Portrait Drawing and Painting Tutorials

Subject: Portraits

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Below you'll find a collection of tutorials focused on portraiture.  If you are looking for tutorials on figure drawing, check this page. The media and technique may vary so the approach will also vary in each demonstration.

Sitewide Lessons That Feature Portraits


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Oil Painting Master Series - Painting on a Toned Ground
Take a look at painting a skull with oils in this module from "Oil Painting Master Series".
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White Charcoal on Black PaperChiaroscuro - Full Length Video (59:10)
Create dramatic light with white charcoal and draw a skull in this recorded live lesson.
How to Draw with Charcoal - Skull HeaderCharcoal Drawing Techniques, Skull
Learn charcoal drawing techniques and how to draw a skull ( 2 Videos).
Free Drawing Lessons-Ball Point PenBall Point Pen Drawing
Learn how a ball point pen can be used to create drawings in this drawing demonstration.
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Portrait Drawing The Smart Way - Introduction and MaterialsPortrait Drawing The Smart Way - Introduction and Materials
An introduction to "Portrait Drawing The Smart Way" and a look at the materials that will be used throughout the course.
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Portrait Drawing - The Skull Frontal ViewPortrait Drawing The Smart Way - The Skull - Frontal View
A look at drawing the structure of what lies beneath the face and head - the skull (frontal view).
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Drawing the skull-profile viewPortrait Drawing The Smart Way - The Skull - Profile View
A continued look at drawing the skull from a profile view.
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How to Draw Basic Facial ProportionsPortrait Drawing The Smart Way - Basic Facial Proportions
The basic facial proportions and spacial relationships of the features
of the head.
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The Planes of the FacePortrait Drawing The Smart Way - The Planes of the Face
A look at recognizing and drawing the planes of the face and the head.
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The Eye-Frontal ViewPortrait Drawing The Smart Way - The EYE - Frontal View
A look at drawing the eye from a frontal view using a step by step approach of observation and application of material.
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How to draw the eye from a profile viewPortrait Drawing The Smart Way - The EYE - Profile View
A look at drawing the eye from a profile view using a step by step approach of observation and application of material.
How to Paint an Eye with WatercolorHow to Paint an Eye with Watercolor
A look at painting an eye with watercolor. 
How to Draw a Realistic Eye with Colored Pencils HeaderHow to Draw a Realistic Eye with Colored Pencils
How draw an eye and handle those eyelashes with colored pencils.
How to Draw an Eye with Colored Graphite
Learn how to draw a realistic eye by layering and activating Graphitint drawing pencils.
How to Paint a Realistic EyeHow to Paint a Realistic Eye with Pastels
Learn how to paint a realistic eye using Rembrandt pastels in this complete guide that includes images and a HD video demonstration.
How to draw a realistic eye with charcoalHow to Draw a Realistic Eye with Charcoal
Learn how to draw a realistic eye using vine and compressed charcoal on gray drawing paper.
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How to draw a realistic eye with charcoalHow to Draw a Realistic Eye with Charcoal - Full Length Video (1:03:37)
Watch and learn how to draw a realistic eye using charcoal in this full length video tutorial.
Combine Tempera Paint and Colored Pencils
Learn how to combine tempera paint and colored pencils in this demonstration that features creating an image of an eye from imagination. 
Free Drawing Lessons- Colored Pencil EyeColored Pencil Drawing Techniques
Learn colored pencil drawing techniques and how to draw an eye and an apple in this free drawing lesson video.
How to Draw with a Blending StumpHow to Use Blending Stumps - Excerpts
Learn how to draw an eye with blending tools like blending stumps and tortillons.
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How to Draw with a Blending StumpHow to Draw with a Blending Stump - Full Length Video (1:08:26)
Learn how to draw an eye using blending stumps and blending tortillons in this full length recorded Live Lesson.
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How to Draw a realistic eyeThe Secrets to Drawing- How to Draw an Eye
Learn how to draw a realistic eye with graphite in this module from "The Secrets to Drawing" video course.
How to Draw with Pastel Pencils eyeHow to Draw with Pastel Pencils-Eye Demo
Learn how to draw with pastel pencils in this video tutorial.
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Portraits with Colored Pencils Part 1 EyesColored Pencil Course 13 - Portraits - Part 1
The focus is on the eyes in this module from "The Colored Pencil Course".
Free Drawing Lessons- How to draw EyesHow to Draw Eyes
Learn how to draw realistic eyes in this free drawing lesson video.
How to draw an eye with pen and inkHow to Draw an Eye - Pen and Ink
Learn how to draw an eye in pen and ink in this drawing tutorial.
How to draw a nose with colored pencilsHow to Draw a Realistic Nose - Colored Pencils
Learn how to draw a realistic nose in colored pencils in this video tutorial.
