Oil Painting Portrait - Techniques for Beginners and Advanced Step by Step - Tutorial Demonstration

In this Tutorial, I show you how to paint a Portrait step by step from scratch. I show you my process, but more importantly, I share some tips and tricks that I learned when I was just starting as a beginner. You can't really learn anything if I just show you how I paint and tell you to simply do the same. It's not how it works, art doesn't work like this and nobody learned how to paint by only copying... Art is a personal thing and if you really want to make progress, you need to find your own process.
So what I do in this video is cover my techniques but also give you some of the techniques that I used when I was struggling as a beginning artist. It's not always easy for beginners to understand the process so this complete tutorial will help you along the way, you will see how I prepare my canvas, how I do the drawing and how I deal with color mixing.
This long format is only possible thanks to my amazing Patrons on Patreon, so thank you all for the support !
Here are the different stages I cover :
Step 1 - preparation
Step 2 - Drawing
Step 3 - Filling in
Step 4 - Correcting the shapes
Step 5 - Refining the shapes
Step 6 - Refining the colors
Step 7 - Finishing
Like and subscribe !
***
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***
About me (bio) :
I am an artist living and working in France. I learned the techniques of the Atelier of the Nineteenth century and now I try to share some of my knowledge with the rest of the world, because I think that beauty still has an important role to play in artistic creation. I do mostly drawing and oil painting, and my goal is always to provide techniques and explanations that can be useful to anyone, from beginners to more advanced artists.
The material I use most of the time (not necessarily in this video) :
Drawing
Equipement
✓ Kneaded eraser
✓ Plumb line
✓ Small mirror
✓ An old synthetic brush
✓ Masking tape
✓ Cutter
✓ Sandpaper or sanding block
✓ Mahlstick or Hand rest (DIY)
✓ Level ruler
Graphite
✓ Pencils 2H, HB and 2B
Charcoal
✓ If available: Nitram charcoals (H, HB and B)
!!! Or, if not::
✓ Square Venetian charcoals Lefranc and Bourgeois
✓ Natural charcoal box (check that the heart of the stick is not spongy and hollow)
Black and white chalk
✓ Sketch pencil Conté white
✓ Square Conté noir : HB and 2B
✓ Chalk or pencil holder
✓ Pencil sketch Conté Pierre noire : H and HB
Sanguine
✓ Sketch pencil Conté : Blood and blood Medici
✓ Crayon Polychromos Faber-Castel : sanguine
✓ Sketch pencil Conté white
Oil painting
Palette
(Extra-fine paint, recommended brands according to availability: Lefranc Bourgeois, Winsor and Newton, Royal Talens Rembrandt, Sennelier)
✓ Titanium white PW6
✓ Yellow ochre PY42
✓ Burnt Sienna PR101 or PBr7
✓ Venetian red or English red PR101
✓ Permanent Alizarin crimson (Attention: do not use the traditional pigment, which is not very light-fast) PV19 or PR177
✓ Cobalt teal blue PG50
✓ French ultramarine blue PB29
✓ Raw umber PBr7
✓ Burnt umber PBr7
✓ Ivory Black PBk9
Brushes
✓ About ten filbert hog bristle brushes sizes n° 4, 6, 8, 10 and 12
✓ Some flat brushes
✓ Round sable brush or round Kolinsky sable n°10 (from the size of the nail (about one inch) or synthetic imitation
Medium
✓ Linseed stand oil
✓ Odourless mineral spirits
✓ Safflower oil
Surface
✓ Linen canvas, fine grain universal coating
✓ Canson oil-acrylic oil paper Figueras
Others
✓ Palette
✓ Foam and spalter brushes
✓ Palette knife in the shape of a water drop
✓ A few small pots, containers, jars...
✓ Paper towels
***
Thanks for watching !

[@danis5491]

You are the best art teacher on the net! :)

[@AnisJerbi]

Oil painting is phenomenal, I'm 16 and I fell in love with it from 2 years already, the colours really feel alive.

[@FlorentFargesarts]

Oil painting is amazing indeed.

