How I Paint a Portrait in 3 Steps

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Hi, I am the son of two artists and began painting in my hometown of Richmond, Virginia before I could walk. I was a rare combination of artist and athlete so I moved to Los Angeles in 2008 to play football for USC. I left the team my sophomore year to focus on painting and filmmaking, applying the same focus and discipline from my football career to my art. I primarily work in oils, and spend most free days painting "en plein air" in my new home of Sarasota Florida.
DISCLAIMER: Links in this description might be affiliate links. If you purchase a product with the links that I provide I may receive a small commission. There is no additional charge to you.
www.chrisfornataro.com

[@brucebissell7626]

CHRIS, GOD BLESS YOU FOR YOUR LOVE OF OIL PAINTING, SHARING HOW TO VIDEOS FOR ALL OF US WANT A BES. YOU ARE VERY MUCH APPRECIATED ! ! !

[@slewp]

great video man i really enjoyed

[@paintcoach]

Thanks! Congrats on the New York studio!

[@mindaluzescobedo3011]

Its our National Art Month celeb this Feb here in the Philippines , my husband always listen to your paint talk while he is painting (as his hobby). Im pushing him to join the exhibit this 2nd week . Thank you sir

[@mindaluzescobedo3011]

Its 4 mins before midnight here BTW :)

[@reohere3655]

i love and appreciate how you get straight to the point and don't blab a lot , great video

[@merebrillante]

I’m a semi-experienced beginner - I know, try to break that down - in soft pastels, but I find your videos extremely helpful and informative. Thanks!

[@paintcoach]

Happy to help!

[@fereshmahta6113]

accurate the drawing, measuring, blocking the dark value, I got the painting this guy!

[@ondinalizbeth1181]

This is amazing, thank you for showing your color platte and also for giving detailed description about the plaines and where you apply color.

[@MariaAya]

Love your work, mostly you gave me inspiration now in the lockdown time almost a year now to complete a work of 10 years, doing all oil paintings for a book I wrote already (more than 120) portraits and costumes (its about dance) thank you for your great work

[@katemccarthy2463]

Hi Chris, I love your tutorial videos and your way of teaching. I am learning so much and I have just started your course which is making so many light bulbs go off that I feel truly illuminated.

[@fidanj]

thank you for showing your colour pallet🙏✨

[@Anthony-gq7dk]

Perfect examples to make each point and very well articulated and delivered with just the amount of information needed.

[@IGFineArt]

Your portrait is really amazing my dear art friend...🖼👨🏻‍🎨🎨👍

[@RatusMax]

Your vids helped me with digital painting. I wanted to digital paint first before I went for the real deal. So I used corel painter (corel painter 2020 on sale for 30 dollars on Humble Bundle) and their little painting thing on the side where I can "mix" paint lol. I used only one layer so if I made a mistake, I had to paint over. My first painting looked pretty bad because I didn't even know how to use corel painter. Truth be told seeing you paint over was the thing that made me go from novice looking painting to pretty freaking good painting. I am hoping by doing this it will be transferrable to natural media. I usually just listen to you and others for months on edge on on my free time and then every like 3-4 months I try to use all the stuff I heard along the way on KZbin. The #1 concept that helps me paint better. 1. Paint/draw what you see, not what you think you see. That is the idea by how I learn how to paint and draw. When I told myself that my art always started to look better as my eyes were not mostly looking at the canvas itself but the subject I am to paint/draw. My #2 concept is 2. Learn the materials you are using and know what they will do when you manipulate them so that you can get the results that you are looking for. The #3 concept was created recently and helped by you 3. Break down the painting/drawing into its fundamental parts and then add the details that give the object overall its overall representation. I wanted to show you my painting it's not the best. It has a lot of flaws in it but...for my third try in months and watching YT vids I think it came out pretty good. www.deviantart.com/danusmax/art/Turner2-867389633 I have not had formal training in drawing/ painting like yourself. I drew dragon ball z and sonic when I was young. I wanted to be an artist because I wanted to represent the world on paper. Then in high school I learned mathematics and science. I decided to go to college for physics because it was the same thing I was trying to achieve. Represent the world around me on paper. HOWEVER!! I switched to computer science in my third year because it was a well rounded field that had it all. Mathematics, Arts, Science and I could see the results in a short span rather than a lifetime lol. The biggest thing that I have learned was the power of observation. I find it easy to transfer my art skills to building software an vice versa. In fact that third concept helped me turn a daunting task into a light weight project. I was sweating on the details of what the software would do. After finishing the third painting of the older guy, it was then I realized I could do the same for the software. Breaking it down and only taking the details that give the software its identity. Like how I gave the older man some wrinkles in areas that gave him his identity. Oh yeah I forgot to say this....that painting still looked a bit flat and I could not guess why... The thing that made it look better and realer was adding those greys... GREYS ARE YOUR FRIEND EVERYBODY!!!! PAINT WHAT YOU SEE NOT WHAT YOU THINK YOU SEE!!

