TRICKS TO FINDING LIKENESS – Polly Pincott
Canvas or oil painting board
Reference image (high contrast for clarity)
Pencil for sketching
Ruler for grid method
Paints
A variety of brushes
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Start by picking an image with strong defining features (e.g., eyebrows, beard, hairline). Look for light and shadow contrasts to help define structure. Consider the expression of your model as personality and emotion are the key to likeness.
Top Tip: It is useful to have a black-and-white version alongside your colour reference as it focuses your attention to tonal differences
To draw a grid create vertical and horizontal lines spaced an inch away from each other on your reference image and canvas. It can be useful to number your columns and alphabetise your rows to create a battleship-esk system. This way you’ll easily be able to identify the square you want to focus on. Where you have trickier or more complicated areas, you can create a “grid within a grid” to focus you in even more
When you begin drawing, start with soft, light pencil marks to sketch key shapes. Make sure to focus on one square at a time so you don’t get lost and constantly refer back to your reference image. It is useful to pay special attention to negative space and angles whilst also identifying key facial landmarks like eye sockets, nose bridge, and jawline.
It’s also useful to mark out any really dark shadows to guide the painting later on.
Top Tip: No face is perfectly symmetrical—embrace natural asymmetry for a more lifelike portrait.
Looking first at the skin, mix some base colours like burnt umber, burnt sienna, yellow ochre, and cadmium red. Block in darkest areas first as these will become reference points. It may be nice to use a filbert brush to maintain a level of softness at this stage.
Work loosely—don’t panic if the likeness seems off initially.
Top Tip: Trust the process! The likeness often emerges as layers build up.
At this stage you can start drawing in key features with paint using a smaller brush. Focus on key areas that define likeness like the eyes, mouth, and any distinctive lines. If you get the nuances of these right it will really help.
Once you’re happy with the overall form, it’s time to refine the hands, feet, and facial features. Use the same measuring techniques to do this. Use stronger marks for dark shadow. These areas will help to indicate where the weight falls on whatever your model is sitting or standing on.
You can start to also introduce mid-tones and highlights looking really carefully at the tone of each area. Remember the whites of the eyes are not white. They’re normally quite dark. Your black and white photo will help you with these areas.
Throughout your painting, check proportions by stepping back and squinting at your painting and if you get tired of focusing on the face, take a break and work on the clothing. It will give you fresh eyes when you look back at the face.
Top Tip: It might be useful to take a proper break from your work and make a cup of tea or look at it through a phone camera for a new perspective.
It’s time to add small details like fine hairs, smile lines, or subtle shadow shifts. You can reintroduce some drawn lines for a dynamic blend of painting and drawing but also keep some areas loose and undefined for artistic style.
Top Tip: Likeness isn’t just about resemblance—it’s about capturing the subject’s essence and character.
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