foundation Layer: Use a small amount of burnt sienna and raw umber dark, and mix with a large amount of matte medium (5% paint to 95% medium) as shown in the video lesson. “Scoop” a large amount of glaze onto your 3/4″or 1″ flat brush.
- Apply the Glaze: Start on the left-hand side of the man’s face, and apply the glaze with firm pressure to cut along the edge of the ear, neck, and along the collar. Spread the paint out toward the right, keeping a wet edge. Flip the brush over to make use of the paint that is on both sides.
- Smooth Out the Glaze: Use diagonal criss-cross strokes to blend the glaze out rapidly. Use very light pressure at the end, just barely grazing your brush across the top. Don’t overwork the glaze. TIP: It dries quickly. If it starts to get blotchy or tacky, just leave it alone, or you’ll make it worse. You will be able to smooth it out later with more layers on top.
- Mix the Glaze for the Background Foundation Layer: Now, if you followed my steps from Lesson #3, you should have an ultramarine blue glaze already on the background’s darkest values. This glaze will go on top of that, and will start the basic color for the mid-tone area in the right direction. Take a small amount of raw sienna as the base, smaller amount of raw umber (or raw umber dark) and and even smaller amount of ultramarine blue, and mix them slowly into the matte medium as I show in the video.
- Add the Glaze and Smooth it Out. Apply this similarly as the skin tone glaze, but this time, you only need to cut up along the edge of objects with very light tonal value, such as the shirt or the illuminated portion of the man’s face. The glaze can go on top of the hat, because the final tonal value of that area will be so dark, so there’s no need to worry about trying to “keep within the lines” there.
Ready to paint?
Now, before you begin (yes, I have to ask you again, just in case 🙂 )…
Are you registered for the challenge?
If not, register below for FREE and I’ll send you:
- a downloadable/ printable”Welcome Kit” with a Supplies List and a Palette Color Layout Guide.
- high-resolution images of the photo we’ll be painting from for this challenge.
- each new lesson that comes out in this Masterclass series.
- a link to my private Facebook group, where you can do this challenge with other artists, get feedback and help on your portrait, and not feel alone.
REGISTER TODAY. The challenge is ongoing, something you can do at your own pace. It’s not too late to enter!
Register for the Challenge!
Watch my in-depth Masterclass acrylic online tutorial below to see these steps in action.
After learning from this video, you’ll know exactly how to do it.
Make sure to watch the ENTIRE video first before diving into the painting. It will be worth it to do that. Then, I’d like you to go back and refer to whatever steps you need to as you paint. That way, you won’t miss any of the instruction and tips that will help you make this portrait your very best.
Here’s the video…
[PORTRAIT CHALLENGE] Masterclass Lesson #4, LIVE: Establishing Your Color and Values
Moving Forward…
If you made it this far, congratulations! It’s not easy to start a painting so light, when your natural instinct is paint thick and dark right away. So, if you’ve followed my steps as best you can, high fives and hat’s off to you! Stick with this process, and you will be able to paint more confidently and realistically than you ever have before.
Now, since we have the complete glaze foundation work done on the painting—the hat, the face, the shirt, the background all has paint on it, we can move on and add more and more glazes—building up richness, depth, and detail. The painting will look more and more amazing each time we add another layer. There may be a few times where you’ll hit a few rough spots, but by God’s grace, I’ll show you how to navigate those challenges and finish your portrait well.
I’ll see you in our next class! Until then be blessed in your painting and may God guide your every brushstroke!
Yours for Better Portraits,
If you found this post helpful or encouraging, would you send it on ahead? Let others know with the share buttons below. I’d love to hear your comments. Thank you so much!
Let me know if you have any questions about the challenge that I didn’t answer. Leave your question in the comments below and I’ll get back to you!
[PORTRAIT CHALLENGE] Masterclass Lesson #3: Beginning Your Painting Lightly and Confidently
Masterclass Lesson #3 for the Acrylic Portrait Painting Challenge is open!
In this lesson, you will learn how to slowly transition out of the sketch process and into the painting with confidence.
Instead of the typical way of painting—dumping a bunch of paint onto the canvas and hoping something good comes out of it, you will strategically begin your portrait with light, translucent glazing layers.
If you follow the heart of my method, you will not feel like the painting is out of control. You will be guiding the painting to a successful finish, rather the painting taking you and your emotions for a roller-coaster ride.
It takes patience.
So please don’t jump ahead, even though it feels you’re starting so slowly.
You’ll find that once we get the painting moving in the right direction, it will begin to take off, just like a car as it goes into higher gear. Your layers and brushstrokes will get bolder as you hit the midpoint of your painting, like a climax in a good movie or book. You’ll be moving much faster then!
