Achieving a Likeness When Painting Portraits

Rob Silverman, a Portrait Society of America member, painted a portrait at the Art League of Nassau County at the group's last meeting before summer on May 27 at 's recreation center.

The demonstration showed how to paint a portrait using the special measuring tools Silverman uses, such as a commercial view catcher and a plastic grid he has created.  The chief component of a great portrait is a likeness of the person and this method guarantees success.

The artist said before starting, “The head should be comfortable in the space. The placement shouldn’t have the model looking like he’s falling down off the canvas or too close to the top of the canvas.”

Silverman used the adjustable view catcher to decide where to position the model’s head on the canvas. He sketched a box where the head would be located. Silverman took time studying the model’s face using his plastic see-through grid. On a canvas toned in raw umber, he then sketched Vincent’s major features in the correct boxes in a darker shade, adjusting proportions for the model’s specific face.

After placing the features, Silverman painted in the major shadow areas on Vincent’s face. Small highlights confirmed the correct proportions. Local color was added next on the face and shirt.

For flesh tones, “neutralize as you move away from the light,” Silverman instructed. He proceeded to add blue paint into the warm tones he started out with for the face color. After adding in a darker background that helped the head pop out from the canvas, Silverman developed Vincent’s features, refining shapes and colors as he painted. 

Silverman paints with Holbein “Aqua Duo” odorless water-based oil colors on a gray palette. With small children in his home, he doesn’t want to use noxious traditional oils with turpentine as a solvent.

ALNC member Grace Su was happy to buy a painting by Silverman. She pointed out his work has “dramatic color. I like to do portraits and his method is easier.”

He paints with “great value contrast,” ALNC Treasurer Vivian Hershfield commented.

Rob Silverman’s work is featured in the Fall 2010 American Artist Workshop Magazine, and the 2010 edition of The Journal of the Portrait Society of America. Silverman has studied with national contemporary artists Harvey Dinnerstein, Burton Silverman, Nelson Shanks and David Leffel. Silverman teaches at the Long Island Academy of Fine Arts located in Glen Cove.  Please visit www.liafa.com.  

For more information on the ALNC, visit www.ArtLeagueofNC.org.