Open Grisaille Portraiture From Photographs
Are you a frustrated or aspiring portrait artist?
Do you struggle to get a likeness in your portraits? Or maybe you’d like to produce a great-looking portrait but don’t know how?
The answer is to simplify your palette to just one colour and use technology as a helpful assistant. It’s explained in this video course, in which I guide you through the most effective and rewarding process I know to easily create professional-looking portraits.
All you need to get started is an iPad (with Procreate and another great app called Filterstorm Neue that I introduce in the videos), a tube of burnt umber oil paint (and some white spirit / mineral spirits), a few brushes and some card sealed with diluted PVA.
Instead of wasting valuable time and energy trying to work these things out, imagine how your friends and family will react when you show them what you’ve painted using this approach.
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"I truly think this is a gem of a course and fantastic value. Thanks for this tutorial...really appreciate." - James, Canada.
“Informative, instructive and inspiring - they have given me something to aim for - thank you” - Mr G.O., UK
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Click on the "Buy This" button and take the most important step to becoming the portrait artist you’ve always wanted to be!
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Need more information? here it is:
Nearly 9 hours of video content covering technical considerations of open grisaille oil painting and three demonstration paintings from start to finish with every thought, brushstroke and decision explained.
Subjects covered:
• Difference between open grisaille and closed grisaille
• Transparency and opacity of pigments
• Preparing your reference photos using Filterstorm Neue and ProCreate
• Placing the head and evaluating composition
• How to use ProCreate (or other such layered imaging software) to help achieve a likeness
• Working from large to small, abstract to realism
• Combining loose work with controlled areas
• Peripheral vision
• What makes a good reference photo
Plus many other tips and insights throughout the three demonstration paintings
Frequently Asked Questions:
How does it work?
For this one-off price you get lifetime access to 21 video files and 3 jpg reference images. You can stream them from GumRoad or download them to your PC/tablet/phone for offline viewing.
Is this a subscription deal?
No, this single payment gives you lifetime access to the entire set of videos. No monthly fees, no in-video purchases, no recurring costs.
Why is it so cheap?
This is my first video set. Although it has been shot with a professional-grade camera and microphone setup, it isn’t a TV studio setup like you’d get with a bought DVD and such like. Plus I wanted to get this tuition out there because I haven’t seen anyone else cover this subject.
I don’t live in the UK – can I still get it?
Yes. It’s priced in GB pounds because that’s where I live. But GumRoad is based in the US. You’ll pay however much the price is in your local currency (which is still likely to be less than a fast-food meal!).
Who is the course aimed at?
Beginners to intermediate. Because there is only really one pigment per painting, you can’t go far wrong. In any case, open grisaille portraits are great practice for even the most experienced artist.
What is open grisaille?
It’s a way of using transparent pigments on a bright background to create a monochrome image. It’s mainly used for underpainting, but it’s also a great way to create quick portraits without the complexity of colour – very similar to charcoal.
What materials do I need?
The first demo is simply Burnt Umber on white card. You may need to seal your surface first using PVA size (or diluted PVA) so that you can wipe out the lights.
Is it just Open Grisaille you do on these videos?
While it is just open grisaille that I cover here, many of the techniques and tips I explain can be used in all sorts of work. I would like to think that everyone will learn at least SOME thing from watching these videos, which makes this small purchase an unbelievably good investment.
9 hours for 3 demos – aren’t they a bit long?
Well, yes. I pushed open grisaille as far as I could each time, adding finishing touches that aren’t needed at all in a standard underpainting. My approach was more like a charcoal portrait, but in paint. And I’m explaining what I’m thinking and working through the entire process, all of which you get to see and hear. Talking while painting tends to slow me down!