Finally, you’ll slow down again.
You’ll gently add nuances and final touches to bring the portrait home and make it a masterpiece.
In our previous step, I showed you how to sketch your canvas to create a firm foundation for your painting. Not perfect, but accurate.
Now, in this lesson, we will finally get to the painting!
Here’s how to do it:
- White-out the Grid Lines. Use pure titanium white paint, undiluted, to cover your grid lines, so you don’t see them in the final painting.
- Seal in the Sketch. Use pure matte medium to seal in your sketch so you can paint over it without messing up your detail work and muddying your paint.
- Mute the Sketch (Create a toning layer or “ground.”) Make your sketch lines softer and subdued so that you won’t have to work so hard to conceal them with more paint layers later.
- Prepare Your Palette. Arrange your palette colors for this painting as shown on your Palette Layout Guide (last page of the Welcome Kit) so that all the colors are arranged in such a way so that the ones you need most are closest to you and if they bleed into each other, they won’t muddy each other up.
- Add the First Glazing Layer. Start very simple with one basic color mixed into matte medium to make a VERY light glaze (semi-transparent/ translucent) concentrating on your darkest value and cool tones at the same time. This is the blocking-in, or underpainting layer, so it doesn’t need to be dark or complicated.
Ready to paint?
Now, before we begin (yes, I have to ask you again, just in case 🙂 )…
Are you registered for the challenge?
If not, register below for FREE and I’ll send you:
- a downloadable/ printable”Welcome Kit” with a Supplies List and a Palette Color Layout Guide.
- high-resolution images of the photo we’ll be painting from for this challenge.
- each new lesson that comes out in this Masterclass series.
- a link to my private Facebook group, where you can do this challenge with other artists, get feedback and help on your portrait, and not feel alone.
REGISTER TODAY. The challenge is ongoing, something you can do at your own pace. It’s not too late to enter!
Register for the Challenge!
Watch my in-depth Masterclass acrylic online tutorial below to see these steps in action.
After learning from this video, you’ll know exactly how to do it.
Make sure to watch the ENTIRE video first before diving into the painting. It will be worth it to do that. Then, I’d like you to go back and refer to whatever steps you need to as you paint. That way, you won’t miss any of the instruction and tips that will help you make this portrait your very best.
Here’s the video…
[PORTRAIT CHALLENGE] Masterclass Lesson #3: Beginning Your Portrait Painting Lightly and Confidently
Moving Forward…
The largest challenge of the glazing technique is overcoming the tendency to go dark and thick with your paint. But if you stick with this, even beyond this portrait, you’ll find the technique “clicking” and you’ll understand how it can help you to create a painting with incredible luminosity, smooth shading, depth, and detail.
In other words, a portrait that will “wow” others and you’ll feel proud to have created. And even more, a portrait you can give as a gift, hang on your wall (or someone else’s) and will be enjoyed for years to come.
There you have it! Now you know exactly how to begin your portrait lightly, and confidently. The next step is to build up depth with more glazes and see the amazing portrait fade in, slowly materialize before your eyes.
I’ll see you in our next class! Until then be blessed in your painting and may God guide your every brushstroke!
Yours for Better Portraits,
If you found this post helpful or encouraging, would you send it on ahead? Let others know with the share buttons below. I’d love to hear your comments. Thank you so much!
Let me know if you have any questions about the challenge that I didn’t answer. Leave your question in the comments below and I’ll get back to you!
[PORTRAIT CHALLENGE] Masterclass Lesson #2: Sketching Your Portrait for a Firm Foundation
Masterclass Lesson #2 for the Acrylic Portrait Painting Challenge is open!
In this lesson, you will learn how to draw an accurate sketch that will help keep you from getting frustrated while painting. You will also be set up to create a portrait with realistic proportions, and a true likeness—where it really looks like the person you’re trying to paint.
That’s the kind of portrait you’ll be proud to show, sell, or give as an exquisite gift!
Just as a contractor wouldn’t build a house without a proper foundation, you shouldn’t paint a portrait without one either. A rock-solid sketch is the best way to establish a firm foundation for the rest of your portrait to be built upon. Take your time to do it right, and you will set yourself up for success, and avoid a lot of potential hassle later.
Sketching as a firm foundation for your portrait.
In our previous step, I showed you how to prepare your canvas for the sketch by creating a well-formed grid.
If you followed my instruction, you will have sealed that grid with first a layer of matte medium. Then you followed up with a roughly 50%/50% mixture of acrylic matte medium and white acrylic gesso, and let it dry for at least a couple of hours.
