Hello everyone!
Today I wanted to share with you the process of how I paint my portraits.
One of the ways I make my living is through taking portrait comissions and today I wanted to share one of them with you where I have documented the process.
The painting which we will be looking at is this one;
Portraits comission, 30 x 40 cm, oil paint on canvas.
This painting was painted from a photo, but because of the privacy of the people who comissioned me I will not share the photo itself. I will say that I prefer to paint from life, but when I take comissions from people in other countries I sometimes have to work from photos.
Whenever I do that though, I always have clear guide lines that the people must follow when they take their picture.
Like;
- Never use flash in the photo.
- Take the photo in a natural light situation.
- Take the photo on a single color dark midtone background.
- Have the person whos picture's being taken have their eyes be in your own eye level.
- Don't smile with the mouth open so you show teeth. (I hate painting teeth...)
- Take a photo with the highest resolution possible.
Sometimes it takes a bit of back and forth to get the best image to work from, but it's worth it!
So lets get started on what the process actually looks like after I do get the perfect image and I am ready to begin!
Step 1 - Underpainting.
Underpainting using just Raw Umber.
The first step is something called underpainting. When I paint in this first phase I only use a color called Raw Umber. Raw umber is an earth pigment which means that it has less oil, which in its turn means that it dries quicker than other pigments. This is good because when you paint with oil colors you want to go fat over lean. Which again means you want the previous layer to dry before applying the next, this is to avoid the paint cracking over time.
In this stage I only use the paint with a little turpentine to make it thin and easy to move around. I sketch my drawing up on the canvas smudging it around with different brushes. In this stage I use all knds of tools, brushes, paper, sponges. This phase can almost be compared to drawing with charcoal. I know a lot of people like to draw on their canvas with cahrcoal before adding any paint, but I prefer to just start painting right away.
In this stage I get the basic proportions and some of the values down. Usually I go way less detailed with my underpaintings but with this one I had so much fun I worked with it a bit longer.
Step 2- Drybrushing on thing layers of color.
In the second stage I mix up a general value string of skin colors using the pigments; titanium white, ivory black, chinese vermillion and golden ochre. I then use soft brushes and go in with very little paint and just ''rub'' the paint over the underpainting. Some people like to go in with more paint and start to apply direct brush strokes that will completely cover up the underpainting, but I like this way myself, for me it offers more control and I keep the structure of my drawing longer.
Then when I have covered the painting with an even layer that shows me more the correct values and colors I will start my third layer.
Step 3 - More of everything!
In my thirs stage I will apply more of yes, everything! More value range, more colors, more brushstroke, more paint and more details!
I usually save the background for last because I like to paint it in one go. Sometimes I also find that a portrait doesn't need background color, that the underpainting kind of works on its own. I found that this was the case with this painting, but the people who comissioned me really wanted a background and liked the color blue, so that's what happened. And hey, that's ok! :)
Step 4- Unify.
After adding more of everything it's time to step back and look at the painting as a whole. This is of course important during the whole process. At this point I felt that areas of the face and hair was a bit too ''living on their own''. Like there was too much color and dark values in the cheeks. The highlights needed to be calmed down a bit too as they were sort of giving her an oily shine in the face. Then, after ''smoothing it out'' I started adding in the background.
Step 5 - The background.
When I add the background I make sure to work consiusly with it around the outline of the portrait. One thing that will ruin the whole portrait is is your background is not more than one value and appear flat and with no deapth and atmosphere. I usually work with at least three different values and a couple of different values. One warmer and one cooler. This will make the background appear more alive.
Also, make sure to have a big variation of harder and softer lines in your outline. Pay attention to where the values meld together and get more lost and where there is a higher contrast. This will give the impression that the form of the person is turning in space.
''Step 6- finishing toutches!**
The last stage is just to fine-tuning what you have. What I did was add on some more frekles and soften a few of my lines more. Like the white stripe going down the shirt. I found it was too hard and asking for too much attention, taking focus away from the face.
And there you have it! :)
What do you think of the steps?
Do you have any questions or tips about painting the portrait?
Hope you are all having a good and creative day!
She looks lovely!
Thank you!! 😊😄
Good [email protected] content.
Thank you very much! :)
I'm impressed you took the time to take us through the step by step process. Very interesting to see how you have created it. Thank you for sharing !
Thank you very much @jey-blue! :D It's my pleasure! It's also great for me to have it all written down somewhere! 😉 .. and sharing is caring.. 😊❤
Super kool to see the steps and even have them explained! Enjoyed very much! Life like rendition!
My pleasure @stillwater!! Happy you like it! 😊🙏
Truly beautiful painting.. Am learning from you. Thanks for sharing
Thank you so much @afeadi! 😄 I am so glad, my pleasure!
Brilliant, thanks for sharing the process. Re-steemed on my end.
I recently had a friend ask for a portrait of him and his wife and he gave me the photo - she was smiling full two rows of teeth, 3/4 profile! Arrhh! One of those faces where her smile is the defining feature too. Made me realise how many famous portraits are all closed mouths, even the masters didn't want to go there!
