If you want to learn how to paint portraits, start with pencil sketches. Due to the limited means of expression, you can focus on the construction of the picture, composition, working with light and shadow. This base will come in handy when you start painting portraits with paints and soft materials.
Instructions
Step 1
If you plan to place only the face in the painting, place the sheet of paper vertically. Use an oval to mark the space that will fill the portrait. Draw a vertical axis - it will split the face in half.
Step 2
Determine the height and width of the face using the sight. Extend your hand with a pencil in front of you, mark on the pencil the distance that is the width of the face at the level of the cheekbones. Then turn the pencil vertically and check how many times this segment fits from the top of the head to the chin of the sitter. Fix the same proportions in the picture. Similarly, measure the width of your face at the level of your cheeks and chin. Use a thin light outline to refine the shape of the face.
Step 3
Divide the vertical axis in the center of the face into six equal parts. Divide the third part from above in half. The eyebrows should be at this level. Draw their shape exactly according to your model's eyebrows - the whole facial expression depends on it. Do not trace the contours of the eyebrows, fill in the space with short strokes repeating the direction of hair growth.
Step 4
At the border of the third and fourth parts from the top, draw a horizontal axis for the eyes. Their shape is very individual. As well as the distance between the eyes - on the "average" face, it is equal to the length of the eye, but in reality it can be more or less.
Step 5
The tip of the nose should be located at about the lower border of the fourth part on top. Determine its shape, then draw the wings of the nose and determine the width of the bridge of the nose.
Step 6
Draw lips between the fifth and sixth parts. Determine their size using sight. Erase all construction lines and axes in the picture. Use a few contours to outline the shape and length of the hairstyle.
Step 7
Shade the portrait. Identify the areas that are most illuminated and choose a tone that matches the skin tone on them. With a hard pencil, cover these areas with an even hatch. Then continue painting over to the darker areas. For them, take pencils with greater softness, increase pressure, reduce the distance between adjacent strokes.
Step 8
The stroke shape should follow the shape of the face. In addition, you can use a "silver" stroke - add a layer of additional lines at an angle of 35 ° -45 ° on top of the main ones. It will help "fix" the shape and combine strokes of different direction and intensity.
Step 9
When painting hair, don't forget to leave highlights on it - where it shines thanks to the lighting. These areas do not need to be painted over.
