A Picture Tells A Story - In A Portrait Painting’s Truth Is In The Eyes

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When you paint a portrait the key to success is to capture everything that the eyes show and tell.

The best portrait painters will excel at skin and hair. They will be masters of drawing skull structure and muscle tone. And, as with Leonardo Da’ Vinci’s Mona Lisa there will be the enigmatic smile you could capture with your artwork.

But, as an artist, you will fail unless you understand the essence of personality that shines through your portrait subject’s eyes.

Take a long deep look into the eyes of any human being and you will see…

The roundness of the eye

The white that sets off the iris color

The deep black of the pupil

But that is just the obvious stuff. As a portrait painter, what else do you see?

The way outside light reflects to give highlight?

The way veins can give a tired, bloodshot look?

The way the pupils grow large and small as they focus?

This is only superficial technicality. Art needs more. Now, consider what a friend or lover can see… You will see far more…

You will see character and determination

You will see emotion and feeling

You will see warmth and affection

You will see hurt and pain

There is a great deal more you need to see, as an artist, when you draw the eye…

Look for the roundness of the eyeball

Look for the shape of the eye lens cone

Look for the color of the iris

Look for the way the light reflects differently from the lens

Look for the highlights and see the depths

Most of all, try to let your painting show emotion…

“Make your painting smile with the eyes”

Remember, when you paint a portrait, you know that your sitter is real and will give you everything you need… shyness, pleasure, anger and pain. Only when you learn to paint mood, character, personality and feeling and catch the glint in their eyes can you call yourself a portrait artist…

“This is how a great artist’s portrait painting comes alive as the eyes follow you across the room”

By Michael Dale

Michael Dale is the author of 1- Color Is Best (the quick and easy way to learn to paint watercolor) and 3- Colors Are All You Need (mix any color you want fast using only 3 colors). Contact http://www.Paint-And-Draw.com to find out more.

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July 04 2008 03:29 pm | Craft Techniques and Painting

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