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| Detail of Original Oil Painting by Lee Papworth |
In my latest post about portraiture I am looking at how to depict hair using oil paints.
Whilst I was at art school a teacher once said to me get someone's hair right and you are some way near to capturing their likeness. Many decades later after doing numerous portraits and figurative painting I can say he was most definitely correct. The way I depict hair using oil paints is as follows:
Leave the white of the primed canvas so that when you put on the first hair colour preferably the lightest tone the white canvas will make the hair appear luminous. This will be the lightest parts of the hair.
The mid tones and dark tones will be added when dry. These will be done by using a soft acrylic or watercolour brush with the mixed colour of paint and applied through dry brush technique. Dry brush technique is when you only use the paint and no painting medium, i.e. just oil paint with no turpentine or linseed oil.
Although hair often looks hard to do, if you follow this technique it can be done very simply as the following paintings show.
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| Detail of Original Oil Painting by Lee Papworth |
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| Detail of Original Oil Painting by Lee Papworth |
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| Detail of Original Oil Painting by Lee Papworth |
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| Detail of Original Oil Painting by Traceyann Papworth |
If you would like to learn more about the art of painting please follow my blog. I teach locally on the Isle of Wight and if you would like to join a class please use the contact form below.
Best wishes
Lee
Hi Lee, I thnk I have finished my portrait .Have noted the tips on hair but had already coloured the backgroiund! Next time maybe. Am looking for my next victim! Will try to send you an image on email Liz
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