Acrylic Portrait Painting Tips

Acrylic Portrait Painting Instructions and tips, for the beginner artist.
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Acrylic Painting

Acrylic paint is water based and fast drying, when dry, it looks much the same as oil based paintings. Acrylic painting is done by adding layer upon layer, blending one color into another.

Acrylic Painting Instructions, and Tips for the Beginner Artist

You will need the following:

A fairly private, Bright Room where you will set up your equipment. The best lighting for painting is bright indirect sunlight. You will need a place that gives you the space to work without interruption.

A Table and or Easel

You will need a table for laying out all your bottles of paint close to your paint tray. It will also hold your container of water, rags, and any other items such as, Q-tips, a nail to unstop your paint bottles, a pencil for sketching, small plastic ruler, a drafting compass, Kleenex, etc. The table top of a convertible drafting table is ideal.

An easel also is a must. If you have a spouse or friend that is the handy type, maybe they can build you one. Or you may have to buy one in an artist supply store. Decide what you would like. A smaller, adjustable table top easel takes up less room and stores away nicely. If you decide on a taller version of easel, try to find one that will be have lots of places to put your supplies.

Keep an eye open for such items through the classified ads in the newspaper, garage sales, Kijiji, or Craig’s List.

A Paint Tray

Acrylic paints dry fairly fast, so you will need a paint tray to extend the life of your daubs of paint. One of the trays available at your art supplies is a large rectangular box that has a sealable lid. Inside is a sheet of foam that you will soak in water and set into the tray. You cover the foam with special paper that you put your paint on. These papers come in a pad and you are able to dispose of them easily after you are done. You then rinse out the foam sheet and let it dry if you are done. It is then easily stored inside the paint tray and placed on a shelf. This handy tray can extend your paint for days, while you are working on your project. No more wasted paints.

Keep handy a spray bottle full of water, to occasionally mist the paints. You may also use a special Gel Medium for blending, it extends the dry time for easier blending.

Acrylic Paints

Using acrylic paints is an awesome experience. There is no need for ventilation due to harsh odors and the clean up is just lots of water and a bit of soap.

They come in a myriad of colors. There is every shade and tone that you could wish for. Or you can mix your primary colors and make your own shades. But remember that when you mix different shades, do it in a large enough batch so you won’t run out during your project. As you will probably never be able to duplicate the mix again if you run out. It would be advisable to have a few smaller containers for this job.

Get into the habit of shaking your bottles of paint and squeezing the paint out through the little hole in the lid. You avoid messy paint bottles this way. Squeeze gently as lots tends to come out. Keep a damp rag in a container nearby to clean the tops of your bottles after each use. Also a carpenter's nail is great to use to unstop a plugged hole.

Arrange your paint bottles according to the primary colors, and place them in an easily accessible area.

Portrait Canvases

If you have been to an art gallery, you will have noticed that most of the paintings are done on fairly large canvases. So if you are wanting to sell your artwork, most people generally like large pictures.

The artist canvas comes in many different sizes and shapes. You will find flat, hard, thin boards. And raised, stretched, canvas boards. For convenience you will also find canvas sheets in a pad.

Pick out what appeals to you, but make sure that whatever you decide on, that it is acid free and primed.

Painting Brushes

Brushes come in the most amazing varieties. Some are inexpensive and others very dear. Start with what you can afford, probably a package of assorted sizes. Experiment with these and find out what you like. As you can afford, add new and more expensive brushes to your collection.

You will be using several different sized brushes at the same time during one session of painting.

Brushes make an excellent gift for the artist, drop hints near your Birthday and Christmas.

Double check to make sure you wash all your used brushes after a project. A forgotten brush is a ruined brush.

Water Container

Recycle an old butter or small yogurt container for your water. Avoid tall containers as they can tip over easily. Change this water frequently. You will dampen your brushes, also wash and clean them from this container. If you make a mistake you can also dampen a rag or Q-tip to dab out the error with this water.

Always start painting with a damp brush, unless you are trying for different effects.

When you are ready to paint, make sure that you slightly wet the whole canvas to prepare it for your background paint. As paint on a completely dry canvas will just smudge and make a mess.

Clean Rags

Keep several paint rags handy. An old piece of towel about the size of half a hand towel is particularly nice to have close by your picture. Dab your dampened brush on it to absorb excess water and also to subdue surplus paint on your paint brush. This is your messy rag, don’t worry about keeping it clean.