Thank you so much @groundcontrol!! 😍 I appreciate it!
Hehehe, well, I admire you for taking on the task of tackling those teeth! It definitely is a big challenge for anyone :) Like you said; Even the old masters didn't go there!
Best of luck! 😊🖌
Love photo-realistic artwork. Keeping the tradition alive, the old masters would be impressed.
Thank you so much for saying that @ghostcode! 🙏😊 How kind!
This is a very beautiful post and that painting is super gorgeous <3 Thank you so much for this post! upvotes and resteems
Thank you so very much @veryspider! I appreciate it! 😊🙏
Fantastic! I agree - I think working from life is always best when it comes to really seeing color and light properly which all make up realistic volume - but painting from pictures definitely has to happen sometimes. You are so talented! Great work!!!
Thank you so much @j-vo! 🙆 For taking the time to comment and for your compliments! 🙏
Wow, you are really talented. This is so good. How long did this take?
Thank you so much @choogirl! :D It took about a week! 😊
Lovely! I want to try oil in the future but am using acrylics. Have you painted with acrylics? You do great work! Upvoted and following for more!
Thank you so much @michelleart! 😊 I appreciate it! ❤
Yes, I have tried acrylics, but a long time ago! I prefer oil because it stays wet longer and I think the pigments have another depth to them. 😊
You are right, much more depth and great for doing skin as it is oily :) As soon as I have the extra funds for diversifying my repertoire I will give them a try!
Great! 😊 That is the only bad thing about them, that they are quite expensive! 😌 Good luck! 😄🖌
It is as beautiful as the masterpieces of classical art.
Thank you so much @soyo!! 🙏😊
Well done, great post! 👏🏼
Thank you so much! 😊🙏🖌
Great work! Repost🙌🏻
Thank you so much! Appreciate it! 😊
Thank you so much; you are brilliant! I made try this process some time.
Thank you very much! Yes, that would be great if you did! 😄🖌✨
Very beautiful portrait!
Thank you!! 🙏😊
@mayasky I think I will have to practice for a hundred years to get as good as you!
Thanksyou for sharing your portrait technique and the steps you used to get there. I always find your posts informative, and awe inspiring because of your talent and ability!
Thank you so very much for your comment @cerealface82! 😊 I'm so happy you like my posts! Thank you!! 🙏
... And I don't think you would need to practice a 100 years, heheh.. 😉
Ok...maybe just 25 or 50 years haha. You're very welcome @mayasky! I'm sure that I'm not the only one who enjoys your posts, and looks forward to them. :)
Heheh.. Let's say 25 at the most! 😉 And it makes me so happy that you look forward to my post! Wow! 😊 Super nice! Have a wonderful day! 🖌🙆
Hehe, I'll keep practicing! Your work and abilities are superb! I always find your posts informative as well as amazing. Thanks for sharing your process and helping those of us who need 25 years of practice ;) hehe
The underpainting phase really captures me, and once again I'm so glad to see your posts...somehow I've managed to not see them for awhile in my feed and I miss your work! Will have to purposefully check. You are so talented.
Thank you so much @natureofbeing!! 😊🙌 Always means a lot coming from such a talented and wonderful artist as yourself! ❤
I have the same problem with your post! 😌 Don't know why, but will also go in and check! Adore your work and reading about it 🙏❤
Thank you for this tutorial, never been good in this process with oil, somehow I made them bit chaotic in the beginning, sure i will come back to this post many times again @mayasky.
My pleasure @jungwatercolor! :D <3 I used to be quite chaotic as well, hehe, and sometimes I still am. ;)
Showing the process and discussing each step is a terrific insight into your process. Very interesting.
To be honest, I prefer the earlier unfinished versions of the portrait. I just love the umber colour and the warmth of it. Adding a bit of colour looks nice.. then I felt the finished product was overdone to my taste. Of course, art appreciation is a very personal thing. I have oil pastel works that I think in some ways looked so much better before I even added any colour! Weird isn't it? Sketches have a special place in my heart --- I used to copy artwork from comics I bought as a kid and I'd never try to colour them. I just always loved the grey.
Keep these artworks coming. I'm following you now. Looking forward to the next ones!
Nick
Thank you so much @nickmorphew!! :)
Yes,I actually agree with you looking back at the process! Sketches definitly have a special place in my heart as well! :D <3
Thank you for taking the time to write such a thoughtful comment and for your support!
<3
No problem!
I love seeing works progress. Too often, we only see final products. But it's the process that gets us there and takes all of that time. Maybe we should be placing more value in all the sketches and preliminary work! As I said, I find sketches really pleasing to my eye!
I'm actually waiting for my voting power to return to above 80% and Ill resume voting once more. Then I'll be able to give you some financial support!
I've just been too trigger happy lately and it's affecting how much I'm able to give back.
Keep up the great work!
Take care,
Nick
A lovely portrait.
Thank you for the insight to your work.
Upvoted, following.