Portraiture is doubtless one of the most betrothed of painting genres. People just tenderness finding out about other people, and for centuries portraits were the equivalents of today ' s paparazzi pictures. Back in the days before cameras were make-believe, portraits were the individual way that ordinary people could see what public figures like kings, princesses or generals looked like. A portrait painting in oil or watercolour often served because a means to panoply people an ideal picture of the power, beauty and other virtues these people were supposed to possess.
As time went by, a portrait painting in oil or watercolour took on a more personal significance as portraits began to be painted as keepsakes and memorabilia. It was even the practice for sweethearts to exchange miniature portraits of each other in much the same way as they exchange photographs today.
If you ' re interested in portrait painting in oil or watercolour whether as a hobby or as a means to generate a little extra income, here are some tips on how to get started.
Before you can start creating portraits in oil or watercolour, you will have to familiarize yourself with the media you ' ve chosen. Oils and watercolours require different techniques. Watercolor paintings are usually created on boards or heavy paper. They require allowing one layer to dry before adding a second one, meaning that the artist must always be conscious of working with light colors first before progressing to dark ones.
With oil painting, the artist usually works on a cloth canvas or wooden board. Successive layers can be applied even without drying previous ones, which allows for wet - on - wet painting and greater freedom to experiment with technique.
If you ' re serious about painting in oil or watercolour, you ' ll also have to study human anatomy, since the human figure is the foundation of good portraiture. There are many established guides to help you with this; you may even use a medical text if you desire.
Finally, portraiture requires a genuine interest in people and the stories of their lives. When you ' re doing a portrait, make it a point to talk to your subject and look into his or her eyes. This way, you get the chance to become acquainted with his or her personality. Having relevant insights about a subject ' s character and being able to imbue your painting with a sense of his or her visions, hopes and dreams will go a long way towards making you a successful portrait painter.
