How to Paint a Native American Shaman

Native American shaman are believed to talk to the spirit world and act as a link between the human world and the realm of the unknown. They are a prominent cultural Native American figure. Painting a Native American shaman can be challenging. With the right steps, patience and general knowledge of what a Native American shaman looks like, a realistic rendering can be achieved.

Things You'll Need

• Easel (optional)
• Canvas
• Paint in various colors
• Water container
• Paintbrushes in various sizes
• Measuring Tape (optional)
• Fan brush
• Liner brush
• Water based varnish

Instructions

1. Research what a Native American shaman looks like. Print some copies of pictures of shaman and keep them next to you as a reference when painting. It is a good idea to choose pictures of more than one shaman in order to achieve a more accurate representation.

2. Prepare the work station. Find a flat surface to work on or use an easel if desired. Set out a canvas of the desired size. Set out all paintbrushes and paints in the colors of your choice. Place a container of water beside the working station to clean brushes.

3. Sketch out the general outline of the shaman. Using a pencil, draw the shape of the shaman very lightly. This is a preliminary step, and will need to be erased and re-drawn frequently. Drawing lightly ensures no traces of pencil or unwanted lines stay on the canvas. This will act as a base to paint the shaman on.

4. Paint the shaman's face. Use a medium sized paintbrush to base coat the desired color on the face. Use a smaller paint brush to add the details. Shaman are generally depicted with a wizened and weathered look. Lightly paint in wrinkles around the mouth and eyes to achieve this. Add a small amount of white paint to the base color to create highlights. Use a small amount of black with the base color to create shadows. Pay attention to the proportions of the face. Ensure that the eyes are not too close set and the mouth is the correct distance from the nose. Use a measuring tape for this if necessary.

5. Paint the hair and headdress. Some shaman are depicted wearing a large headdress, while others only have a few feathers hanging from their hair. Most Native American shaman are shown with long hair. Base coat the hair with the desired color. Add highlights and shadows where necessary. Paint the feathers very lightly using a fan brush to give them a wispy appearance.

6. Base coat the body and clothes on the shaman. Add shading and highlights where needed. Pay attention to any beading details on the clothing. Use a liner brush to paint beads and small details. Lightly shade any darker areas like creases in the clothes with a small brush. Allow the paint to dry.

7. Finish the painting with two coats of a water based varnish. Let dry.

References

• Native American Shamanism And The Medicine Man
• Acrylic painting