[@RobertF-]

Keep painting and don't stop.

[@helpiswhatyouneed.6758]

@@FlorentFargesarts One question, at what age do you recommend oil painting? I have the supplies, but should I be worried since I'm still a teen?

[@tibmb3439]

@@helpiswhatyouneed.6758 If u know how to manage the toxic of the medium ,u can already paint.

[@helpiswhatyouneed.6758]

@@tibmb3439 Thanks I'll try as soon as I can.

[@sheridan-coldstream]

I have been painting for nearly 4 months, a relatively late discovery for me. Really Florent your videos are truly inspiring and of enormous benefit to me. Thank you so so much for your gentle encouragement and astounding knowledge of your craft. Sheridan

[@jrlakin370]

Great

[@FlorentFargesarts]

Thanks ; )

[@FlorentFargesarts]

If you enjoyed this video and want to see more like this one, leave a like, share and let me know what to talk about next... Have fun Painting !

[@catherinecervas3726]

Florent Farges - arts Maybe discuss this surface preparation/your knowledge of different board surfaces/grounds? Thank you, beautiful portrait.

[@FlorentFargesarts]

@@catherinecervas3726 Hey Catherine, sure that's an interesting topic. Often overlooked but important. I'll keep that in mind for future episodes.

[@nicolenejoythe7652]

Wow it's so beautiful I hope I can reach your level of painting one day

[@willmcc4070]

what's that shiny stuff you put on the background just before painting over it to change the color?

[@ilse-mariebriel4913]

I love your technique and paintings and would like to see more with the advanced block in progression

[@fennycruz6714]

I love the written summary and foreword together with demonstration. Thank you. Quick and easy to follow too, from one episode to the next...

[@jinjinb528]

I agree. Layers make the potrait more realistic.

[@allenvoss7977]

Incredible . Such good teaching

[@FlorentFargesarts]

Glad you liked it

[@shazlee100]

Excellent tutorial thank you so much!

[@mariaelenasayan3814]

Thank you! Great video!

[@jeffhreid]

The production value of this latest video is at a whole new level. Really impressive and polished. The content is amazing as always! Outstanding.

[@FlorentFargesarts]

Thank you so much jeffhreid , I do my best ^^

[@maisondart239]

J'adore ton style.

[@venice589]

THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING YOU SHARED WONDERFUL!!!!!!

[@AndrewMarloweTV]

What a beautiful painter you are man and great advice also. I find it hard to imitate others techniques so I naturally just sort of fell into my own

[@lifecoachcher-ie6554]

Very inspiring. Love your style and colours. Yes talking about techniques would be helpful. Suggestive tips.

[@44aceofhearts]

You're a very good teacher. Thank you!

[@kathleenloverso5654]

Your work is beautiful.. I for one would love to see you show your techniques. I’m sure others will, too. Thank you so much for sharing with us. 👩🏼‍🎨🎨👨🏻‍🎨

[@misski983]

i love watching your tutorials it inspired me to practice more and more it really helps me a lot!your such an inspiration

[@afafzabaneh3916]

Bravo ... beautiful...like your step by step technique...

[@AnthonyTurnham]

Hi Florent! I'm a photographer with a youtube channel and I grew up painting and used to get a lot of enjoyment from it. I haven't painted for so long I'm super rusty and almost afraid to paint again. I'm really happy to have found your tutorials. They're perfect to help me get back into painting. Thanks for sharing and putting them together. I know how time-consuming it is to create tutorial videos! I'm looking forward to setting aside a little "me time" each week to rediscover the joy of painting. In the meantime, I'll be processing photos on my main monitor whilst I watch and re-learn painting on my second screen. Nice. :) Keep up the great work!

[@eliudgachuhi8621]

This is so helpful

[@rosamondjourdan1487]

What a beautiful portrait demonstration. I love the way you describe your process - somehow you make it all feel so achievable.

[@ComradeWatermelon]

I rarely comment on KZbin videos, but I just wanted to say your paintings are exquisite, truly amazing work. Thank you for sharing it with us!

