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NARRATIVE IN PORTRAITURE –
Jude Wainwright
Reference Image
Materials
Sketchbook or phone for
jotting down ideas
Canvas
Paper
Pointed stick
Reference images
Oil paints
Turps
Brushes
Find these items at cassart.co.uk
Gathering ideas
Inspiration can come from dreams, flashes of thought, or subconscious imagery. Don’t worry about whether it “makes sense” – if it sparks something in you, it’s worth exploring. Once you have an idea look out for reference images that could feed into your composition. These might be photos you’ve taken of yourself or images you find in magazines or books.
Working out your composition
Lay your reference images out on the canvas to piece together a composition. Once happy, place carbon paper underneath your reference image with the shiny side facing the canvas and use a pointed implement to trace the outline of your reference on to the canvas. Add in any other elements using a pencil. You can keep these lines very loose.
Getting started with paints
When choosing your colour palette think about what sort of mood or emotion you might be trying to portray with your piece E.G darker, broody colours for a mysterious, moody piece. Use turps to loosen your paint and add the background tone, filling your space with a block of colour.
Top Tip: At this point you’re not trying to be super precise; you’re just covering the canvas.
Think about clothing & props
Clothing is a brilliant way to add to a narrative. It can express a type of mood, a moment in history or a different culture. It’s also a brilliant way of adding pattern and colour to your piece. You can also add props or objects to accentuate your narrative. If there is a feeling of history, you could add an old candle burning on a table for example.
Top Tip: Play about with the colours of your different elements. You could bring them together by using complimentary colours to create balance across the whole piece.
Focusing on facial features
Start adding the details of the facial features. They will inject emotion and depth and shape how the viewer connects with the piece.
Add Final Highlights & Flourishes
Highlights (especially in eyes and reflective surfaces like egg yolks) bring paintings to life. Use thick, unthinned paint for the brightest highlights to make them pop.
Refine & Reflect
Step back to see if the painting tells the story you intended. Trust your instincts—sometimes, meanings reveal themselves later.