Now, you have a canvas that is ready to sketch upon. The matte medium/ gesso layer provides not only a barrier to the grid so you can’t erase it while sketching, but it also gives the canvas the perfect texture to sketch with a colored pencil. Back in 2017, I discovered that colored pencil erases like a dream on a properly prepared canvas. And you can seal it in without minimal loss of detail to your sketch.
Try it, and you’ll find out how fun it can be to sketch on your canvas. 🙂 You’ll never want to go back to graphite pencil again!
Another benefit: you can pick any colored pencil hue you want to match the skin tone of the subject. Remember, with my glazing technique, you will be able to see through the paint layers, down to the colored pencil until you have enough layers to cover it up. And in a few areas, even when your painting is finished, the colored pencil will shine through a bit. So pick a brown color that works best for you. Sepia, Chocolate, brown ochre, and terra cotta are all good colors for sketching.
Ready to go?
Now, before we begin…
Are you registered for the challenge?
If not, register below for FREE and I’ll send you:
- a downloadable/ printable”Welcome Kit” with a Supplies List and a Palette Color Layout Guide.
- high-resolution images of the photo we’ll be painting from for this challenge.
- each new lesson that comes out in this Masterclass series.
- a link to my private Facebook group, where you can do this challenge with other artists, get feedback and help on your portrait, and not feel alone.
REGISTER TODAY. The challenge is ongoing, something you can do at your own pace. It’s not too late to enter!
Register for the Challenge!Here’s the steps to creating a masterful sketch, a firm foundation for your painting.
- Set up your tablet (Kindle, iPad, etc) or printed reference photo next to your canvas, and display the gridded reference photo. Need something to hold your tablet up? My free course shows you how to make your own Reference Photo Holder) The reference photo is your blueprint to paint a portrait from your photo. It’s what your finished painting should look like.
- Sketch the outline first. Pay attention to where you are placing your lines. Try to see the grid squares as fractions. (“the line will intersect here at 1/4 of the way up, or 1/2 of the way over, etc”
- Fill in the features, loosely: eyes, nose, mouth, etc. The eyes are the most important feature, so really make sure you capture the shapes of not only the eyes, but the eyelids and eyebrows.
- Delineate the tonal values. Shade in the areas that are darker, and pay attention to exact forms that the shadows create. Try to think of them as abstract shapes like stretched out triangles, oblong ovals, squished rectangles, for example. As you fill in these values, the planes of the face will start to emerge. You will create a convincing sense of three-dimensional form.
- Refine your sketch and add any missing detail. Step back a bit and make sure you have the proportions correct. The grid will have done the “heavy lifting” for you, by keeping your lines pretty accurate. But you might need to erase and redraw some of the features for greater accuracy. Finish up with the wrinkles in the clothing and on the hat, if needed.
Watch my in-depth Masterclass acrylic online tutorial below to see these steps in action.
After learning from this video, You’ll know exactly how to do it.
Before you watch, I want you to know that this lesson is VERY in depth. It’s one hour long! But please, make the investment in your art talent, grab a cup of coffee or tea, and watch the whole thing. If you do, I promise that you will have greater clarity on how to begin an acrylic portrait from here on out. Every portrait you do will be that much better.
Here’s the video…
Acrylic Portrait Challenge Masterclass Lesson #2: Sketching Your Portrait for a Firm Foundation
Is it done?
How accurate does it need to be? You only need to have a likeness 90% of the way there to have a fantastic sketch.
It doesn’t have to be perfect. The painted layers will dial in the likeness the rest of the way. You don’t need to make this sketch into a drawing. Meaning, you don’t need to shade in everything to the point that it looks like a finished drawing that you could hang on your wall.
No.
The sketch is for YOUR benefit…and also that of the portrait!
It doesn’t have to amaze others at this stage. It just needs to be accurate. It needs to describe the form, the contours, the three-dimensionality of the subject with line and value. You simply need to make yourself a guide so you know where to place your glazes when you segue into the painting process.
Now the painting, when it is finished, let THAT amaze others! (and you 🙂 )
There you have it! Now you know exactly how to create a great sketch for your portrait, a firm foundation you can build the rest of your portrait upon. The next step is to seal in your sketch and ease your portrait into a painting with the first few glazes.
I’ll see you in our next class! Until then have a blessed day and use that talent God gave you to its fullest!
Yours for Better Portraits,
If you found this post helpful or encouraging, would you send it on ahead? Let others know with the share buttons below. I’d love to hear your comments. Thank you so much!
Let me know if you have any questions about the challenge that I didn’t answer. Leave your question in the comments below and I’ll get back to you!
