What is it?
Spring 2021 Acrylic Portrait Painting Challenge: Building Up Richness, Depth and Luminosity
Historically, the Old Masters used small amounts of pigment dispersed in larger amounts of linseed oil or mineral spirits to create a sense of volume and depth in their paintings. Light shines through and you can see a bit of each layer beneath the ones on top.
We can use that technique to our advantage with acrylic. By applying several translucent layers, there is an increased sense of depth, shading, contrast and color saturation and luminosity.
In this particular lesson, I’ll demonstrate how to add richness to the mid-tones of the girl’s face and hair. We will also add more contrast to the image with a couple of layers to the background, and turn the form of her figure with a precisely placed glaze on her clothing.
But even though we are well along in this portrait painting, it’s not too late to join in the fun!
Take the Acrylic Portrait Painting Challenge (it’s FREE!) and paint along with us!
REGISTER TODAY. The challenge is ongoing, something you can do at your own pace. It’s not too late to enter! After you join, I’ll send you the supplies list and reference photos to paint from.
WATCH NOW…
Learn how to create a vibrant acrylic portrait where the colors are not flat or muddy. In this FREE step by step master class, I’ll show you how!
Would like to paint this portrait with me and hundreds of other artists?
Take the 2021 Spring Portrait Painting Challenge!
You can register below and get started. It is completely FREE to join the challenge and participate. When you join, I’ll send you the “Welcome Kit” which includes:
- The Supplies List (so you know what you need to paint with us, your shopping list. )
- The Reference Photo with and without the grid, high resolution, that you can download ready to print out or display on your tablet. You’ll be able to create an accurate portrait this way.
- The Palette Layout Guide showing you how to arrange your colors so they don’t get muddy on your palette
- The Master Class Lesson Schedule
- the Lessons emailed to you
- A private Facebook group to cheer you and help answer your questions
- And a few “bonuses” like opportunities to win my paid online classes
REGISTER TODAY. The challenge is ongoing, something you can do at your own pace. It’s not too late to enter!
Let me know if you have any questions and I look forward to teaching you more!
Questions? Suggestions? Thoughts? Let me know, below in the comments. Please share your sketches in our Facebook group and share this post with your friends!
Materials :
- Dacryl Professional Modelling Paste
- Dacryl Professional Pouring Medium
- Dacryl Professional Gloss Medium
- Dacryl Low Viscosity Professional Fluid Acrylics
- Liquitex Professional Soft Body Acrylic Paints
- Canvas or wood panel (primed)
- Rubber spatula (like the ones you have in your kitchen)
- Plastic spoons
- Spray water bottle
- Plastic containers (with lids) to mix products
Here are three different ways you can create your own ground, using the acrylic polymers listed below.
Modelling paste
What is it?
Acrylic modelling paste is exactly that: a thick paste that easily blends with coloured paints and has the consistency of cake frosting. It is white and fairly opaque. When mixed with colours, it lightens the colours that are being added, creating pastel shades.
One can add more pigment, to intensify the colour load.
Step 1: Use your rubber spatula to serve yourself a good helping of the paste. Put it into a clean plastic container.
Step 2: Add your colour. I used Vivid Red Orange Soft Body Paint by Liquitex and mixed it in until I reached a nice, even consistency.
Step 3: With your spatula, apply the mixture generously to your substrate, in the same way that you would frost a cake.
Step 4: Set aside to let dry.
Step 5: Once dry, you can paint around and on top of the hardened paste with acrylic paints, allowing only some parts to show through, if you wish. The paste will maintain crests, ridges and valleys—creating nice texture!
Pouring medium
What is it?
As the name implies, pouring medium is a semi-clear, syrupy medium that pours easily. Drying time depends on thickness when applied, as well as the humidity level in your working environment. However, one can usually expect it to take anywhere from one hour to a couple of days to dry.
Step 1: Pour some of the pouring medium into a clean plastic container (that has a lid, for later storage).
Step 2: Add your colour. I used Dacryl Professional Acrylic (Cobalt Blue Hue), which is a fluid paint with an acrylic ink-like consistency. The more paint you add into the mixture, the more intense the colour will be.
Step 3: Stir well, until the colour is even and smooth.
Step 4: Pour the mixture paint onto your primed canvas. You can tilt your canvas in different directions, to move the mixture around the surface. This can get messy, so be sure to do it in a well-protected area, or somewhere you don’t mind getting dirty!
Step 5: You can spray water onto the edges of the pour to soften it. This creates a beautiful gradient.
Step 6: Set the piece aside to dry.
TIP: Don’t place your canvas in front of a fan, as it will craze (crack)—though some artists love the cracks!
Step 7: Once dry, the surface will be smooth and have a satin finish, creating a flat ground on which to paint with acrylics.