[@RatusMax]

@@wordwan I forgot to say this but when you first start the painting know this. It may not look like the end product but so long as you remember that you can change the painting, it will turn into the thing you are aiming towards. NONE of my paintings look like the finished products when I start it. The first half of the time I am trying just to get the overall shape in just like paintcoach. That first part can be off putting because you may not be able to see the finish line yet. If you can see a finish line you are most likely in the second half. The second half I am putting the details that make the person in. 2:03 is what I consider the skeleton. That will be used to keep your painting in line with the proportions as you put the flesh (paint) on it. 5:00 Put the broad colors in and get the canvas colored. Sometimes seeing that white of the canvas peeking out can be a bit jarring. DO NOT THINK ABOUT THE DETAILS JUST BROAD SHAPES. 6:00 Take a break when you have the painting looking like. You need to get your eyes off of it otherwise you may think it looks bad. However when you come back with refreshed eyes, you'll see how to go about fixing or continuing the painting. I usually take a full day to think about what I did, and what I should try. Some people can do that in as little as 30 mins lol. 7:30 This is when you are over the hump. I consider this the second half of the painting. When you reach this point in the painting you are almost home free. This is the time you (This will possibly form your style) start to decide what details make the person who they are. Do NOT FOCUS ON ONE PART JUST YET. YOU ARE NOT IN THE FINE DETAIL PHASES. You are adding overall details. Take a break. Refresh your mind lol. 9:45 Keep this in your mind that you can still alter the whole side of a face, eye, mouth, etc. at this point. Yes you did take time to paint it the first time but you have to understand that if it's not working , paint over it. Now if there are no structural errors, you can now start putting in the fine details. You want to take more time in a location but still move around the painting. If you stay at one portion too long it can risk throwing the painting out of proportion. You may want to take some more breaks if you are feeling frustrated with the finer details. 11:37 He could have added more detail, but he decided it was done. ONLY THE PAINTER DECIDES WHEN THE PAINTING IS DONE. This is all up to your style. What YOU want. Ive seen on youtube some people making photo realistic paintings and I am like " HELL NO THAT IS NOT FOR ME!!! I AM NOT ABOUT TO TAKE THAT MUCH TIME TO DO THAT I'll GO CRAZY!!!" I've seen people start a painting with random (well at least I thought it was random) strokes that don't come together until the end. Then there were concept artists like FZD who can create univeses on a canvas. (I thought what he did was magic. It was like on the 15th video of his I realized how he did it lol) I watched many video and saw how they solved their problems with color, strokes, time, etc. PaintCoaches method and style was the easiest to understand. It told me that it was ok not to get too detailed and to only choose the details that matter. I still need to clean up my methods. I need to lower the amount of strokes I do. Then lower the amount of time I take doing the painting by speeding up my process. If I wasn't using digital paint, I'd have burn through many amounts of paint lol.

[@jaytee7822]

I love your channel iv improved drastically in the last 2 months

[@claygreen4723]

I really admire the work that you do in making these videos. Thanks for all the help you provide.

[@laurenlimon5794]

Thank you for teaching me how to oil paint !!

[@vickyaart]

your tutorials are great and helped me a lot. I notice improvements with my paintings. I wish i found your channel when i was a beginner. Great videos

[@paintcoach]

Great to hear!

[@dianehoweart6084]

I found this really helpful. The painting looks so alive.