[@daxx6687]

thanks alot :) great work

[@suneshchandra6807]

The best way of explanation since today You are awesome

[@nickbarker9712]

I've been in and out of practice with art most of my life but your videos and ideas in general are very inspiring. I've realized and learned alot about art but more importantly myself. It's funny that an airbrush artist that paints mainly skulls and flames can find new inspiration and direction from a completley different form of art. Please continue being a great teacher

[@sandradelvecchio6894]

Thank you so much for this info. Since I’m a beginner I have been drawing more in general while learning the parts I need to get right to do a painting, value, hue, paint consistency, those things. It’s never a waste to practice drawing until I can pull all those other elements together better.

[@FlorentFargesarts]

Drawing is always a good foundation. Because there is so many things to deal with when painting (like you said) that you can't hesitate with your drawing skills. It takes time but it will come. But anyways, thanks for inspiring this section of the video Sandra ;)

[@mankirankamaal7251]

What a talent

[@susannerauch8237]

She's beautiful, Florent. Amazing, really.

[@ashitagonsalves3678]

Loved the insights , was very helpful for a novice artist like me ❣️ Would love to see a video on different techniques as you mentioned. Cheers ✨

[@joegrande4848]

stunning work you have plus the way to teach very insightful. As well as helpful an educational thank you for sharing your beautiful art an your knowledge of how to paint

[@skysky9115]

So beautiful....I love the velvet....and the hands...

[@tinabaker09]

Thank you for this very informative portrait demonstration. Your explanations are valuable. It has inspired me.

[@zuzu_1]

I Love your videos Farges !! I bought your course, and I feel like I’m really learning!!! It was so amazing !!

[@FlorentFargesarts]

Thank you so much ! I'm glad my work can be useful! :)

[@maisondart239]

Nice work 👍👍👍👍👍

[@peterempire1777]

amazing

[@josiegifford6636]

Absolutely stunning this truly shows how much work one piece will take, if you DARE to right? Thank you for the instructional videos I love them

[@josephwunstell1008]

You are an excellent painter

[@chowdhuryarjun221]

This video was very important for me. I highly needed these advices thnx

[@FlorentFargesarts]

Glad it was helpful. Enjoy painting!

[@chowdhuryarjun221]

@@FlorentFargesarts why are u glad we should be glad that u are spreading your knowledge among us.

[@ruthbircham7340]

I agree. Painting is personal😊

[@dorinases]

Very talented :)

[@wt6839]

Enjoy your video very much!

[@caycarlson162]

Florent you give very relevant advice. I struggle with finding enough time or schedule enough time to practice learn and improve. Your videos help keep me in a creative mode mentally.

[@FlorentFargesarts]

Thank you so much. Finding time is really hard for artists. Slowly but surely is the way to go.

[@DarioDeSiena]

your skilll level is so high i really love this style of painting! the deep background catchers so much emotion good job. i started a channel about my art progress i hope aome get a bit inspiration out of it. 🙏

[@alkamukati9370]

Good direction

[@suyatiaung1337]

I love oil painting 🎨😍😀

[@artemis2545]

Thank you so much for this video I followd a lot of artistes on KZbin seeking for ways techniques to learn how to paint but I find your way to explain and the steps your taking are verry rich I learned from you moor than I learned from my school back ... really ... the techniques your using arnt easy but the way you explain and show them make them looks easy but following your steps on my works really gave me the ability to reach another level on painting plz keep going keep sharing thank u florent so much

[@FlorentFargesarts]

Thank you so much Lily, I do my best to provide insights on what I do. I know what it's like to learn so I always think about people just getting started.

[@normancomerford6148]

This was excellent, the painting is beautiful! Her hands and position are sublime, although the ear seemed slightly oversize - but people are different! Well done!

[@joove]

b b b bi bi b b b b b b b b b b b

[@missunt6096]

Yes, please do an episode on all the color methods you use! I need all the info I can get :)

[@FlorentFargesarts]

Alright miss unt, I'll keep this in mind. Thanks for the feedback!