Because you don’t want to be running to another room, you will be using the above water and rags to clean your brushes.

Old finely woven cloths such as hankies are very nice to wrap around your finger to dab and blend your work.

Sponges

Sponges are used for special effects, and not used too often. Generally any old porous sponge will do. These lend different textures to your canvas. Dab your sponge lightly into some paint and then lightly touch the areas where you might want to paint some lightly defined foliage.

If you want to buy a more expensive, natural sponge that is very dense, it can be used to wipe your canvas.

Drafting Compass

A drafting compass is used to check measurements when you are drawing or painting from a photocopy. If you find that your picture doesn’t look right, you will need to check the distances of your features to make sure they are true. Your perspective may be off.

Portrait Painting Scratch Brush

Creativity comes with practice. Don’t be afraid of making mistakes. It is an erroneous notion that you can ruin a picture. Always make small changes to your work, it saves having to scratch out large areas. Yes scratch out.

That is what that stiff, hardened brush you thought you had ruined is for. And if you are fortunate enough not have ruined any, you can make yourself a scratch brush easily.

Take a flat topped short haired, inexpensive brush, use it to paint anything with. Leave it fairly loaded with paint and set aside, do not clean it. Leave it several days, maybe even weeks. It should be very hard and the paint should not be able to wash out. The very end should be a bit softer though.

So now when you have made a mistake or you want to make a change to your picture, dampen the scratch brush in your water container and also the area you want to change with a wet cloth. Start gently scratching with the hardened brush, dip and clean the brush and wipe your canvas several times until you have achieved your desired results.

Most colors will come off fairly easy, but if you have a stubborn color, you may have to paint over it with white paint and let it dry thoroughly overnight. Next day it will be ready to paint over.

Photograph and Photocopy

You will need a color photograph of the subject you wish to paint. Also very important is a black and white photocopy of your photo, approximately sized to the dimensions of your canvas. You will be able to use these to outline your sketch, lightly in pencil onto your prepared canvas (background already painted lightly). Each will show where to shade and where to blend. You will be able to easily choose your colors also. And the enlarged photocopy will help you with the distances and your drafting compass use.

Towel or Small Sheet

Privacy is important so some people, especially to a new budding artist. An audience or constructive criticism is generally not well received.
This is where the towel or sheet comes in. You can hide your work from prying eyes, until you want to display it.
It is also handy to cover up your work when you need a break from it to refresh your perspective with new eyes.
Note, as time goes by you will appreciate some “at arms length” perspective from another. But don’t accept it sooner than you want it. As you are the artist, and you are painting what you want and like.

Blending

There are a number of ways to accomplish a well blended picture. And this is also the most time consuming part of your project. Be patient and enjoy the process, as painting is also very therapeutic. A well blended picture makes the difference between a fair picture and an outstanding work of art.

Large parts and undefined areas of your work, such as sky, grass, buildings or landscapes can be done with a large brush, a fan brush, a rag or even a sponge. Experiment to find what you like best. Remember, if you don’t like it, wash it away. When the paint is still wet or damp, it cleans away easily.

When you are blending well defined areas such as facial contours, you will use very small brushes. Feathering gently to blend. Use different shades of the same hue to achieve the desired look. And when it seems like you just can’t get it right, a finger covered with a piece of fine, damp cloth dipped in the paint works wonders.

To give an authentic look to your canvas, you will find your color photograph and black and white photocopy indispensable.

Internet

Sometimes you will not have all the knowledge you need on colors or technique. Go to your Internet and Google the subject.

Isolation Gel

When you think your picture is done, you still have two more steps. You will want to preserve your work of art after spending so much time and effort on it.

Wait a day or two before applying an Isolation Coat.
An acrylic Isolation Coat will protect your work from damage, give your painting a sense of depth, it brings up the luster and sheen.

Golden Soft Gel Gloss or Matte Medium (your preference). Gloss will preserve the details and crispness of your painting. Whereas the Matte has an additive that repels light, so it won’t give your work as much clarity. But the Matte does repel the reflective glare, so that your painting may be displayed in a very bright area.

It is best to do this job where you are able to place your canvas flat on a table. The light from a window must be shining on it in such a way that you can see that you haven’t missed application of the isolation gel to any areas.

