Portrait Painting

Prerequisite for this class is Portrait Drawing.

Painting portraits can be intimidating to say the least, but I want to show you how to let go of that fear!

Learn the fundamental elements of creating a realistic portrait in acrylic paint using reference photos and expand on what we learned in the Portrait Drawing class. We will explore a variety of techniques to arrive at the goal of an expressive portrait.

In this class, you'll learn how to:

• Select a reference photo that will provide the best results
• Use acrylic paints to paint a portrait you have drawn.
• Use negative and positive space to recognize shape and dimension
• Use light and shadow to create form
• Choose a color palette to appropriately express the mood you wish to create.

Have fun practicing painting techniques to bring about a likeness of an individual. You will walk away with at least one finished portrait by the end of the class and established painting techniques to help you confidently create portraits on your own.

Great for beginning and intermediate level artists.

Required Materials:

• Reference photo, either printed or on iPad
• 12 x 12 up to 18 x 24 stretched canvas, panels, or mixed media paper (anything you want to paint on)
• Pencil Set of 6: either 2H-6B or HB-8B
• 1 Eraser: (e.g., General’s Large Kneaded)
• 1 Portable Pencil Sharpener
• 1 9x12 Sketchbook (e.g., Canson XL Mixed Media Spiral-Bound)
• Spray Bottle
• Color Wheel Pocket Guide
• Containers with lids (for saving leftover paint)
• Various size paint brushes
• Palette knife
• Heavy Body Acrylic Paint (recommended brand is Golden Open but any brand will work)
• Carbon black, or mars black
• Ultramarine blue
• Titanium White
• Phthalo blue (green shade)
• Bismuth yellow, or lemon yellow
• Cadmium yellow medium
• Vermilion red, or cadmium red light hue
• Quinacridone red, or cadmium red deep hue
• Plus any other colors you already have!