Original artwork description:

Oil portrait painting is a traditional and widely practiced form of art where I use oil paints to create portraits of individuals. This medium offers several advantages, such as rich and vibrant colors, smooth blending capabilities, and the ability to create fine details.

The process of creating an oil portrait typically involves several steps:

Preparation of Canvas: I start by preparing a canvas or a surface with a primer or ground to ensure the paint adheres properly.

Sketching and Underdrawing: The I sketches the basic outlines and forms of the subject using charcoal or a thin layer of paint to establish the composition and proportions.

Blocking in Colors: Initial layers of paint are applied to block in the basic colors and values, establishing the foundation of the portrait.

Building Layers: Artists progressively add more layers of paint, gradually refining details, tones, and textures. This technique allows for blending, shading, and achieving depth in the portrait.

Refinement and Detailing: As the painting progresses, I focuses on refining features, adding intricate details like facial expressions, hair, clothing, and background elements.

Drying and Varnishing: Once the painting is complete and thoroughly dried, a final varnish may be applied to protect the artwork and enhance its colors.

Oil portrait painting requires skill, patience, and an understanding of color theory and anatomy to capture the likeness and personality of the subject effectively. Many artists specialize in portraiture, and their styles can vary widely, ranging from realistic and detailed representations to more abstract or interpretive approaches.


Paul is an Oil Painters of America (OPA) Signature Member, Art Gallery Painter, Award-Winning Artist, Sr. Illustrator in Animation and Gaming field, born in Guangzhou, China. Received his BFA degree from Guangzhou Academy of Fine Art one of the most prestigious fine arts schools in China, has lived in the United States over 27 years.
In the past 6 years at the Academy of Fine Arts, he has learned solid basic fine art skills in drawing and paint realism. This can be seen from many of his artworks. The subjects he likes to paint are diverse and all have his own unique observation vision and style features, such as characters, landscapes, cityscapes, still life, animals, historical theme etc., the style is impressionism, sometimes he also paints abstract paintings, and when he works for animation or game companies, he also uses Photoshop to paint on computer. For decades, the price of his paintings has been increasing in the world art market. Many art collectors all over the world are collecting his artwork.

All works are copyrighted, and all rights are reserved by the artist.
Thank You!

Materials used:

oil

Tags: