How to Paint Pensive Man in Blue in 30 Minute

Learn speed painting techniques for stunning portraits in just 30 minutes

Introduction

Painting a portrait in just 30 minutes might sound challenging, but with the right approach, it’s entirely possible. In this tutorial, we’ll walk through the process of creating a compelling portrait of a pensive man wearing a blue-gray shirt. The focus will be on using the Alla Prima technique, which involves painting wet-on-wet in one sitting. This method is ideal for quick studies, loosening up your painting style, and improving your speed and confidence with acrylics.

Whether you’re a beginner looking to try something new or an experienced artist seeking to refine your skills. This guide will also provide you with the tools and techniques needed to create a striking portrait in a short amount of time.

Materials Needed

• Canvas: 8×10 inch canvas board
• Brushes: Assortment of rounds and flats
• Palette: Raw umber dark, burnt sienna, raw sienna, ultramarine blue, phthalo blue, alizarine crimson, natural red, pyrrole orange, indian yellow, titanium white
• Medium: Matte medium (optional)
• Timer: Set to 30 minutes

Step 1: Setting Up Your Palette and Canvas

Before you start, ensure your palette is organized with the necessary colors. For this portrait, we’ll be using a combination of warm and cool tones to achieve a realistic skin tone and shadow effects. The background of the canvas is already prepared with a blue-gray ground, which will serve as a base for the portrait.

Step 2: Blocking in the Composition

Begin by loosely sketching the overall shape and form of the subject using a small round brush. Mix raw umber dark with a bit of matte medium to create a translucent, light brown that’s perfect for sketching. Focus on getting the proportions right, especially the angles of the face, the tilt of the head, and the placement of the eyes, nose, and mouth. This step is crucial for establishing the foundation of your portrait.

Step 3: Painting the Lighter Values

With the basic outline in place, it’s time to start applying color. Use a flat brush to mix a skin tone with titanium white, indian yellow, raw sienna, and a touch of pyrrole orange. This mixture should be light and warm, suitable for the highlighted areas of the face. Apply this color to the central areas of the face, such as the forehead, cheeks, and chin, leaving space for shadows and darker tones.

Step 4: Adding Shadows and Mid-tones

Next, switch to a round brush and begin mixing a shadow tone. Combine raw umber dark with titanium white, raw sienna, and alizarine crimson to create a soft, muted shadow color. Focus on the areas under the brow, around the eyes, beneath the nose, and under the lips. These shadows will add depth and structure to the face, making it more three-dimensional.

For the mid-tones, adjust your shadow mixture by adding a bit more titanium white and ultramarine blue to cool it down slightly. Apply this to the areas that transition between light and shadow, such as the sides of the face and the jawline. The goal is to blend these tones smoothly to avoid harsh lines.

Step 5: Refining the Details

As the painting progresses, pay attention to the finer details. The furrowed brow and the tilt of the head are essential to capturing the pensive expression of the subject. Use a smaller brush to refine these areas, adjusting the colors and values as needed to achieve a natural look.

Don’t forget the hair and facial features. For the hair, use a combination of raw umber dark and burnt sienna to create a rich, dark brown. Apply this color in broad strokes to suggest the texture of the hair without getting bogged down in details.

Step 6: Finishing Touches

With the main elements in place, take a step back and assess your work. This is the time to make any final adjustments, such as softening edges, enhancing contrast, or adding highlights. A quick touch of titanium white on the high points of the face, like the nose and cheekbones, can make a big difference in bringing the portrait to life.

Remember, the goal is not perfection but to capture the essence of the subject in a short amount of time. Once the 30 minutes are up, put down your brush and appreciate the progress you’ve made.

Tips and Techniques

• Work Quickly: The Alla Prima technique requires swift, decisive strokes. Don’t overthink; let the paint flow naturally.
• Use a Limited Palette: Simplify your color choices to avoid overwhelming your composition. Stick to a few key colors and mix variations as needed.
• Keep the Paint Wet: To blend colors smoothly, work while the paint is still wet. If needed, mist your palette with water to keep the paint from drying out too quickly.
• Focus on Values: Accurate values (light and dark areas) are more important than exact colors. Concentrate on capturing the correct light and shadow to achieve realism.

Painting a portrait in just 30 minutes is a fantastic exercise for any artist. It challenges you to make quick decisions, work efficiently, and trust your instincts. By following these steps, you can create a compelling portrait that captures the essence of the subject in a short amount of time. Whether you’re practicing for a larger project or simply looking to improve your skills, this method is a valuable addition to your artistic toolbox.

Try this technique out for yourself and see how it enhances your painting process. With practice, you’ll find that you can achieve more in less time while still producing quality work.

Read more about my additional resources, tutorials, to learn more and check out my free courses. 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

•  Sketching Your Painting Accurately
• Beginning a Pet Portrait in Acrylic
• The Mystery of Realism in Painting
• Apply A Burnt Sienna Glaze to a Portrait
• Learn How to Sketch a Portrait Freehand in 45 Minutes
• Adding highlights to your acrylic painting
• 5 Excellent Reasons to Use Aluminum Foil
• Paint Realistic Wrinkles in Acrylic
• Painting Clothing in an Acrylic Portrait
• Paint a Cloudy Sky Acrylic  
•  How to add Semi-Opaque Highlights
• How to Enhance the Contrast in Your Acrylic
• How to Add Glaze to Your Acrylic Painting
• Paint Realistic Reflections on Eyeglasses in an Acrylic Portrait
• Build Up Depth on Your Acrylic Portrait Backgrounds
• How Do You Do Layers With the Glazing Technique?
• Learn How to Paint Wrinkles in Acrylic

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

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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,

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