Acrylic Portrait

[Henry Wienhold]

Recently I have been experimenting with acrylic paints, I like the quick drying time that this medium provides. One thing that bothers me a little about this medium is that the colors always appear slightly darker as they dry. I used a stippling technique to model the face, the only time I used solid strokes was in the early block in stages, and while painting the hair and clothing.

This portrait was painted on a hardboard panel primed with Gesso measuring 16 X 22 inches.

[Chris Saper]

Dear Henry,

Thanks for posting this portrait! I am so intrigued with the close-up and would like to see an even closer shot.

Is stippling something you have done before? It looks like a very slow and gradual process - did you happen to take any in-process pictures? Aslo are there other areas of the painting that are likewise stippled?

[Allan Rahbek]

Hi Henry,
I have been trying to find some information on a Danish Portrait painter named Thomas Kluge, I think that he might interest you.
He is famous around here, painted the Queen and others.
I can not figure out how he paints, but anyway here is one of his acrylic portraits.

Allan

[Linda Brandon]

Henry, congratulations on a beautiful portrait.

I've never seen acrylics handled in such a soft manner, with no "edginess". It almost looks like a pastel. I'm not sure what you mean by stippling, do you work in layers here?

[Marcus Lim]

Hi Henry,
Congratulations! I like the sensuality of this artwork! At a glance, the color and mood sends a very warm feeling inside me. The only thing that affects me is the neck being too thick, and the value of the breast being similar to the face...it distracts my attention away from her face! (oops...that doesn't sound good! )

I thought it would help you, if you'd consider toning down the values of the breast and her right shoulder ( the one away from us), so the attention can be more on her face, and slimming down the neck thickness a little.
cheers!

[Jean Kelly]

Hello Henry,

I too, have never seen acrylic done so softly. When I started painting again about 4 years ago, I only had acrylic fabric paint left over from my quilting business. Edges were impossible as the paint dried in about ten minutes! This is lovely, soft and sensual. I'd also like to see an extreme close-up, I've seen stippling done with graphite and charcoal, but never acrylic.

Jean