[@afafzabaneh3916]

Final steps are great....

[@judihopewell7148]

At the grisaille stage when you are drawing with a brush, if you could talk a little about adjusting both for likeness and perspective/gesture it would be helpful. Thank you so much..

[@happyloulize1622]

Magnifique peinture et magnifique femme. Vous avez vraiment beaucoup beaucoup de talent.

[@FlorentFargesarts]

Merci beaucoup Lilou :)

[@zazaincalifornia]

If I could sketch as good it would be a start 😂 thank you for helpful insights!

[@touchwithouttouchwithannas7354]

I really like your explanations and your techniques - I am an artist myself, but never painted oils - this will be my first oil (I will tag you on Instagram once I am finished) - have a wonderful evening - Anna

[@zulkrom8195]

00:47 Great words 🍻

[@judyhartman3284]

Also, Florentine your work is so superb. I’ve been painting for about 30 years I taught myself watercolor, oil and acrylic. Love all the mediums. I am basically a wildlife painter maybe I could send you a picture of my raccoons or something on email how would that be?

[@saltandiron3379]

I attended a university with a very post-modern art point of view. Figure painting became a struggle because I love how you paint and how classical artists paint. They would tell me I’m “over working it” if I was blending colors smoothly. I feel like over working can be an okay thing... or is over working a real thing.

[@ruthbircham7340]

I never draw before i paint as it makes the portraiture looks stiff and lacking in emotion. I paint sketch and i paint at the same time. You are a genius. And i have shared your youtube vid 👐👍to whatsapp and beginner artists. I hope you dont mind😊

[@magdalenakl4047]

Could you Please make videos about that techniques you’ve mentioned

[@squarz]

I deeply appreciate your work and channel. You are truly trying to help others. I hope you will have the success you are looking for. Said that, please fix the hands, the right hand is simply wrong and impossible the other one is more correct but need some improvements 🙂

[@figurativeartistbenjaminel8395]

Wonderful video. What are you using to edit? On my channel I’m using Lumafusion. Also have some question about your audio. It’s beautiful... like how? Lol.

[@crisalidathomassie1811]

Great video, great demo and great sound advice. The hardest part for me is making the time and stick to it. I have been more pro active and I’m still pushing myself to spend more time practicing. Thanks so much for your guidance, I truly appreciate it. One big favor please, when producing other videos about technique you might need to place the camera in a way that we can see when you are painting. It defeats the purpose not so see it and follow your steps. Otherwise, I admire you as a person and as an artist you are excellent. Blessings and be safe.

[@coffeemagicroaster6177]

Florent, I find your videos very inspiring and there is a great deal of information imparted. I am at the stage where I need to learn how to correct the mistakes and this video is very relevant. Would it be possible to do a similar video with an older subject, one that has a few lines and wrinkles. It’s a subject that I find a little harder to get right in a portrait. I would also appreciate if the camera position could be changed when you get to the detail as your head obliterates what you are doing. Thank you for your expertise.

[@janecollette9504]

I use graphite to do the first drawing, but I can define see the benefits of using the loose paint to do your sketch a little at a time

[@RollsRoyce113]

I love your videos man!! Thank you for sharing your knowledge. What is the white bar you are using? Is it to steady your hand? Sorry, I’m very new to painting. Just picked it up a few weeks ago.

[@stevecaudell8609]

Love this video, I am very attuned to the process. While your process is not my process it is really good to see how other painters work through the process. I am a fairly new painter although I have drawn since I was a kid. My first portrait drawing was at about age 10. At this point I have only painted two portraits and currently have 3 started and 2 paintings of roses in stage three (monochrome) layer they are drying but still need another layer to correct some of the rose petals structure that I could not get in over the wet paint. I also started the roses to attempt my first glazing. Have never attempted this before so wanted to attempt it on a smaller painting first. (9” x 12”). I need to understand when you use different painting techniques better. Is there a good way to learn the different techniques and when to apply them in your paintings? Also interested in what thickness of Masonite you use. Is it 5/8” or 3/4 “ can this be obtained from a wood supply store? Do you need to seal the edges the back and the front as Masonite will readily absorb moisture? Loved your video on painting full figures. This is where I would eventually like to take my painting. Thank you for all your painting and drawing videos. Enjoy them so much and can’t wait to find a video I haven’t seen.

