Mastering Portrait Painting: Realistic and Expressive Examples and Techniques

Written by Daisie Team

Published on 19 June 2023 8 min read

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Mastering the art of portrait painting can be an exciting and rewarding journey. With this guide, you'll study realistic and expressive portrait paintings, learn about materials and brands, and explore various techniques to help you improve your skills. Let's dive into the world of portrait painting!

Understanding Realism and Expressionism

In this section, we'll explore two major styles in portrait painting: realism and expressionism. By understanding the differences between these styles, you'll be better equipped to find your own unique approach to portrait painting.

What is Realism?

Realism in portrait painting focuses on capturing the subject as accurately as possible. This includes:

Depicting accurate facial features and proportions
Using colors that closely resemble the subject's skin tone and hair color
Creating lifelike textures, such as wrinkles, freckles, and facial hair

Realistic portrait painting examples often showcase intricate details and exceptional craftsmanship. Some famous realistic portrait artists include John Singer Sargent, Lucian Freud, and Rembrandt.

What is Expressionism?

Expressionism, on the other hand, focuses on conveying emotions, moods, and personal interpretations. In expressive portrait paintings, artists may:

Exaggerate or distort facial features to evoke a specific emotion
Use bold, vibrant colors to create a mood or atmosphere
Experiment with brushstrokes and textures to enhance the emotional impact

Expressive portrait painting examples often feature unique, eye-catching visuals that leave a lasting impression. Some renowned expressive portrait artists include Vincent van Gogh, Frida Kahlo, and Jenny Saville.

Finding Your Style

As you study realistic and expressive portrait paintings, you'll start to develop a sense of which style resonates with you. You may prefer one style over the other, or you might enjoy blending elements of both styles in your work. By exploring different techniques and learning from master artists, you'll be able to create stunning portrait paintings that showcase your unique artistic voice.

Materials and Brands

Choosing the right materials is essential for creating high-quality portrait paintings. In this section, we'll outline some popular brands for paints, brushes, and canvases, which will help you make informed decisions when selecting the tools you need for your artwork.

Paints: Winsor & Newton, Golden, and Liquitex

Quality paints are crucial for achieving rich, vibrant colors in your portrait paintings. Some popular brands include:

Winsor & Newton: Known for their high-quality artist-grade paints, Winsor & Newton offers both oil and acrylic options.
Golden: This brand offers a wide range of highly pigmented acrylic paints, perfect for creating bold, expressive portraits.
Liquitex: Liquitex is another reputable brand offering a variety of acrylic paints, including heavy body paints that provide excellent texture and coverage.

Remember, investing in quality paints will not only enhance the look of your portraits but also ensure their longevity.

Brushes: Da Vinci, Princeton, and Escoda

Using the right brushes is key to achieving the desired effects in your portrait paintings. Consider these brands when selecting brushes:

Da Vinci: Da Vinci brushes are known for their craftsmanship and durability, making them a great choice for both oil and acrylic painting.
Princeton: Princeton offers a wide range of brushes, including synthetic and natural hair options, suitable for different techniques and paint types.
Escoda: Handcrafted in Spain, Escoda brushes are renowned for their quality and performance, providing artists with excellent control and precision.

Experimenting with various brushes will help you achieve different textures and details in your portrait paintings, so don't be afraid to try new tools!

Canvas: Blick and Fredrix

A quality canvas is the foundation of your portrait painting. Some popular canvas brands include:

Blick: Blick offers a variety of canvas options, including pre-stretched and canvas rolls, allowing you to find the perfect surface for your artwork.
Fredrix: Known for their high-quality canvases, Fredrix provides artists with durable surfaces that can withstand multiple layers of paint.

Consider the texture, weight, and priming of your canvas, as these factors can significantly impact the final appearance of your portrait painting. With the right materials in hand, you'll be well-equipped to create stunning, expressive works of art.

Portrait Painting Techniques

Mastering portrait painting requires practice and understanding of various techniques. In this section, we'll explore some fundamental techniques that will help you create both realistic and expressive portrait paintings.

Proportions and Measurements

Getting the proportions and measurements right is critical for creating a convincing portrait. Here are some tips to help you achieve accurate proportions:

Observe carefully: Take your time to study your subject or reference image closely, paying attention to the size and placement of facial features.
Use guidelines: Lightly sketch lines across the face to divide it into sections, helping you place features correctly.
Measurements: Use a pencil or your brush to take measurements of your subject's features, comparing their size and distance from each other.

Remember, practice makes perfect, so keep working on your proportions and measurements to improve your portrait painting skills.

Color Mixing

Color mixing is an essential skill for creating realistic skin tones and expressive color palettes in your portrait paintings. Here are some tips for mastering color mixing:

Start with a limited palette: Begin with a few primary colors and learn how to mix them to create a wide range of hues.
Observe your subject: Pay attention to the subtle color shifts in your subject's skin tone, and practice mixing colors to accurately represent these variations.
Experiment: Don't be afraid to try new color combinations and explore different ways to apply paint, as this will help you develop your unique style.

With practice, you'll become more confident in your color mixing abilities, allowing you to create captivating portrait paintings.

Creating Depth

Creating depth in your portrait paintings will help make your subject appear more three-dimensional. Here are some techniques to consider:

Value contrast: Use a range of light and dark values to create depth, emphasizing the highlights and shadows of your subject's face.
Edge control: Soften or sharpen edges to create a sense of depth and realism, paying attention to how different facial features interact with one another.
Color temperature: Incorporate both warm and cool colors in your portrait to create a sense of depth and atmosphere.

