Think of painting a realistic portrait as baking a delicious loaf of bread. The right ingredients, in the right proportions and combined in the right way, are crucial to the final result. The same is true for portrait painting. Different materials can make a huge difference in the final look of your artwork, much like the type of flour used in baking can affect the texture of the bread.

That's why in Step Two of "Realistic Portraits for Beginners," entitled, "Mastering Your Materials," we'll dive into the ingredients of your portrait painting - the materials you use. I'll show you how to choose the right materials for your desired result and provide tips on how to use them for the best outcome. By the end of this step, you'll be confident in your ability to mix and blend the right materials to create stunning, realistic portraits, just like a master baker combines ingredients to make the perfect loaf of bread.

Have you ever looked at a painting and felt like it was missing something, but you couldn't quite put your finger on it? For me, the missing piece was always color. I struggled with getting my portraits to look lifelike because I didn't understand how color/hue, color mixing, transparency, opacity, and layering affected the overall quality of the portrait from foreground to background.

In Step Three of "Realistic Portraits for Beginners," entitled, “Color Mixing Made Easy”, I will guide you through the essentials of color theory and show you how to use it to bring your portraits to life. You will learn how to create depth, interest and mood in your portraits by adjusting the transparency and opacity of your paint, and how layering color affects the final result. By mastering these techniques, you will be able to confidently mix your paint colors and create stunning, lifelike portraits.

 Facial proportions are the foundation of a realistic portrait, and it can be discouraging when they don't look accurate. However, painting is a unique art form that requires more than just accurate proportions. It involves an understanding of values, texture, color, and the building of layers. While good drawing skills can help, they are not the only key to success in portrait painting.

In "Realistic Portraits for Beginners," Step Four, “Perfect Proportions,” you'll learn how to achieve accurate proportions with confidence, even if you don't feel confident in your drawing skills. I'll share my favorite tools and techniques to help you get the perfect proportions, and show you how to make quick decisions about what needs correction. I'll also delve into the secret tools used by the masters and share alternative approaches to help you overcome any challenges and reach your full potential as a portrait painter.

Imagine you're in a room with no windows and no lights. You have no idea if the room is big or small, if it's empty or filled with objects, or even if there's anyone else in the room with you. Without light and shadow, you lack information on what's around you and how far away they are, their size and shape. However, with the presence of both light and shadow, we can fully grasp what's in the room and understand the depth, texture, and scale of the objects and shapes around us.

Light and shadow are like yin and yang in painting. Light provides depth, texture, and form, while shadow adds a sense of scale and dimension. With just one light source, such as a window, it's relatively easy for new artists and painters to grasp, but what happens when there are multiple light sources like a table lamp, computer screen, neon light, and fluorescent light? To become a realistic portrait painter, you need to take into consideration not just one light source, but all the lights and shadows that your subject matter comes into contact with. This can be overwhelming for new artists, but it doesn't have to be.

In Step Five of “Realistic Portraits for Beginners,” entitled “Building Your Underpainting,” I will go over the basics of creating depth and dimension by utilizing the power of light and shadow in a way that is explained in a simple, easy-to-understand manner. I will also provide you with an in-depth look at the importance of underpainting, as well as tips and tricks to help you make your portraits look more three-dimensional. By mastering these techniques, you will be able to confidently paint portraits with more realistic depth and dimension.

Creating smooth and glowing skin that appears alive in a portrait can be challenging, but it's not impossible. The key to achieving this effect lies in mastering specific steps, materials, and techniques. Techniques that were once secret to Renaissance master painters are still highly regarded today and can help you bring your portraits to life.

In "Lit from Within Glazing," Step Six of "Realistic Portraits for Beginners," I'll share with you the secrets to creating depth, shadows, and highlights that will make your skin appear lit from within. You'll discover the materials I use and understand the importance of each in achieving this desired effect.

You will discover how to add luminosity to your portraits and make the skin look smooth, radiant, and full of life. This will elevate the realism and impact of your paintings and make them truly stand out. By the end of this step, you will have a solid understanding of how to bring your portraits to life and make them look truly three-dimensional.

Bringing life to your portraits through intricate details like hair, eyelashes, and other features can be a challenge for beginner artists. Too many details can make a portrait look jarring, while too few details can result in a cartoonish appearance. Finding the right balance between detail and simplicity is essential for creating realistic and lifelike portraits.

In Step Seven, "Realistic Rendering," you will master the art of rendering. I will guide you through the process of determining which details are crucial to creating the illusion of depth and dimension in your portraits. You will learn techniques to enhance the realism of your subjects, including how to use colors, details, and perspective to make your portrait "pop." Additionally, I will provide tips and tricks for rendering hair, eyelashes, and other features with precision and finesse. To complete the process, we will also explore the crucial role that value, contrast, and texture play in rendering facial features.

Starting a new portrait painting can be a daunting task, especially if you're feeling lost and don't know where to begin. When I began my journey as a portrait painter, I found myself constantly experimenting with new styles, materials, paint colors, and brushes in the hopes of discovering the secret to taking my art to the next level. It wasn't until I developed a structured painting process that I was able to create the paintings of my dreams. A structured painting process takes the guesswork out of knowing what to do next, what materials to use, or how to achieve a certain effect. In turn, my structured painting process gave me the freedom to finally focus on the content of my piece and the story I wanted to tell, while achieving professional-looking results. 

In my experience, having a structured painting process is key to overcoming the feeling of being lost every time you start a new portrait painting. This process can help you achieve consistent, high-quality results, freeing you to focus on the artistic expression and creativity that you want to bring to your work. And remember, a reliable painting process doesn't limit your artistic freedom; in fact, it provides you with more opportunities to explore your creativity and imagination.

It can feel overwhelming to think about learning realistic portrait painting and it can be hard to know where to begin. That's why I created this course, as a way for you to access the essential painting process I have developed over the past 20 years. This process has enabled me to become a professional artist, creating art for television, film, celebrities, and influencers. It has also given me the opportunity to teach art to people of all ages, from 3-year-olds to 89-year-olds, and everyone in between.

Through this course, you will learn the painting process that has revolutionized my work and empowered me to achieve amazing results every time I create a portrait. With this process, the possibilities are endless. Imagine being able to create stunning, lifelike portraits that capture the essence of your subject. Imagine being able to sell your art, or having your work displayed in galleries. Imagine being able to express yourself in a whole new way and bring your art to the world. This process is your key to unlocking the life of an artist, and I can't wait to see what you'll do with it.

So, if you're ready to step out of your comfort zone and live the life you've always dreamed of, then scroll down and begin the painting process today. I'll be with you every step of the way, guiding you through the essentials of painting realistically. Good luck!