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Colored Pencil Course - Drawing a NoseColored Pencil Course 14 - Portraits - Part 2
The focus of this module is on drawing the nose, from "The Colored Pencil Course".
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How to Draw Realistic Nose and MouthThe Secrets to Drawing- How to Draw the Nose and the Mouth
Learn how to draw a realistic nose and mouth in this module from "The Secrets to Drawing" video course - Part 23 "The Nose and the Mouth".
Free Drawing Lessons- How to Draw NosesHow to Draw Noses
Learn how to draw realistic noses in this ultimate guide that includes the basics and more advanced techniques.  This tutorial also includes the side view.  2 videos and images.
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How to Draw a Realistic Nose with Charcoal - Full Length Video (58:14)
Use white and black charcoal on gray paper to draw a realistic nose. Recorded Live Lesson.
How to draw a realistic mouth with charcoalHow to Draw a Realistic Mouth with Charcoal Excerpts
Learn how to draw a realistic mouth using vine and compressed charcoal on gray drawing paper.
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How to draw a realistic mouth with charcoalHow to Draw a Realistic Mouth with Charcoal - Full Length Video (56:00)
Watch and learn how to draw a realistic mouth with black and white charcoal on gray paper in this full length video.
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Colored Pencil Course - Drawing the MouthColored Pencil Course 15 - Portraits - Part 3
Module 15 from "The Colored Pencil Course" emphasizes drawing the mouth.
How to Draw a Realistic MouthHow to Draw a Realistic Mouth with Colored Pencils
Learn how to draw a realistic mouth with colored pencils in this drawing tutorial.
How to Draw LipsHow to Draw Lips
Learn how to draw realistic lips in pastel in this free drawing lesson video.
How to Draw a MouthHow to Draw a Realistic Mouth
2 videos on drawing mouths.  One takes a look at drawing a highly realistic mouth.  The other looks at a step by step approach. (2 videos)
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How to draw a realistic earThe Secrets to Drawing- How to Draw Realistic Ears
Learn how to draw realistic ears in this module from "The Secrets to Drawing" video course - Part 24 "The Ear".
How to Draw a Realistic EarHow to Draw Ears
Learn how to draw realistic ears in this lesson. (2 videos)
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How to draw realistic HairRealistic Textures With Graphite HAIR (57:33)
Learn how to draw a realistic strand of hair in this recorded Live Lesson.
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How to Draw Realistic HairThe Secrets to Drawing- How to Draw Realistic Hair
Learn how to draw hair in this module from "The Secrets to Drawing" video course - Part 25 "The Hair".
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How to draw hair with colored pencilsColored Pencil Course 17 - Portraits - Part 5
The focus of this module from "The Colored Pencil Course" is on drawing hair and finishing the portrait.
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Graphite Portrait Part 1Graphite Portrait Part 1 (1:07:53)
Part one of an eight part series of recorded live lessons on drawing a portrait with graphite.  Laying out the grid and drawing the contours.
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Graphite Portrait Drawing Part 2Graphite Portrait Part 2 (1:01:55)
Part two of an eight part of recorded live lessons on drawing a portrait with graphite. The eyes and the initial values are added.
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Graphite Portrait Part 3Graphite Portrait Part 3 (1:05:58)
Part three of an eight part series of recorded live lessons on drawing a portrait with graphite. The nose and the mouth are added.
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Graphite portrait part 4Graphite Portrait Part 4 (1:09:07)
Part four of an eight part series of recorded live lessons on drawing a portrait with graphite. Some detail is developed in the hair and the value is developed further on the face.
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Graphite Portrait Part 6Graphite Portrait Part 5 (1:01:44)
Part five of an eight part series of recorded live lessons on drawing a portrait with graphite. In this lesson, we begin to develop the lower portion of the body.
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Graphite Portrait Part 6Graphite Portrait Part 6 (1:05:35)
Part six of an eight part series of recorded live lessons on drawing a portrait with graphite. In this lesson, we start to add details to the clothing.
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Graphite Portrait Part 7Graphite Portrait Part 7 (1:10:10)
Part seven of an eight part series of recorded live lessons on drawing a portrait with graphite. In this lesson, we develop the textures of the hat.
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Graphite Portrait Part 8Graphite Portrait Part 8 (34:14)
Part eight of an eight part series of recorded live lessons on drawing a portrait with graphite. In this lesson, we complete the portrait and finish the textures on the hat.
Powdered Charcoal - Portrait SketchPowdered Charcoal - Portrait Sketch
Tone paper with powdered charcoal and finsih a portrait sketch using compressed charcoal.
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Portrait Sketch with Powdered Charcoal - Full Length Video (1:01:27)
