Painting Classic Portraits: Great Faces Step by Step

So why bother getting yet another book on portraiture? Most portrait workbooks don't explain the importance of preliminary color and tonal studies as thoroughly as you'll find here. Beautiful charcoal and pencil preliminary drawings showing value, composition and even the direction of the brushstrokes that help you understand how to solve problems before you even begin painting. Other topics include an explanation of lighting choices, portrait design and composition, with excellent color plate demos that teach as you follow along. The reader can watch as painting problems are addressed and solved before their eyes. Tips are included that I've never seen addressed in other portrait painting books. Excellent advice on how to use the computer to aid design. A thorough chapter on skin tone paint color selection gives a novice painter the confidence to try different ethnic skin tones and hair. As a pastel painter, I was particularly impressed with a color reference chart for pastels, naming different brands and hues for ethnicity/hair color, skin, lips, etc. Luana Winner's clear guidance and enthusiasm will have you painting lovely portraits in no time. Don't hesitate, Ms. Winner has generously shared very valuable information that you'll reference and return to again and again. Do yourself a favor and grab a copy before it's out of print!

As an aspiring portraitist, I was excited to pre order this book. When it arrived, seeing lots of FULL COLOR details and instructions was a big plus point. (One would think that every book about painting is full of colorful references, but not so...) However, this book would have been a LOT better if the author had incorporated artists other than herself. Obviously, a long list of successes, shows, representation in permanent collections and many clients demonstrates that her work is in demand and very admired. None the less, I found her painting style to be VERY commercial, formulated and uninspiring. Every one of her subjects looks like they are from the SAME family! Every single portrait had the SAME nose with the highlight painted in the SAME spot in the SAME way (except the ethnic ones--and even those had a similarity of highlight with exactly the same application). "Successful artist" doesn't automatically mean dynamic and inspiring artist. Perhaps the author is a good teacher. I have no interest in finding out because after glancing through this book only ONE time, her painting style turned me off to the point of asking for a refund. The return ship deadline passed, so this book will be a gift to a friend or the library. Alas, someone will get to enjoy it.

I am a practicing landscape artist, and I found Luana Winner's book an excellent introduction to the various demands of painting portraits. There is a lot of information in this book for both beginners and for more advanced painters. Some techniques in making art are the same no matter what the subject, but others are somewhat specialized in portraiture. She covers everything from composition to finish, but, for example, her sections on the construction of elements that make up a face, e.g., the nose, the eyes, etc. are of real value to the artist attempting portraiture The section on hair and skin tones is especially informative. Ms. Winner's short section on digital techniques is one of the best explanations of how to use photography in support of the painting process that I have read. In summary, I think that Ms. Winner has provided a very useful book to anyone interested in rendering that most interesting of subjects, the human face.

Covered many techniques for thinking about the "How" of these various challenges. I have quite a library and haven't seen any of these topics covered this way. I liked it very much and I am sure as an experienced still life and landscape painter I will significantly improve in my attempts to render a higher level of portrait with a lower dissatisfaction level.definitely a good addition to my library of knowledge. Ms Winner has many good insights that are fruits of her labors that can only come from time spent in front of the easel and I would like to thank her for showing those to me.Worth every cent.ANS

I have struggled to transition from drawing charcoal portraits to painting them. Along the way I have purchased several books, which were all good but still left me struggling. This book triggered my "ahh...ha!" moment where it all came together for me. I painted along with all the examples in the book, and was rewarded for that work when I finally painted a portrait of my friend's daughter that came out really well. I am so happy with the book that I bought a second copy for my kindle.

Excellent advice for the aspiring portrait painter. The author talks about technique in great detail, but also stresses the importance of understanding the personality of the subject. The topics are carefully explained in great detail. One of the best instructional art books available. I highly recommend this book. I have it on kindle but will also order in hardcover.

Well written, easy to follow information from a master portrait artist. I purchased this book to help my students interested in learning oil or pastel portraiture because that isn't a subject in which I'm proficient other than drawing with pencil or charcoal. The color charts have been very helpful for them.

The author uses modern-day techniques to instruct how to achieve accurate facial proportions and shapes of the face. It has ten charts showing how to mix skin tones and hair colors. I think it is a particularly good book for both the beginner and somewhat experienced painter.

Its a real good starter for portraits theirs portraits to do on all the different racial groups, fair, native american, oriental, red head, spanish, black, composition drawing values, blending, it is a good book well worth getting.

This was OK but not quite what I expected. There was something old fashioned about it. I prefer a more dynamic approach to art.

Excellent book

Expected a step by step process of mixing and applying flesh colours from a limited palette. This book tries to be all things to all people and fails accordingly.

great book as introduction to portraitpainting - instructive illustrations and very readable text for all interested in learning how to get started