By mastering these techniques, you'll be able to create portrait paintings that convey a sense of depth and realism, capturing the essence of your subject.

Expressive Examples and Inspiration

Looking at expressive portrait painting examples can inspire you to explore new techniques and develop your own unique style. Let's take a look at some famous artists known for their expressive portrait paintings and learn from their techniques.

Vincent Van Gogh

Van Gogh's expressive portraits are characterized by bold colors, energetic brushwork, and a strong emotional impact. Some key elements to learn from his style include:

Color choices: Van Gogh used unconventional color combinations to evoke emotion, such as bright yellows and blues in his self-portraits.
Texture: His thick application of paint created a sense of movement and energy in his portraits.
Emotion: Van Gogh's portraits often reveal his emotional state, encouraging us to connect with the subject on a deeper level.

Studying Van Gogh's expressive portrait paintings can inspire you to experiment with color, texture, and emotion in your own work.

Frida Kahlo

Frida Kahlo is renowned for her deeply personal and symbolic self-portraits. Some aspects of her style to consider are:

Symbolism: Kahlo incorporated symbols and motifs from her personal life and Mexican culture into her portraits, giving them layers of meaning.
Composition: She often placed herself in the center of her paintings, surrounded by objects or animals that hold significance.
Unconventional beauty: Kahlo portrayed herself with honesty, embracing her unique features and challenging traditional beauty standards.

By studying Frida Kahlo's portrait paintings, you can learn to incorporate personal symbolism and unconventional beauty into your own expressive portraits.

Jenny Saville

Jenny Saville is a contemporary artist known for her large-scale, expressive paintings of the human body. Some elements to learn from her style are:

Scale: Saville's large canvases emphasize the physicality of her subjects and create a powerful presence.
Distortion: She often distorts her subjects' bodies and faces, creating a sense of unease and challenging our perceptions of beauty.
Mark-making: Saville's energetic brushwork and visible marks add texture and emotional intensity to her paintings.

Studying Jenny Saville's expressive portrait paintings can inspire you to experiment with scale, distortion, and mark-making in your own work.

Realistic Examples and Inspiration

Studying realistic portrait painting examples can help you refine your technique and gain a deeper understanding of the human form. Let's examine the works of some renowned artists known for their realistic portrait paintings and learn from their approaches.

John Singer Sargent

John Singer Sargent was a master of realism, known for his elegant and refined portraits. Some key elements to learn from his style include:

Brushwork: Sargent's confident and fluid brushstrokes convey a sense of spontaneity and liveliness.
Light and shadow: He skillfully used chiaroscuro to create depth and form in his portraits, capturing the play of light on his subjects' faces.
Observation: Sargent carefully observed his subjects and was able to capture their unique personalities and moods in his paintings.

By studying John Singer Sargent's realistic portrait paintings, you can learn to refine your brushwork, use light and shadow effectively, and develop your observational skills.

Lucian Freud

Lucian Freud was a British painter known for his intense and psychologically charged portraits. Some aspects of his style to consider are:

Texture: Freud's thick paint application creates a tactile quality in his portraits, emphasizing the physicality of his subjects.
Detail: He paid meticulous attention to detail, capturing every wrinkle, hair, and imperfection on his subjects' skin.
Psychological depth: Freud's portraits often convey a sense of vulnerability and intimacy, inviting us to contemplate the inner life of his subjects.

By studying Lucian Freud's realistic portrait paintings, you can learn to incorporate texture, detail, and psychological depth into your own work.

Rembrandt

Rembrandt, one of the greatest painters in history, is known for his masterful and emotive portraits. Some elements to learn from his style are:

Chiaroscuro: Rembrandt's expert use of light and shadow created a dramatic atmosphere and sense of depth in his portraits.
Emotion: He was able to capture the emotions and inner lives of his subjects, making his portraits deeply engaging.
Subtlety: Rembrandt's delicate brushwork and attention to detail allowed him to convey the complexity and nuance of the human face.

Studying Rembrandt's realistic portrait paintings can inspire you to master chiaroscuro, convey emotion, and develop subtlety in your own work.

Practice and Improvement

As with any art form, the key to mastering portrait painting—whether realistic or expressive—is consistent practice and a commitment to improving your skills. Here are some tips to help you on your journey to becoming a better portrait artist.

Setting Goals

It's important to set specific and achievable goals to track your progress in portrait painting. Some examples of goals might include:

Completing a certain number of portrait paintings per month.
Focusing on improving specific techniques, such as color mixing or brushwork.
Experimenting with different materials or styles.

Remember that your goals should be both challenging and realistic, allowing you to grow as an artist without becoming overwhelmed or discouraged.

Creating a Studio Space

Having a dedicated space for your art practice can help you stay focused and inspired. Consider setting up a studio space in your home by:

Designating an area with good lighting and ventilation.
Organizing your art supplies and materials for easy access.
Displaying inspirational works of art, books, or other reference materials.

A well-organized studio space can make it easier to immerse yourself in your portrait painting practice and stay motivated to improve.

Joining Art Communities

Connecting with other artists can provide valuable support, inspiration, and opportunities to learn from others' experiences. You can join art communities by:

Participating in local art classes or workshops.
Attending art exhibitions and events in your area.
Engaging with artists online through social media, forums, or discussion groups.

By surrounding yourself with fellow artists, you can gain new perspectives, share your own portrait painting examples, and learn from the realistic and expressive portrait paintings of others.

If you've enjoyed our blog post on the art of painting, we highly recommend checking out the workshop 'A Drawing for a Painting' by David Shepherd. This workshop will guide you through the process of transforming a drawing into a beautiful painting, helping you develop your artistic skills and techniques.