Mix the soft acrylic medium 2:1 part water. Use a cross hatch style (criss cross) to apply the medium with a very fine and dense sponge applicator. Looks like a foam brush on a stick. Don’t press too hard, go gently to avoid bubbles.

Apply three coats according to the package directions and then leave it to dry flat for 24 hours.

These coats will never come off, which is good. If for some reason your picture is damaged by smoke or water it will be repairable.

Varnish

This is the finishing touch to your wonderful work. An acrylic varnish such as Grumbacher Gloss Medium & Varnish protects as well, but it is removable if some damage occurs to your work. The Isolation coat under the varnish will always keep the picture pristine, the varnish is like an apron, it can be removed. Varnish can be cleaned without hurting the picture. You will be able to wipe your picture with a damp cloth or brush it with a fine brush and the Varnish will protect it. Also your painting may have inconsistencies of the surface gloss. These show up when your work is viewed from the side. To achieve a uniform reflection you will need to varnish.

Other reasons you do these two steps rather than just leaving your picture are:

-Acrylic paint attracts dust and dirt.

-These finishes make acrylic paint resistant to temperatures and moisture,
and are all water clean up.

Keep a Record

Keep a file on all the things you have learned. Every time you need to research color mixing, or how to do a technique keep that information handy. Unless you are painting everyday you will forget and waste more time researching. You want to put your time to good use.

Have fun, keep motivated. You can do it, it's a great hobby.

More tips for Acrylic Painting

Doing a Mottled background on a canvas, do all of the following before lightly sketching the picture you want to paint onto the canvas.

Apply gel extender over the whole canvas to stop brush drag. The extender keeps your acrylic paint workable longer. Acrylic paint tends to dry fast. Don't use any water as it will make the paint you apply later thin and drippy.

Some people prefer to wet the canvas lightly with water and also soak their brushes over night, then drying them well on a cloth towel and paper towel before using them. It depends on what kind of result you prefer to get.
Use a large rounded brush, don't use a square brush, it may leave marks. Apply colors and blend in a quick cross hatch method. Load brush with paint and keep blending until all the paint is used from the first load, and if needed load again. You may have to do several times to achieve your goal. And you may need to wait between each application to dry.

Use a back and forth motion and then a see saw motion to blend.

Finish up the blending process with a mop brush to sweep away any brush marks.

The color raw umber can dull down colors that are too bright. Raw umber is invaluable when painting reddish or ginger hair or fur.

Use red and a tiny bit of yellow to brighten red. Let dry then repeat to make it even brighter.

Use purple rather than black to darken. Black leaves a dull flat look.

Use yellow ochre or gesso or a mixture of both to cover up colors that are a mistake.

To tighten a loose canvas, spray a little water on the back of the canvas and let dry. It will shrink the cotton canvas.

To create black hair, you can use Perm. Magenta, French Ultramarine, Cadmium yellow and Titanium white. Mix Magenta and Ultramarine into shades of purple. Glaze these two over hair in varying shades. Then mix yellow and white for highlight color and work it in the lightest areas. Then use Burnt Umber in the darkest areas.

Mixing skin and flesh tones

Burnt sienna and white or

English red and white or

Yellow ochre, crimson and white or

For Asian skin tones, use a little more yellow ochre and some raw umber

Olive skin tones, add raw umber to one of the above mixtures

Dark skin tones, add burnt umber to one of the above mixtures

Prepare your choice in a darker tone then add white to create different shades of your choice.

Tips for Eyes and Lips

Paint the whole face in skin tones, facial hair, eyes and lips included. Keep the coloured part of the eye (Iris) light. Then you can mix some skin tone color with burnt umber or an appropriate color for eyebrows and lashes.

And add a little crimson for the lips. Choose the color for the Iris, and black for the pupil. A hint of blue added to the white will enhance the eye white area. You can also experiment with a hint of green or red. When painting eyes put a highlight dot of white over the black pupil. This gives the allusion of wetness and reflects the surrounding colors.

acrylic portrait painting

Commissioned portraits are available by this artist.
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The artist will do a protrait from a photograph of your loved one.

Pencil Sketch From a Photograph

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Artist Acylic Paint Information, and Portrait Painting Tips for the Beginner Artist.