Uploaded July 2026 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
One of the biggest problems with artists painting portraits, not only in grayscale but also with color, is trying to incorporate more detail than they need to.
This is the case of the portrait from Cody, one of my students. @_opal.arts_
When you look at the work from the masters, you realize that they were excellent at separating the lights from the mid-tones from the shadows.
This made their portraits clear to read and attractive because they were not only a beautifully rendered portrait but also a graphic statement.
If you're having trouble with your portraits and you find yourself noodling around, this might be your problem.
Take a step back, look at your portrait, and ask yourself if you are adding more detail than what the reference or your illustration needs.
One of the biggest problems with artists painting portraits, not only in grayscale but also with color, is trying to incorporate more detail than they need to.
This is the case of the portrait from Cody, one of my students. @_opal.arts_
When you look at the work from the masters, you realize that they were excellent at separating the lights from the mid-tones from the shadows.
This made their portraits clear to read and attractive because they were not only a beautifully rendered portrait but also a graphic statement.
If you're having trouble with your portraits and you find yourself noodling around, this might be your problem.
Take a step back, look at your portrait, and ask yourself if you are adding more detail than what the reference or your illustration needs.