[@hyungkipark]

Well done man . Unlike all the cheatsy tracing and grid methods others are doing . Well said

[@ARTYCOATY]

Great art! Masterpiece!! You're very talented! Stay connected and stay safe!! Thank you so much for sharing your wonderful work. And I will continue to support you.

[@sckrofftoffee]

You are so easy to listen to. (And to look at.....) hehe

[@CharlesHancockCreations]

Armature....sculptors use armature. 😉 I'm working on my first self portrait painting right now and after reviewing this video I can see how I made this much harder for myself. 🙏

[@agnesfavaro7612]

your tips and your videos are so helpful. You definitely deserve more recognition. So far I have watched 100s of oil painting tutorials on youtube and while some others were great, I only subscribed to your channel on this topic. I`ll watch all your vids for sure. awesome work

[@ELTABULLO]

Literally painting a portrait of me 😢

[@derankweert]

Great demo Chris I have learned al lot from you. Thanks for it. Love from Holland.

[@manaralmousawi3032]

Great video!

[@WhitneyYadonArt]

Another great video! Love your tips and insight, you've really helped my painting progression so much! Thank you!

[@sujanithtottempudi2991]

Could you do a video on ....how to analyse your own art?

[@ionlyemergeafterdark]

Excellent. I think you are the best coach online for painting. Regarding the videos you have done for features, might I suggest that you do a video for ears. Ears are sort of the poor relative of features, I think. Often when I colour a portrait I find I have forgotten the ears. But ears are important. Also, apparently, ears are individual and they say that ears are like fingerprints. Everyone has a different shape of ear. Also, talking of poor relatives, might I also suggest a video on necks. They are like ears in that it is easy to forget about them. They are also individual and men's necks are different from women's necks, I believe. Thanks.

[@DH.Maker.Artist]

I will definitely have to give this a shot!

[@rezahosseinzadehnasser993]

Thank you. Your instructions are very useful.

[@user-nb7rj5ow2c]

جميل

[@stardollxo5982]

Woah!! Congrats on ur subs, been watching since the start 🤗

[@toni9141]

love your videos thanks for the tips🙏🏻

[@paintcoach]

Glad you like them!

[@coloradomark2159]

Well Done Coach, Thanks!

[@yakkybots]

Thank U really helpful tutorials....is this the same principle with acrylics???

[@sarabyers3499]

This is so helpful thank you

[@pattyhall7162]

Great information

[@rubenengberts8607]

Great! Thank you

[@Polecat54941]

Good job

[@carilin1239]

Wow you draw me!

[@melissab2112]

I love Ryan gosling 😍

[@RatusMax]

Lol I was always like "What do women see in this man? he looks like the average joe." Then I saw his sister and said "Women know how to pick out families with good genes."

[@shirin925]

Hi Chris, I don’t think you will have time to reply but can you please type your website somewhere on your videos. You go so fast about the info to your site that I never get it. Please. Also I think you are the best and the most caring teacher in any subjects ever. You are a decent and honest man. Wish you more success. Thank you…shirin

[@amandap2903]

Which Rosemary brushes do you use? I just ordered my first set; being the Evergreen set. Thank you for linking other videos! I have all tagged so I can watch all and save the ones to repeat until I learn!

[@paintcoach]

Thanks! I like the ivory synthetic brushes they have

[@dorisriddle9212]

Could you share a place to get a proportional divider in your noted suggestions?

[@snakemont]

Thank you soooooo much! such a great Help. i will tag u!

[@user-mf1rz9mn3l]

I LOVE IT

[@SandraEmad-df4de]

Great video ! Can I use refined linseed oil instead of liquin ?

[@huaninhkhanh1221]

Some people think that the more they get into detail the more real their work , but it actually the opposite .

[@JVPaints]

Liked it!

[@jamesitoahalf-japaneseguy5526]

Can you talk about where to paint? Example is in your home, garage, studio. I always have a hard time painting in the garage because I have no heat or ac, so I have to improvise my space. I also can't paint in the house because my wife hates the smell and I have little kids. I have to paint at night. So simple question: How can you make yourself most comfortable when you're painting?

