How to Add Color Layers: Wordless Salvation Picture Book.

/ Real Time Tutorial Video Tutorial
/ By Matt Philleo

A personal and powerful project rooted in faith

This blog post is based on a deeply moving and creative video tutorial in which I guide you through the process of painting the first illustration for a wordless picture book about salvation. My wife originally conceptualized this project. The result is a heartfelt tribute to her vision of bringing to life the Garden of Eden with Adam, Eve, and symbolic elements like the lion, all in rich acrylic tones. This is more than just a painting tutorial; it’s a fusion of technique, symbolism, and faith.

Acrylic Painting of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden

In this 16×20 inch canvas, I begin with a sealed sketch of Adam and Eve in the lush Garden of Eden. The painting process involves layering transparent and opaque acrylic colors to build a visually engaging and symbolic scene. The process is broken down into the following key steps:

Toning the canvas with a base green glaze using a mixture of phthalo blue, Indian yellow, and raw sienna.
Building up layers with deeper glazes and later adding opaque highlights for form and detail.
Creating contrast and structure with ultramarine blue, titanium white, azo yellow, and other hues.
Focusing on depth and realism, using cool tones for distant foliage and warmer, darker tones for foreground and character details.
Detail work with a small round brush for hair, lion’s features, shadows, and skin tones.
Emphasizing light and value, especially on background lighting through tree canopies.
Emotional and spiritual significance as the painting unfolds, driven by love, memory, and purpose.

Acrylic Techniques Used in the Painting

1. Toning the Canvas with a Green Glaze

To create a unified atmosphere:

Use phthalo blue, Indian yellow, and raw sienna.
Mix these with a clear matte medium.
Apply with a large flat brush over the entire surface to tint it green.
Let the first layer dry completely before adding a second for a richer color.

2. Deepening the Foliage with Glazes

To simulate depth in the leaves and trees:

Add a touch of ultramarine blue for shadows.
Build contrast slowly with thin, transparent layers.
Focus on layering darker tones under leaves and around character silhouettes.

3. Adding Opaque Layers for Structure

To define shapes and build form:

Mix titanium white with phthalo blue, ultramarine, and raw sienna.
Use this blend for the canopy of leaves, working in lighter tones in the background for sunlight effects.
Use smaller brushes for fine detail and tighter edges.

4. Creating Atmospheric Perspective

To push elements into the distance:

Blend cooler blues with white for distant trees and foliage.
Lighten tonal values in the background.
Maintain warmer tones (like azo and Indian yellow) in the foreground to draw the eye forward.

Detailing the Characters: Adam, Eve, and the Lion

5. Layering Over Adam and Eve

Although the green tone covers them initially:

Begin layering shadows and highlights using raw sienna and ultramarine blue.
For skin tones, use organic orange glazes to warm and define.
Gradually introduce more color as you develop depth.

6. Building the Lion’s Presence

To make the lion majestic yet integrated:

Use raw umber dark, ultramarine blue, and touches of alizarine crimson.
Add titanium white for more opaque contrast.
Focus on facial features eyes, nose, and mane with a small round brush.

7. Blending and Balancing the Composition

Throughout the painting:

Balance shadows and highlights across the canvas.
Adjust saturation and vibrancy using both transparent glazes and opaque strokes.
Ensure Adam and Eve don’t get lost in the background by adding contrast and tonal variety.

Spiritual Reflections on the Painting Process

This artwork isn’t just about technique it’s a tribute. The artist honors his wife’s concept of a wordless gospel message a children’s book that could explain salvation without a single written word. Through visual storytelling, symbolism, and color, this first illustration sets the stage for a divine narrative.

“Even though she passed away, I want to take what she did in the past and bring it to life.”

Why This Technique Matters for Christian Illustration

Glazing creates soft transitions, ideal for symbolic scenes.
Layering communicates visual depth mirroring spiritual truths.
Opaque details allow focus on expression, character, and emotion.
Color theory helps you tell a story without words vital for wordless narratives.

Tools and Materials Used

Canvas Size: 16×20 inches
Brushes: Large flat for washes, small round for detail
Medium: Clear matte medium for glazes

Paints Used:
- Phthalo Blue
- Indian Yellow
- Raw Sienna
- Ultramarine Blue
- Titanium White
- Raw Umber Dark
- Azo Yellow
- Organic Orange
- Alizarine Crimson

Honoring Legacy Through Art

This project, born from our heart and faith, that shows how art can tell powerful stories without a single word. By blending technique, symbolism, and faith, I was able to bring a timeless truth to life on canvas.

If you’re passionate about Christian storytelling through art or want to master acrylic portrait and illustration techniques, follow along as this beautiful project unfolds.

Ready to Start Your Own Inspirational Painting?

Learn how to master the glazing technique, build a portfolio of faith-based art, and express your God-given creativity through brush and canvas.