Portrait Painting: Color and Form

In this class students learn to paint the human portrait from life. Starting with allá prima and limited color, and working up to longer poses and full color, students will be shown a logical, step by step method for developing a solid drawing and accurate likeness alongside rich color from start to finish.

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  Alexander Soukas

Substrates
Stretched Cotton duck Canvas. 16x20 or larger for figure, 12x16 or
larger for still life. Alternatively, gessoboard or masonite panels
are acceptable. All substrates must be toned a neutral gray. See
toning procedure below for more information.

Brushes
Hog Hair Bristle Brushes, Filberts, x2 in sizes 4,3,2
Synthetic or natural hair, Rounds, x2 in sizes 4,3,2
Silver Grand Prix, Blick Master Stroke and Princeton Snap brands
recommended.

Solvent
Odorless mineral spirits in a brush-washer or jar with sealable lid.

Medium
2 parts odorless mineral spirits to 1 part stand oil in a sealable jar.

Rags
Home depot shop towels recommended, or viva paper towels.

Palette
A wooden palette 9x12 or larger, stained a neutral brown and
sealed is preferred. New Wave brand is recommended. Glass is
also acceptable. Palette paper is unacceptable.

Canvas Toning Procedure
Using a middle tone neutral gray acrylic paint (Meininger’s sells a
ready made tube of this color) Mix the paint in a shallow bowl or
pie tin with enough water to get the consistency of melted ice
cream. Once mixed, take a medium sized chip brush and brush the
tone onto the canvas or panel to cover the surface. Once coated,
lightly drag the brush from top to bottom in long parallel strokes
to create a uniform and even surface. Let dry for 20 minutes.

Oil Paints
I utilize different colors with students depending on the course and goal of study.
Below are lists of the pigments used for various courses of study.
All students are required to use professional grade artists colors - student grade
paint has so much filler in it, you will actually save money by purchasing quality
paint because you will use less of it. I recommend Winsor & Newton as a solid,
quality product as a reasonable price, but you’re welcome to use whatever brands
are accessible to you. Colors are laid out at the top of the palette from left to
right:


Limited Palette for Figure and Portrait:
Titanium White
Burnt Umber
Burnt Sienna
Permanent Alizarin Crimson
Cadmium Red
Cadmium Orange
Cadmium Yellow
Viridian
Ultramarine Blue
Ivory Black

Color Study Palette:
Titanium White
Burnt Umber
Permanent Alizarin Crimson
Permanent Rose
Perylene Red
Cadmium Red Deep
Cadmium Red
Cadmium Scarlet
Cadmium Orange
Indian Yellow
Cadmium Yellow
Cadmium Yellow Pale
Cadmium Green Pale
Permanent Green Light
Pthalo Turquoise
Sevres Blue
Ultramarine Blue
Dioxazine Purple

Figure, form painting palette:
titanium white
burnt umber
cadmium red
cadmium yellow
ivory black