Value vs. Color in an Acrylic Painting
One of the trickiest things about acrylic portrait painting, especially when using the glazing technique, is knowing how to achieve color. How many layers do you use?
I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again. There is something more important than color, even skin tones in a portrait.
Here is a recent question from a subscriber:
Currently, I am working on a portrait of my friend’s grandfather. My reference photo is of him as a young man in his dress greens from his younger days in the Army. I really want to capture his likeness and be proud to present this to her as it is a gift for her mother but I’m finding myself “stuck” in a sense. From watching your videos and using the matte medium as a glazing technique, I am having trouble building up the layers of his uniform to the correct tone and shade of green. I find the medium lightens the acrylic paint. I’ve only applied one layer so I still have time to correct it before making a mess of it. Should I have painted in the dark value of his uniform before going in with a glaze to help it along or just keep applying layer after layer until the desired color is achieved?
Regarding your question–yes, you can keep building up the green glazes for his uniform. However, it’s best to think of values before color. What I mean is, you are right to think that you should have done the dark value of the uniform first. That’s exactly right.
The reason is, value is more important than color. Value (light and dark and the difference between them) describes all the contours and three dimensions of a face or body. If it weren’t for the strategic placement of those values, we wouldn’t know whether it was a person, animal, rock or tree that we painted.
Theoretically, you could have a person whose skin tone or clothing was a bit too red, or greenish–whatever–but it the values were accurate, it would still look human, and would look like a pretty good portrait. You can see in this painting I did, the colors are a bit too red. (I also intensified them on Photoshop, exaggerating them a bit to make a point.)
Acrylic portrait from photo by Matt Philleo, Eau Claire area portrait artist and instructor
But flip that around: make the skin tone or coloring right on, and the values completely off, and you will have a terrible portrait.
So, when I instruct my students in painting, I teach them to see the value structure first. We start off simple, using one or two colors, and then add as we go along. Much more important is seeing the overall lighting in the portrait–where the light source is, the darkest values (whether clothing, hair or just deep shadows, it makes no difference) and the mid-tones and capturing them faithfully. Of course, this assumes that you have the form correct. That is, that the proportions of the face and anatomy are accurate.
So, is your painting ruined? No, not at all. Just keep building up layers. But it helps to build up the darkest values first. Don’t neglect them. Think of your painting as an old polaroid photo. The print shoots out of the camera and fades in slowly, all together. You don’t get eyes, then hair, then a mouth, then the body. No. You get everything at once, but it’s all light. Then, in about 30 seconds, you have a print.
(Wow! Imagine that. I’m old enough to remember how cool it was to have an instant photo before digital cameras.) 🙂
So, you want to paint your painting like a polaroid. All at once, just fade everything in. As much as possible. That means that you hit those dark values first, and then work your way into the lighter ones.
As an example, let me show you this. Here is an image of how I did “Smoldering Wick,” an acrylic portrait illustrating a time when I struggled, and found encouragement in the scriptures.
All of these many layers is how you make an acrylic look like an oil. I learned this glazing technique several years ago from Norbert Kox, a university art professor. It made all the difference for me in my portrait painting with acrylic. Learning this technique and applying it will make the difference for you too.
If you’d like to learn more, sign up for my free email tips and videos today.
Learn How to Paint Acrylic Portraits With My Free Mini-Video Course!And of course, let me know if you have any questions or comments. I’ll be happy to help!
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!
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?
Sanding a canvas panel in preparation for painting an acrylic portrait
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.
Custom commissioned realistic acrylic portrait from a photo painted by Eau Claire area artist Matt Philleo, ©2019 Fine Art by Matt Philleo
3. You mentioned using a Prismacolor pencil for making your diagram. What color do you recommend?
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?
Acrylic portrait artist Matt Philleo posing in front of a 48″ x 72″ commission painting for a client in Brunei
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!
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 Charge Your Finished Portrait Painting?
One question I’m asked again and again is, “How much should I charge for a portrait?”
I was asked this question twice in the last two days, so I figure it would be good to answer this in an article.
As a professional portrait painter, I know that what I charge for my portraits affects my bottom line. If I don’t charge enough, I don’t make enough money to keep painting. If I charge too much, I might price myself out of the market.
You may be asking the same thing? What should you do?
There are many factors in pricing.
It depends how long you have been in business, the level of quality of your work, and how much detail will be in your portrait. I charge by the square inch. I have a pricing formula that I came up with where the price increases exponentially as you increase the size of the painting and add more detail (subjects)
Here is what I charge (as of 2019). I can’t say that it will work for you. (Please, DO NOT copy my prices. I am showing it just as an example. )
A 16 x 20 with one person—I charge $850 for that. If there are 5 or more subjects (people, objects, detailed backgrounds, etc. ) in the portrait I charge $2,100. The reason I charge more is that it will take longer to paint all the extra detail.
