MARIE DONATO
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Portrait Oil Painting: step-by-step

1/20/2018

9 Comments

 
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Thought I'd share with you a little bit about how I approach my oil painting for a portrait. I like to start at the focal point, which for a portrait, is always the eyes.
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Just as I approach my drawing by shapes, I tell my drawing students to notice shapes and to draw the shapes. In painting I do the same and attack the focal point the same way, looking for the color shapes.        
(Please excuse the phone pics)
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Apply the color shapes one next to the other.  Where the color shapes meet, blend softly.
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I paint wet-into-wet one section at a time.
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It is helpful to lay in some color in the background that can be used to softly create "soft" or blurred edges while the paint is wet.  Some edges should fade or gently blend into the value of the background.
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Glazes are added to brighten the color of the cheeks, nose and ears.  The middle part of the face has more color in it than the top or bottom the face.
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The white of the eye is never white, only the highlight will be white.
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All done!
For Marie Donato's Oil Painting Classes offered - click below.
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9 Comments
Frances Kempin
3/23/2020 01:50:11 pm

Beautiful! Thanks for sharing. Stay home and stay well.
Appreciated, Fran Kempin

Reply
Marie Donato
3/27/2020 10:53:05 am

Thank you so much Fran! You take care. All the Best to you. :)

Reply
Lili hueiman
4/19/2020 07:52:30 pm

Just beautiful!
Made my day. Thank you!
I hope you and Jim are doing ok
God bless

Reply
Kathy Yingling
3/24/2020 11:39:16 am

That is just beautiful. Your work is amazing. Stay safe and well.
Kathy

Reply
Marie Donato
3/27/2020 10:57:47 am

Kathy, I am glad you liked the demo - thank you so much! All the best to you and your family in these challenging times. :)

Reply
Linda Bellins
3/24/2020 05:59:43 pm

Pure magic! Thank you.

Reply
Marie Donato
3/27/2020 10:50:17 am

Great to hear from you Linda! Thank you so much! All the Best :)

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JoAnne Taylor
4/30/2020 08:02:34 am

I love looking at your art and learning from you. I'm trying to get back into oil painting and have been watching youtube tutorials on glazing. I'm so tempted by the videos to purchase that you've posted on Facebook.
Stay safe!

Reply
Marie Donato
4/30/2020 12:17:48 pm

Thank you JoAnne! Yay to you for getting back into oils. Let's talk about it more if you want. I'm sure you have questions. I'll call you.

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  • ARTWORK
    • Figures
    • Landscapes
    • Equestrian
  • Portraits
    • Procedure
    • Pricing
    • FAQS
  • Contact
    • About
    • Representation
  • Art Classes
    • Kirkwood Classes
    • Lake St Louis Classes
    • Individual Lessons
  • Studio Notes
    • STEP-BY-STEP