Since I’m starting my new portrait class this week, I thought I’d post a drawing of a person. There are some tricks – the eyes are in the middle of the head. Go ahead, measure and see. I like to put them in, then draw triangles underneath which create the smile lines. Actually the smile lines are from the cheekbones. Under the bottom lip there is an area before the chin line. I like to call it the bow tie. The area above the eyebrow protrudes some because the bone above the eye socket sticks out.
When doing the face look to see where the top of the ears line up compared to the eyes, then the bottom of the ears to where the nose or mouth are. Usually the edge of the mouth is straight down from the pupil of the eye.
When drawing a face, have a light on the subject so there is light and shadow. It will give the drawing or painting depth. You can see the shadow on the right side of this drawing.
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This painting is the one I was doing on my April 19 post called “En Plein Air.” It is of the bridge over Pleasant Run, a stream running through Indianapolis. Note the way that certain colors portray light and shadow. The sunlit part of the stream and rocks have a yellowish glow, while the shadowy part in the foreground has a blue or violet shade. Atmospheric perspective gives depth. The tree on the left appears to be in front of the bridge. The woods in the distance underneath are painted with less detail and color intensity. I wanted the viewer to be able to imagine walking down the stream.
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Here is a group painting of a grandfather with grandchildren huddled around him. What gives this painting strength is the arrangement of persons. They are in a circle, grandpa furthest away, two children further towards us, and one little girl closest of all. There is a feeling of depth. Also notice the angle from the person on the left to the little girl on the right. The group of people make a shape while the drapery creates an opposite one on top.
Note the highlights in the hair with small hints of color. The skin isn’t just one shade. There are highlights and shadows on the faces. The closest child and the two persons furthest to the left lean toward the center where Grandpa is pointing at something.
Filed under Portrait Painting Technique by on . 6 Comments.
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