But I have been painting for many years and my prices were less than half this amount when I started out painting portraits full-time, in 2014. Here is my price chart for that year.
You can see my prices have almost doubled since 2014. And amazingly, at that time, I was struggling to get even one commission! I remember praying every day for a month for a commission, after doing all I knew to do to bring in some work. God did provide one eventually, but I need to learn to trust in Him and be patient. That’s a story for another day. 🙂
The point I’m trying to make is that charging less for your work does not equate to more sales. When I first started I thought I was going well to make minimum wage. That was foolish, because we aren’t painting 100% of the time and we have materials and marketing costs. My wife encouraged me to raise my prices. I was scared to, but it didn’t hurt my business at all. I have been raising them slowly, about 10-20% every year.
So, then, should you charge more at the onset and just watch the sales roll in?
No. It doesn’t work that way either. Charge a fair price for your work, be patient, keep doing portraits, don’t give up when it’s tough, and you will see the results. Raise your prices over time as you build up your clientele.
I try to get paid $50 an hour on my portraits. ( I don’t charge by the hour. This is what I average on my projects.)
Figure out what you’d like to get paid per hour. Then charge approximately 50% more because, as I mentioned earlier, you won’t be painting all the time (you’ve got other business-y things to do) and you have paint and brushes to buy.
Here are some more helpful tips in pricing your art.
1. First of all, create a price chart as I did. This is HUGE. Going to a client meeting to discuss a portrait without a price chart in hand is like going to a smorgasbord buffet line without a plate in hand. It’s going to be messy.
With a price chart all you need to do is ask your client what size they would like–roughly–and then show them a couple of options. You should know how many people will be in the portrait. You simply show them the chart and say, “an 16 x 20 with two subjects will be this much, and a 24 x 30 will be this.” You point to the prices and let the chart do the work.
Let them decide what they want.
There are no negotiations on the price. Because the client sees you have a precise criterion for what you charge—it makes sense—they will not quibble with your price. I can’t recall a time that’s ever happened to me.
Interestingly, I do remember a time when I negotiated my own price down. I offered my client a price that was lower than what I originally quoted. She took the lower price but looked at me strangely and the whole situation was awkward. And I needlessly lost money on the job. Ouch.
Don’t do what I did in that situation.
Quote your price and hold to it. Let them respond.
2. Then, once you have the client locked in on a price, encourage them to pay a down deposit on the spot. If you just give them a business card and let them walk away, chances are, you’ll lose the commission. Of course, if they need to discuss it with another decision maker, that’s fine. But get their phone number or email address so you can follow up with them.
Most of the time, however, they’ll be ready to make a decision if they indeed want a portrait, and not just merely curious.
You can tell them you need the deposit so that you’ll have them booked. That way you can get to their portrait faster.
A deposit is also very important because, with it, the client has “skin in the game.” They’re not as likely to back out of the project.
How much should you ask for a deposit? I ask for 25% up front. Some do 50. But I like 25, because it’s a little less risk for the client to take on, and it also gives me more incentive to finish the project. I get paid a larger amount at the end.
3. Never charge people more because you think they are rich, or less because you think they are poor. Just charge what you charge. Have a size for any budget. The price chart is your best friend. Then you can always point people to your price list and let it do the selling for you.
4. Don’t compete on price. It may be helpful to see what other artists are charging to gauge what you might be able to charge, but don’t make the mistake of thinking you have to beat other artists’ prices. You’re not Walmart. You’re an artist. People will purchase art from you, because they know, like and trust you. They appreciate your unique style, your experience, personality, your connection to them, and that’s a big part of why they will buy from you. So as long as they can technically afford your prices, they will pay them, even if Joe Artist down the street has prices 50% less than you.
5. Never deliver your painting without payment in hand. If you meet with the client personally to deliver the painting, let them know beforehand that you would like to exchange payment for the finished product on the spot. If you are shipping the painting, show them a proof image of the portrait. Once they approve it, ask for the balance to paid in full (along with shipping charges.) When they make payment, then promptly ship the artwork.
That’s it! Of course, there’s more nuances than this to pricing your work, but this article should give you some good information on how to do it, if you’re just starting out in acrylic portrait painting.
Let me know how this helps.
If you are an artist who does commissioned portraits, do you have any tips to share on how YOU price your work? Please share your thoughts in the comments below. 🙂
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!