Figure painting in acrylics
Reader Question: Hello, your site is fantastic and thank you for your generosity in sharing your knowledge and information. I'm a self taught artist also and I work with acrylic. My question is how would you apply these photorealist techniques to painting the figure?
In my case generally I begin with an underpainting done in monochrome. Next, I apply thin transparent layers of what is to be a mid tone which consists of yellow ochre and/or burnt sienna or vermillion. For darker areas I add black to the mixture. Then for the light areas I mix and scumble white plus yellow ochre over the mid tone.
While I enjoy the technique it doesn't seem to lend itself for accurate color mixes since I stave off white until the very end. I'm just curious as to how you would develop a figure painting in your manner.
Thanks
p.s. I read on this site that you were thinking of using the
Golden Open Acrylics. Having tried them they are not too bad. I expected an experience more akin to oils. While one can paint at a relaxed pace you still need to be onto the situation. On the palette the paints remain wet for a long time.
Hi,
Thanks so much - I am so glad to hear that my Art is Fun site has been helpful to you.
For figure painting photorealistically, I would start with an underpainting that loosely matches the colors/tones that I eventually aim to achieve - I don't generally use a monochromatic palette (although that's not to say you shouldn't, of course, because plenty of artists do and many techniques start off this way!).
To get the right colors, try experimenting with your colors a bit more. I have found some of the best flesh tones "accidently". For instance, put a dab of cadmium orange on your palette, and then keep mixing in titanium white. Keep adding more and more white until the orange looks more peachy & pinky.
Another good combo is cadmium yellow medium + quin magenta + titanium white.
Sometimes the paint somehow looks different on the palette than it does on the canvas, so if you've got a spare canvas, dab your mixtures onto the canvas so you can see how it looks. Sometimes a mixture that looks too orangey on my palette will somehow look just perfect when it is actually applied on the canvas!
I think you can safely mix in white earlier in your painting process...
Thanks for letting me know about what it was like working with Golden Open Acrylics!! I still haven't tried it yet, but I will!
I hoep this helps, and thanks again for getting in touch!
Good luck with your photorealistic figure paintings!
Best Wishes,
Thaneeya
