How to Paint Skin Tones – One Layer at a Time There’s a Zen to painting in layers. You have got to enjoy the process or this isn’t the method for you….(but don’t worry, there are lots of ways to paint a portrait & get a similar result). Personally I like any way that is […]

Oil Portrait Painting Demo Step by Step –  “Brittany” Below is a detailed step by step oil portrait tutorial by the very talented artist Scott Burdick (see bio at the end of the tutorial). I hope you enjoy and find this interesting and educational. Scott has some wonderful instructional videos available for purchase over at […]

About Karin Karin Wells is an artist of amazing versatility. She graduated with honors from both the New England School of Art and Design, Boston, 1965, and the Butera School of Art, Boston, 1986. Karin has enjoyed a career as an award-winning graphic designer, illustrator and sign painter. She also taught Life Drawing and Painting […]

Click Images for Larger Views ==================================================== After I’m done with the acrylic stage (and it is completely dry), I seal the entire canvas with Winsor-Newton’s Liquin. My first layer of oil on the background. I want to create an outdoor scene. As you can see it is messy and moody and neutral. With a paper […]

Click Images For Larger Views ========================================================== I’m starting to paint “form” into the black vest. I usually deal with black by glazing color over the flat black acrylic paint to give it a jewel tone. When that is dry I add a thin glaze of ivory black and use raw sienna to build light. Inside […]

Click Images For Larger Views ================================================= This layer can be scary because it looks so radical…but it basically what gives the skin its luminosity. Some people start with it but I wait until the surrounding areas are well established before I use any white paint. I usually save the face until last because the skin […]

Click Images For Larger Views ================================================= This is the time to really nail the likeness. Sometimes I tape my reference photo next to the area I’m painting. However, you must be careful with tape on the surface of the painting. The surface must be dry. I stick the tape to material first before resticking it […]