How to Light a Portrait Model for Painting

Lighting that is closer to a model's face will show higher contrast.

Portrait painting is a technique in which a painter uses a live model and paints her face and upper body. A simple background is used for these paintings as to not distract from the model's face. Simple lighting should be used as well; more than one light source can make the painting look sloppy. A single light source, artificial or natural, should light the model's face and cast shadows in one direction to make the painting more dynamic.

Things You'll Need

• Artificial light source or well-lit window

Instructions

1. Place the model in front of a simple background. The portrait model should be seated in front of a wall or backdrop.

2. Introduce the artificial light source if you want to use it and experiment with the different lighting effects that are caused by changing the location of the light source. The model's face should be always be well-lit. Your canvas will need to be lit with the same light source.

3. Place the model in front of a window if you want to use natural lighting. A north-facing window will produce the most even-toned lighting. However, if you want to experiment with different types of light, you can try different windows at different times of the day.

4. Use the lighting, artificial or natural, to cast shadows across the face of the model. The use of shadows will make the portrait look more realistic and emphasize certain features of the model's face.

References

• Portrait Painting Tips: The Art of Portrait Painting
• Utrecht Learning Center: Proper Lighting Techniques for Portrait Painting

Resources

• Sessions College: Course Tour of Portrait Painting