How To Paint a Portrait
- February 17, 2009
- 9,663 Views
from
Lee Sjostrom
(and 8 others) Subscribe
-
Writer
Kyle_du_Ford
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Director, Editor, DOP, Wardrobe
Lee Sjostrom
- Actor - Model Nancy Morrison
- Actor - Artist Glen Cram
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Art created for video, hand props
Lee Sjostrom
- Art for set decor in Studio Glen Cram
- Gown for Model created by Teresa Cline
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Music
James Miksche
It’s like a personal photo, except classier, and you can make the model look slightly more attractive than they really are.
You Will Need
- An easel
- A volunteer model
- Directional lights
- A camera
- Drawing and painting surfaces
- A sketching medium, like charcoal or pencil
- Brushes
- Paints
Step 1: Set up
Set up your easel.
Step 2: Let the model dress
Let the model, who should be dressed and coiffed in the way they want to be immortalized, get comfortable.
Step 3: Pose the model
Pose the model in a way that is comfortable, but interesting.
Do not let the model show teeth. They’ll end up looking like a monster, or worse.
Step 4: Light from the side
Light the model from the side with a powerful, directional light. Avoid flat light.
Step 5: Take pictures
Take a lot of photos.
Step 6: Give your model a break
Give your model a short break.
Step 7: Sketch your model
Sketch your model in charcoal, conté, pencil, or pastels.
Try to get a handle on the composition, contrast and the shape of the face. Pay special attention to particularly interesting features, like the shape of the model’s eyes or nose.
Step 8: Give model another break
Give your model another break.
Step 9: Do more sketches
Do at least one more sketch, with the final one in color.
You may wish to use watercolors or acrylics for this last rendering. Oils also can be used, but the cleanup time is longer, which takes more out of your model and slows down the discovery process.
Step 10: Release the model
Thank and release your model.
Step 11: Develop the pictures
Develop or import and print the photos.
Step 12: Prepare
Prep your painting surface, supplies, and materials.
Step 13: Use the sketches to remind you
On the final piece, use the sketches and photos to remind yourself about what you saw as important features.
The photos will give you a literal translation, but the sketches are where the real artistry will be found.
Step 14: Block shapes and colors
Begin the portrait by blocking in the general shapes and colors.
Step 15: Refine your shapes
Refine your shapes.
Step 16: Limit but innovate
Look for ways both to limit and make surprising use of your color palette.
Step 17: Paint until done
Paint until you’re satisfied. It’s tough, so the first few—or few dozen—might not turn out great.
What is believed to be the oldest known portrait was created some 27,000 years ago on a cave wall near the town of Angelouême in present-day southwestern France.
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Comments (4)
The ";breaks"; are hysterical! Excellent video!
over 2 years ago by HeatherM
Thanks, Heather :-)
over 2 years ago by filmFlicka
did you do all the portraits in the background? Where is your website with artwork.
over 2 years ago by rhondaslounge
Sorry it took so long to answer this... I didn't even know I had a question ;-) No, I didn't paint the portraits in the background or set. They were painted by real life artist, Glen Cram, who was acting in this one. I only sketched the props and painted the paintings used for the demonstration.
over 2 years ago by filmFlicka
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