Step-by-Step Art School: Portraits

Approaches to portraiture range from super-realism (think of Leonardo da Vinci's Mona Lisa) to the abstract (Andy Warhol's multiple silk-screened images of Marilyn Monroe), but all portraits have one thing in common--they depict people. The human face has always been an easily accessible subject for artists. In this comprehensive overview, a brief history of portrait painting and a gallery of famous works are followed by basic information on working with models, lighting, proportions of the face, getting a likeness, body shapes and clothes, skin tints, and more. As you work on your own portrait projects--including a self-portrait--you will see how different materials, such as watercolor, acrylics, and oils, can create different effects and moods.