[@vivianaldawoodi5432]

Waw god job you are amazing

[@FlorentFargesarts]

Thank you so much Vivian ! :)

[@vivianaldawoodi5432]

Florent Farges - arts 🌹❤️

[@vivianaldawoodi5432]

Do you know what .. I am showing your videos to my students to learn and master the drawing like you😊😊❤️❤️🌹🌹

[@stevethompson5061]

I truly enjoy all of your videos. I am a beginner and I am having difficulties transferring my drawings to my canvas. I was inquiring about the process you used to transfer your drawing (at 6:28) from your paper to the canvas?

[@paolamiano]

hi! what do you use at the beginning to blend out the first layer? i feel the texture is important! is it a towel? paper ?

[@reevakejriwal8984]

Its a paper towel, more like a tissue

[@anajimmitchell6876]

i am working on some indian paintings need help this video is great

[@artshapedbox8803]

Hi Florent, can I ask what thinning medium you use please for the burnt sienna and black wash at the beginning, and then how long you left it before filling in? I always struggle building layers and seem to end up with murky colours. Is this all done in one day? Thank you (p.s. I love all of your tutorials)

[@samiramounzil6998]

Hi ,thanks for all explanations you provide us with. But please try to make the camera on the painting because we only see more your neck or head than the painting. Tkx

[@nelidagarcia7412]

Florent, what are the techniques that you cover in your video course?

[@allenvoss7977]

Do you have a video that covers the 60/30/10 method ? For example 60% black 30%yellow 10% Red ? What would help me when coming up with good color schemes?

[@LoRainin]

Thank you for this video. I’m taking art lessons online for all types of mediums and they want me to focus on a section at a time but I can’t do that. I’m like you I have to focus on the whole and adjust as I go but, I thought I was overworking the piece. Also can you or anyone tell me a non toxic way to clean brushes? I get severe headaches even using odorless turpenoid in a well ventilated room?

[@bross63]

Will you please spell the term you mentioned that sounds like melatura? I want to look it up so I can understand it better. Thank you. Your instruction is wonderful, but that is mostly due to your spirit and heart which are clearly very caring and sincere.

[@FlorentFargesarts]

Hey thanks ! It's called "velatura". I should have put a text in the video... I

[@DecinergyAt]

👍🏻☺️ *TOP²!* 😉✌🏻🇪🇺

[@nooby613]

2:20 Now I understand! That's the reason for all the problem I had while starting my first portrait! I didn't even prime my canvas surface... That's all b'cuz of my dad. He tells that we should use a textured surface of painting! 😡😡😡 I tried to convince him but couldn't.. 😔😔

[@keithblower1091]

Most art experts say use the artists quality oil paints and not the student quality, I remain unconvinced. The artists paints are on average are 5 times the price of student paints, more if expensive pigments are used. This may be cost effective if paint is used in thin layers or glazes, but many techniques , impressionism, or artists like John Singer Sargent for example use paint with heavy brushstrokes. This use of thick paint is deliberate and emphases the artists hand in the painting. The use of finely hand ground pigments is simply unnecessary when the paint is applied thickly.

[@bettychilldres9860]

I'm now in the process of painting a large double portrait of an older couple. But I'm having problems with their skin tones along WITH their face wrinkles. I'm not a very good portrait painter... but I sure would like to learn much better just how to lay down skin tones, along with the lighting and shadowing WITH wrinkles. 🤔🙄

[@darkfoxx8780]

5:17 What did you wear?

[@caroline-9672]

What is the name of the white lean tool that the artist is using to balance/lean his painting hand on???

[@FlorentFargesarts]

It's a mahl stick : it's just a simple stick with protection at the tip to avoid damaging the painting. Simple DIY really !

[@charlesz8531]

How do you decide what/when to blend or what/when NOT to blend? This might be a silly question.

