Want to paint beautiful portraits in color? DO NOT DO IT! Not until you have lots (and I mean LOTS) of experience painting portraits in mono-color. I like to do my mono-color portraits in glorious payne's grey (Winsor Newton). You first need to develop your painting style, knowledge of head and facial structures, value control, and soft, found, and lost edges. Only then can you graduate to color. Well...at least that's my advice.
44 comments:
I would be a fool not to take your advice, David....these portraits are outstanding!
Looking at these paintings I have to take your advice seriously ! Absolutely wonderful -you are indeed master of values and light (as well as of color from looking at all the other paintings!)
Hi David,
Great advice. Too bad I didn't have anyone chain me to a chair and do things the right way when I was starting out!
Oh, well. These are spectacular paintings and though there's nothing wrong with the word, "studies", I think that doesn't do justice to them.
Thanks for always helping your followers (including me) along with such great learning tips.
Sincerely,
Gary.
david these are stunning... and great idea.. going to try some tomorrow...thankd for sharing!!!
I believe you are entirely right! I've been doing pencil sketches, and more recently pen and ink, but using Paynes Grey is a great idea. I think it would really help understanding the structure of the head. I'm going to try it!
Well you are awesome in any medium, colour or no colour. Good advice.
Then get into colour and have fun I say.
These are too beautiful.
Your friend in Toronto,
Barbara
Superb portraits David! Even with a single color, greatness of the watercolorist in you stands out. Too Good!!
great portraits and advice david ..i've painted very few portraits sounds invaluable excercise.. thankyou
Absolutely stunning, each and every one. Is that Peter O'Toole in the turban? That top man is a hottie too!
Wonderful portraits and great advice! Going to try that!
Carol, It's only advice, but I really believe that it holds true 98% of the time.
Meera, It was great seeing you yesterday at the gallery with your wonderful paintings. As soon as the spring semester hits next January, I'm getting you set up for another class visit. This time, it may be in the NEW art room on the UCD campus...spacious, north lighting, track lights, power curtains, E ware...the whole shebang! You and your work will fit in quite nicely. Then off to dine at the wonderful Tower Cafe. I'm trying to hold your interest!
Gary, my portrait painting compadre! Hey, dude, your oils are fantastic1
Cindi, thanks, and I love your blog title!
Dianne, try it, you'll like it!
Thanks, Barbara. You keep spelling "color" wrong. (-:
Ajay, thank you. Blacks and grays are some of my favorite "colors".
Jane, thanks!
Autumn, the top man is my good buddy Paul Bianchine. He is a wonderful artist. The man in the turban with those great eyes is from India.
Judy, yes, try it!
Ohhhhh ! so good in one color. I will have to think ( and try) more about this advice, so true and just. Thanks a lot David.
Hi David,
I know you're just teasing me. That's the proper Canadian spelling of colour. We add "u"s. Don't ask me why. It has something to do with our proper, British English roots or something. So in fact in Canada you are spelling the word incorrectly. And when I read you I am in Canada you funny man.
Your friend in Toronto,
Barbara
You are welcomed, Lydie.
Barbara, let's get one thing straight between us, and I think that we Americans and Canadians can agree on
this: only mad dogs and Englishmen go out in the hot mid day sun.
These are great David. I agreee a lot of tonal work like this will improve colour work as you understand the tonal values better and see past the colours.
Your work is amazing! Thank you for the advice
and the inspiration-I'm off to get some Payne's Grey.
Sue, spot on with your comment, and I like that phrase..."seeing through the colors".
JGR, Thanks. I like your blog and mixed media art. Enjoy that beautiful Payne's Gray!
These portrait just took my breath away..you are a genius, David.
I am still faltering a lot at watercolor portraits...your portraits have taught me a thing or two!:)
Hi David,
These are some really nice portrait paintings and this blog is a great resource! Thanks for sharing your experience with us.
David, I am shutting down my old blog and am wondering if you might add a "subscribe" widget to this blog. This will help me to know when you have a new post since I don't have thumbnails on my WordPress blog. Thank you so much!
Hi Arti. watercolor portraits are tough, but it is one of my top favorite genres to paint. Keep practicing.
Thanks for visiting, Matt!
Autumn, I can add the "subscribe widget if you can tell me how to go about it.
Wonderful portraits! And good advice I will follow. I made the mistake recently and jumped right in and did an acrylic portrait on a 16x20 canvas of my mother. Caught the eyes, but the rest...well let's just say I am a beginner (painting less than two years) and it LOOKED like a beginner did it.
Nice to meet you...I am a follower now.
Thanks for following my blog, Lisa!
loving the portraits and thanks for the info...
YOU ARE VERY WELCOMED, NORMA!
Hi David, I've been thinking about your posting all week. The portraits are great. And, I am encouraged by your discussion about lots of studies. I think it applies to any type of watercolor paintings! Thanks.
Peggy, yes, the more you paint "studies" of different subjects, the more familiar you get with them. You see them in a DEEPER way, and I think this helps you greatly with your artistic interpretations.
Excellent advice - these are great head studies. This should inspire your students.
Lobenberg -- quite simply a master painter. And he looks great on TV, too.
Thanks, onpainting! I need to visit your blog again soon to read some of your incredibly funny writing.
Mariellen, It's my purple shirt and Jerry Garcia tie. Without those two items, I'm nothing!
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