Deviation : Portrait Painting
Added 2025-06-04 14:53:35 +0000 UTCI aim to keep this Patreon focused primarily on my current project, Threadbare. However, I also want to share my other work occasionally. Here I can present it in full detail, unlike anywhere else online.
Perhaps it's just in my head, but I fear there's a risk of appearing too one-dimensional if I only ever post figure drawings. My interests as an artist are much broader, as as you can see in my portfolio. While it's productive to have a sharp focus, I think it’s also healthy to explore a range of subjects.
Here, I can also reflect more deeply on the work—should anyone be interested in my thoughts.
With this first one, I won't stray too far afield.
This portrait study was made with the aim of appearing casual and spontaneous—an aesthetic I deeply admire. My focus was simply on the joy of painting a beautiful subject. What more need there be?
The color palette here is limited, but built on a simple strategy: try to make a fairly muted red feel vibrant by surrounding it with greens. This effect—simultaneous contrast—is one of the most powerful tools we artists have. You can always make a color or value note appear more intense, when desired, by association with it's opposite. (Admittedly, I haven’t used it in a particularly subtle way here. For that, check out the work of Anders Zorn.)
Here's the most vibrant note of red used:
I've always had the impulse to reach for the extremes—both of value and color. I think it's a common tendency, especially with digital tools because there isn't the natural limit of real pigment. This tends to produce garish, unsophisticated, and uninteresting palettes. Muted notes can be every bit as powerful—even more appealing—when placed in the right context.
The underlying pale green surface peaks between the gaps of strokes, especially around features of the face. This insures a continuous interplay.
To add a little unexpected flavor to the mix, I dashed in a few playful notes of blue.
Comments
Definitely +1 for the interest for more content about your painting process! And also very much seconding the hopes for a tutorial or process video on how you paint a portrait of this painterly style! :) I've been chasing this sort of look since forever and I've starting messing with your brushes but I don't know which ones to focus on haha, it would be great to see which ones and how you use them in this kind of piece!!
Edu Benavente
2025-06-16 10:29:31 +0000 UTCThanks Kyllian! In that case I'll make sure too keep sharing my other work as well. Good to know there's interest! I find that I do my best work — and am most productive — when I narrow my focus with a clear goal, and for now, that's to make a book full of figure drawings — and all sorts of instructional videos along the way.
Lane.Draws
2025-06-06 05:25:31 +0000 UTCI didn't know the patreon was only going to be focused on Threadbare. I have always loved your paintings and illustrations so I am actually looking forward to have more "off topic" work from yours :)
Kyllian Guillart
2025-06-05 12:15:11 +0000 UTC