[@mmcreepyarts3072]

How long does one painting take you

[@greysky1252]

22:09 whoops!

[@vivianlee8382]

👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻🥰🥰🥰🥰😍

[@biancabrandao8737]

excellent video!!! I‘d like to know how you prepared the surface. Thank you.

[@FlorentFargesarts]

Three coats of universal acrylic gesso with a large soft spalter. On masonite board. Pretty simple really (and cheap).

[@biancabrandao8737]

Florent Farges - arts thank you veeeeery much!!!

[@dusky7611]

I dont get it still why outlines with pencil are bad, I know some artists who do that, what is the difference if you make the outlines with paints instead of a pencil? I think the shapes are more accurate with pencil

[@henriquejanuario881]

Thanks for sharing! I think that you are working from a photo...right? Maybe you can give some tips about how to take photos that will be used for painting...peace!

[@FlorentFargesarts]

Hey Henrique! Actually I already have a video on using photos on my channel. You can check it out ;) Take care !

[@oliviersevic4655]

félicitations c' est toujours aussi intéressant, mais pourriez vous un peu traduire en français, cela aiderait les francophones. Je comprends quand même un peu. Je sais que cela demande du travail en plus mais comme vous en êtes capable. merci

[@pabloquirosloria9582]

How can you say that imitating masters don't help you to improve your painting?. That can help you a lot to learn differents skills that after been correctly approach you can use to get to your own style.

[@beulahshamshum1781]

I've been trying out oil painting but have had such a horrible experience as my paint seizes as i place it on the canvas, doesn't blend and completely mattes over. I can't tell if it's the paint, mixing medium or canvas thats the problem as I've tried other paints, bought other linseed mix ins and tried other painting surfaces. If anyone has any idea of whats wrong, please let me know

[@beulahshamshum1781]

@James Bond Thank you so much for this, I really appreciate it 🙏

[@duantorruellas716]

I disagree , you can learn alot by copying the work of other artist , especially old masters . But you have to understand what the artist is doing with composition , technique , and interpretation. Technique gives you an insight to a different approach to get from A to B. You have to understand how they achieved the effects . The more you learn about the different effects and mediums you have at your disposal and how they're used , the better. However this might not be the best thing for the absolute beginner , on this point I agree with you . First they have to find they're own voice , or should I say they're hand. And I do agree with you about the line or contour. The line will disappear. I had problems in this department coming from a background in illustrator , in the end I realized where two colors meet , that's where the line will be.

[@FlorentFargesarts]

Hey Duan, I think I was talking about the process, not the style. I didn't really make it clear. I was not copying actual pictures, but looking in books or in videos at the various steps other artists were taking and trying to proceed the same way.

[@duantorruellas716]

@@FlorentFargesarts I think I understand what you mean. Maybe you mean being a pioneer and invent your own style , I understand that. But it's the processes and techniques that I learned from and not the style. Copy was good for me I learned alot and many artist get better like I use to stand in the metropolitan museum and copy the work , learning to see is good .You have the skill and are a hell of an artist. I think you're a perfectionist and very gifted and after watching this again I realize you might mean learn many techniques, and develop your own process. Or pick which one works for you , and that I agree with because it was what i did. And i only meant copy is important for the beginning as a way of learning to see.

[@vladimirorlov2375]

🙂🤔👀👍💻🖌🎨🎨🎨👍

[@dhirajjadhav7718]

Op

[@ruthbircham7340]

I am allergic to oils now so i switched to acrylics. 😊

[@janineshideler4051]

But the painting is not finished! Look at the fingers... need to go back to it... some day...

[@bettychilldres9860]

Florent... now... it appears that in your portrait here, the girl's ear is sticking OUT too much. Maybe it should be painted more "narrowly" to give the appearance of being in alinement along "with" her face. 🤔

[@girishchandrapinge1377]

Adjust your camera to an angle that the viewer is able to see the painting rather then the back of your head

[@pnartg]

This tutorial would have been a lot more useful if we could see the model or reference photo you were starting with.