Acrylic Portrait

[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

[Henry Wienhold]

Hello Chris,

This is my first attempt at an acrylic portrait, I was always intimidated by this medium because it is so difficult to blend, the stippling technique seems to work pretty well in creating soft edges. This technique isnt as slow as one might suspect, because the facial area is first blocked in with a solid flat wash in the mid-value range. This block in is a good starting point because everything that follows after is either lighter or darker, similar to oil painting. Actually I liked the stippling better than painting in the large masses, somehow it relaxes me.

Allan,

Thank you for posting that outstanding portrait, I really like the way the subjects lighted, light coming from both sides, the shadow on the center of the face creates a very dramatic look. I definately will have to paint a portrait with that type of lighting someday, very inspiring.

Linda

Thank you for the compliment, stippling is painting with tiny small dots, or scratch like marks, a gradual build up until the desired effect is acheived. Yes I did apply one layer over another, it seems like you can create very subtle effects this way. I compare this type of painting technique similar to the French painter "Seraut", who lived in the time of the great impressionists. Seraut was a great master I'm rookie
at this technique.

Marcus

Thanks for the compliment and your input. Your right the neck does look a little thick, maybe if I apply more shadow to the neck it will take on a slimmer appearance. You have a very keen eye, and I will tone down some of those values.

Hi Jean

Thank you, I know what you mean about painting edges with acrylics they are impossible, thats why I tried the stippling. I never painted a solid line on the face, except maybe the pupil of the eye and eyelashes. The colors and values always remain broken, then when you stand back at a distance the eye blends everything together creating the soft appearance. I'm posting a larger closeup so you can have a better look.

[Henry Wienhold]

Here are a couple of close ups. The over all color appears a little to yellow gold to be exact on these two pics, well at least on my monitor. I hope you can see the texture.