[@jockospillink7318]

Issuing Grow a beard paint a beard self portrait challenge! please and teach us how to paint stubble, sparse beard ( like mine ) and maybe do weekly facial hair painting as it comes in.

[@paintcoach]

Hahah I would but I can't grow a bread

[@jockospillink7318]

@@paintcoach I couldn’t either until I was around 30. At least don’t shave! You are the only paint coach I listen to who is younger than me. My two favorites are Paul Ingbretson, and Paul Rhoads ( Paul-talk )

[@leoncastaneda5569]

Great video! I do have a question, I prefer to use a very light cream instead of pure white cause it feels less jarring to me when I mix colors. Is this wrong of me to do?

[@wierdo225]

You have amazing hair

[@Art.ASMR-You2]

You are good that's good

[@WooptyDo]

Gotta get that Art Mileage in!

[@calinueva]

Hi Chris! Will your Oil Painting Foundational Skills course work for someone who is learning to paint with acrylics?

[@paintcoach]

Yes it should. A lot of what I go over is universal for any medium. This like color, value, form, planes, and shapes

[@calinueva]

@@paintcoach Perfect! Expect another enrollee within this month :)

[@Msannamitta]

yes actually It does and Ive done a few of his method in acrylic, couple things in gouache too

[@calinueva]

@@Msannamitta That's awesome, all the more reason to buy the course

[@MontOneBrno]

how do you record your paiting that it is not shiny when wet?

[@paintcoach]

lighting and angles ahaha it takes some time

[@snakemont]

Dude, you gotta put your Instagram right behind your patreon!

[@EugeniaLoli]

You mentioned your instagram the other day, and yet there is not a single link on your recent videos about it, neither is a link to it on your KZbin About page. That's where you should be putting all these links, so we can find you elsewhere too.

[@melbright100]

I am gonna kinda disagree with you on the tracing...tracing does help you to learn how to draw what you see and you do learn forms and shapes and relations to other things...I started many of my drawings in high school by tracing and some thought it was cheating but then they saw I could also free hand it too and realized that it was a method to learn how to draw for me anyway...now i can take or leave it there is no variation in my abilities in drawing when i start something free hand ot trace it..i am much better at pencil drawing than i am with painting

[@aej-xw7hi]

I completely agree. When you trace you're developing sort of a muscle memory for proportions, and, like you said, you're often breaking things down into basic shapes. I saw a huge jump in my ability to draw free hand after tracing a few images.

[@melbright100]

@@aej-xw7hi exactly my point

[@HondoTrailside]

Great video, your videos really help. Distracted by how wrong the mouth is in this painting. You gave him an Alec Baldwin mouth, maybe too narrow. His mouth is flatter, the lips have less contour, and as you move across the mouth the thickness varies and tapers less than most. But they are what my mother called "curly lips", she liked that look, my dad had it. So there is a wave to them. What he does not have is lips that look like the Rolling Stones logo. Or Baldwin's prissy pursed lips. I think the corner of the jaw is too high and sharp, and the lower jaw is too straight, this may come from blocking in with straight lines, which is a technique I am going to try. But I also can't really see that part strongly in the source, so I could be wrong on that.

[@Henry-gn8kn]

It's Suttle like a girls. Why do you think that Is? I'll tell you, in Hollywood and the music industry especially, the Magority of women are men and men are women. Yes that's how they roll.

[@TheHeadstrongRogue]

Sorry, but I think the lesson here is actually going to give people the wrong information on doing portraits. The first step should always be blocking in darks and lights of the face. As an experienced portrait artist I can assure you that this is the wrong way to start teaching portraits. Your colors are great, but you've ended it with only a partial likeness because you're being to precise instead of going from larger areas of color to smaller. As well the brushwork leaves much to be desired, when painting a portrait you want to always use a lot of paint on the brush, and sculpt the shapes of the face to make the dimensions look accurate, that way light sits on the paint in the same direction as it would on the subject. You're an excellent teacher, but I think you've made a mistake in this video in teaching the wrong subject matter.

[@paintcoach]

I always say there are a lot of different ways to oil paint and they all can work but when you find a teacher who says there is a wrong way and a right way then run away from that teacher.