• Home
  • Blog
  • Paintings for Sale
  • Painting Course
  • Top Painting Tips
    • Prints
  • Art Coaching
  • Resources
  • Free Download
  • Artist Statement
  • Podcast
  • Painting Podcast
  • Contact
  • Reference and Tutorial
Malcolm Dewey Fine Art
  • Home
  • Blog
  • Paintings for Sale
  • Painting Course
  • Top Painting Tips
    • Prints
  • Art Coaching
  • Resources
  • Free Download
  • Artist Statement
  • Podcast
  • Painting Podcast
  • Contact
  • Reference and Tutorial

Landscapes Help You Paint Better Portraits

31/1/2013

Comments

 
Picture
Manet's Berthe Morisot (detail)
Recently a participant of my online workshop noted that I painted many landscapes. She wanted to know if I could help her paint portraits too. I answered that I could and briefly spoke about the universal approach to painting irrespective of the subject. It was a good question and needs a fuller response.

My workshop covers many aspects of painting, but there is perhaps one central theme. Learning how to see like an artist. This has to be learnt through conscious practice over time. Innate talent is within us all. To unleash this talent effectively requires intention and practice. 

Nobody can teach originality or style. Those qualities are the happy burden for each artist to carry. But learning to see like an artist can be taught to the willing student. How does this relate to portrait painting? Simply this - a portrait or figure study is an arrangement of shapes in various hues and values. There is also the gesture of the person although this covers more than technique. Most students will be focused on technique at first and this is fine to begin with. 

Not convinced? Painting landscapes is challenging. There is good reason why so many great artists have spent so much time painting the great variety of subjects that nature provides. Light, seasons, colours and moods fill our natural world with variety on a daily basis if not hourly. No wonder that we love landscapes so much. Look closer and it is clear that an artist must be able to see accurately, evaluate and make decisions about shapes, hues and values not to mention placement of brushstrokes. If painting plein air then these decisions must be made quickly. These skills apply to portrait painting too.

Yes there is some license given to the landscape artist to leave out elements that distract and if a tree is "moved" for better composition then this may be forgiven too. However painting a likeness in a portrait requires accurate recording of shapes in their proper place. This is when the hours of training the eye to see accurately will help the artist. Manet's portrait of Berthe Morisot is an example of painterliness that conveys a likeness and intrigues us with shapes of colour and brushwork when viewed closer. The bold contrasts between light and dark shapes is an important approach for every landscape artist too. It bears mentioning that Manet was also an accomplished landscape artist.

Another benefit to the landscape artist is the ability to work with a larger brush to carve out planes and surfaces. A comparison to sculpture with a brush instead of a chisel is helpful to illustrate this approach. This avoids the overly rendered photo-realist approach that in so many cases results in a dull surface (note the protests over the Dutchess of Cambridge's portrait). Would Manet's approach have been better to capture something more intangible?

Colour notes placed carefully yet expressively in shaping a portrait is, to my view, more desirable and interesting than overly-rendered realism. But that is a matter of choice. It must also be said that painting from life instead of a photograph will give better results. Many landscape artists have developed this skill outdoors. There can be no messing about with fiddly details outdoors. This helps in portrait painting too. Give it a try. 

Painting is an adventure and any limits are self-imposed. Paint what makes you joyful and try many different subjects to really grow as an artist.


Picture
Paul Emsley's portrait of The Dutchess of Cambridge

Comments
    FREE Book
    Picture

    Color Tips for Artists:
    ​Free
    Picture

    Book Bundle Special
    See More
    Picture

    Author

    Malcolm Dewey: Artist. Country: South Africa
    View Portfolio:

    Picture

    Archives

    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    December 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012

    Categories

    All
    Art Business
    Artist Notes
    Books Worth Every Dime!
    Its An Artists Life
    Musings
    News
    Painting Course
    Painting Demonstration
    Painting Tips
    Podcasts
    Popular Posts Archive
    Reviews


    Picture

    Picture

    Visit Malcolm Dewey Fine Art's profile on Pinterest.

    FREE
    ​GUIDE

    Picture

    RSS Feed


    Picture

    Picture

Studio:  Troon Crescent, Port Alfred, South Africa
​Malcolm Dewey Fine Art is committed to top quality art, excellent educational material and having a great time! To back that up all works sold come with a 30 Day Money Back Guarantee. Simply return the work, undamaged, within 30 days. Returns at purchaser expense. All transaction are protected by third party bank-level encryption to keep your information safe. Plus your email address is safe. No spam - ever!

​Copyright 2010-2020: Malcolm Dewey Fine Art
​
Picture
30 Day Money Back
Picture
Secure Transactions
Picture
Picture
No Spam Ever!
Photos used under Creative Commons from maHidoodi, buggolo, Fabio Téllez
  • Home
  • Blog
  • Paintings for Sale
  • Painting Course
  • Top Painting Tips
    • Prints
  • Art Coaching
  • Resources
  • Free Download
  • Artist Statement
  • Podcast
  • Painting Podcast
  • Contact
  • Reference and Tutorial