Oil painting techniques for portraits

Portrait oil painting should be the same as painting other subjects with oil painting, and you should pay more attention to the composition, color and other aspects of the picture.

A portrait should have its own characteristics and depict the personality of the character, so it is necessary to consider how to compose the picture to express the personality of the subject. First of all, you must plan the position of the head and clothes, as well as how much of the character's torso should appear on the picture (you can only draw it to the shoulders, or continue to draw the position of the hands), as well as the background of the picture and some other objects.

Be able to discover the unique temperament of the subject of the painting. Usually when you start drawing some familiar people, it will be easier to capture this feeling, because you have naturally made these observations about the other person during the relationship. Most people have their own special head and hand placement, and their own specific way of sitting. They cannot be posed like this by the painter's instructions, but if they are allowed to relax, they will gradually develop a natural posture and be able to maintain it.

Choose a color combination for your portrait, but keep in mind that it’s usually best to keep the background and clothing colors relatively muted so they don’t compete with the colors of the face, making the face stand out. The part is in the focus of the picture. Try a variety of different light sources to make sure the shadows are cast in a way that shows some of the structural features of the subject's face. In general, it's best to avoid very harsh light, as it can make the subject look gaunt and old, and can also take the color out of the dark areas.