Here's my second oil portrait sketch.
Why not try it for yourself - it's great practise for proportions, colour mixing and tones. Contact me if you have any questions or want me to provide any more information in future recordings.
These portraits are only small 7x5" so if I'm not totally happy with what I've produced, I haven't spent a fortune on big expensive canvases. I'm using oils but you could use acrylics if you prefer. I've listed the colours I'm using and am keeping them to the basic ones that most people should have in their art boxes. If you find you don't have a colour, message me the ones you do have and I'll suggest which best to use. I've also attached a photo of my reference.
And please send me what you produce - I'd love to see what you've been doing.
The finished painting doesn't really look like the reference but I'm not worried about that - the aim with this sketch was simply to paint a portrait and in that it's been successful. I've cropped the reference and am just using the head and shoulders - crop it where you like, you're the artist!
Use this to have a go yourself and please do show me what you create.
Things to bear in mind/work on with these quick sketches:
- Spend a bit of time at the start getting the proportions right
- Crop the reference photo where you like - you're the artist, you decide what you paint
- Look closely and paint what you see, not what you think it should look like
- They are sketches so don't over fiddle with them - if it doesn't work, wipe the paint off (for oils) or paint over (for acrylics) and start again.
- Keep colour mixes simple - if you want a video on colour mixing, let me know.
- Don't be afraid of dark tones - some areas of the face are in shadow - no need to add white to the skin mixes
- Have fun!
Colours used:
- Burnt Umber
- French Ultramarine
- Cadmium Red
- Cadmium Yellow
- Titanium White
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