Learn how draw a portrait sketch using a variety of different types of charcoal including powdered charcoal.
how-to-draw-hair-free-drawing-lessonHow to Draw Hair
Learn how to draw hair in these art instruction videos. (2 videos)
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Create the illusion of form on the face with colored pencilsColored Pencil Course 16 - Portraits - Part 4
The form of the face is developed in the 16 module from "The Colored Pencil Course".
Colored Pencil PortraitColored Pencil Portrait Tutorial - Excerpts
Learn how to draw a portrait with colored pencils in this video tutorial featuring excerpts from two 1 hour live lessons. Podcast #5 Free download on Apple iTunes.
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Colored Pencil PortraitColored Pencil Portrait Tutorial - Full Length Videos (2:11:10)
Learn how to draw a portrait with colored pencils in this video tutorial.  Two full length videos. Part One (1:07:00) Part Two (1:04:10)
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Watercolor portraitThe Watercolor Workshop 11 - Portrait Painting Part 1
Part one of a series on painting a portrait with watercolor. Transferring images and mixing skin tones is covered.
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Watercolor portraitThe Watercolor Workshop 12 - Portrait Painting Part 2
Part two of a series on painting a portrait with watercolor. Values and tones are layered to complete the face and hair in this module.
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Watercolor portraitThe Watercolor Workshop 13 - Portrait Painting Part 3
Part three of a series on painting a portrait with watercolor. The clothing and the background are completed in this module.
How to mix dark skin tonesMix Dark Skin Tones Excerpts
Learn how to mix dark skin tones using four colors in this tutorial that features excerpts from a 2 hour live demonstration.
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How to mix dark skin tonesMix Dark Skin Tones Colored Pencil Tutorial - Full Length Videos (2:10:42)
Mix dark skin tones to complete a colored pencil portrait in these videos.  Two full length videos. Part One (1:04:42) Part Two (1:06:00)
how to draw a face oil pastelsHow to Draw a Face with Oil Pastels
Learn how to draw a portrait in oil pastels in this free drawing lesson.
Pastel Portrait ExcerptsPastel Portrait Excerpts
Learn how to draw a realistic portrait of a woman with soft pastels in this free drawing lesson that features excerpts from a recorded live lesson series.
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Pastel Portrait ExcerptsPastel Portrait Tutorial -Full Length Videos (2:05:10)
Learn how to draw a portrait with soft pastels in this two part video series. Part One (1:02:56) Part Two (1:02:17)
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Oil Pastel Portrait From Live LessonRealistic Oil Pastel Portrait - Full Length Video (55:06)
Draw a realistic portrait using oil pastels in this full length recorded live lesson.
Oil Pastel Portrait Time LapseTime Lapse of Expressive Oil Pastel Portrait
Time lapse of an expressive oil pastel portrait drawing from a live lesson.
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Oil Pastel Portrait Time LapseExpressive Oil Pastel Portrait Full Length Video (52:45)
Learn how to manipulate color to create an expressive portrait with oil pastels in this full length video demonstration.  
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Ink Wash Live LessonInk Wash Portrait - Full Length Video (1:03:53)
Learn how to transfer an image to create an accurate ink wash in this recorded live lesson.
Free Painting Lessons- Oil PortraitsOil Painting-  Portrait
Learn the basics of oil portraiture in this free painting lesson video.
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Portrait Study Part 1Oil Painting Master Series - Portrait Study Part 1
Part one of a portrait sketch demonstration.  In this tutorial, the portrait is drawn using thinned oil paint.
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Portrait Sketch Part 2Oil Painting Master Series - Portrait Study Part 2
Part two of a portrait sketch demonstration.  In this tutorial, the portrait sketch is completed by applying layers of mixed skin tones.
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How to Draw PortraitsThe Secrets to Drawing- Facial Proportions
Learn how to draw a realistic portrait using basic facial proportions in this module from "The Secrets to Drawing" video course - Part 21.
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Draw Facial Proportions from Different AnglesHow to Draw the Head From Different Angles- Full Length Video (1:28:57)
Learn how to draw facial proportions from 5 different angles in this full length video tutorial.
How to Draw a Face RevisitedHow to Draw a Face - Facial Proportions Ultimate Guide
Facial features and locations are explored in this ultimate guide to drawing the face.  Male and female examples are included as well as drawing the face in profile in 4 video demonstrations.
Free Drawing Lesson- Graphite PortraitGraphite Portrait- Step by Step
See all of the steps in this creation of a portrait in graphite in this video.
Free Drawing Lessons- Acrylic TransferAcrylic Transfers
Learn how to create acrylic transfers in this free painting lesson video.
Free Painting Lessons-How to Mix Skin TonesHow to Mix Skin Tones
Learn how to mix skin tones using just red, yellow, brown, and white in this free painting lesson video.

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