Portraits have historically been associated with powerful figures who could afford to commission them. They conveyed not just the likeness, but the power, prestige, and cultural significance of the sitter.
With the advent of photography, portraits have become accessible to everyone. They're used less to record a photographic likeness and more for the purpose of expression.
I don't see many portraits in the galleries here in Oklahoma; I see walls of landscapes, abstracts, and still lives. A lot of people around here think it's weird to put a painting of a random person on their wall (which I admit is understandable).
But an effective portrait shouldn't feel like you're hanging a family photo.
That's the challenge of the portrait: how to draw an individual but represent the universal. It's not an easy thing to do.
Here, I've compiled a list of things I love about drawing portraits:
The Challenge: Faces are hard to draw. Unlike organic forms like fruit or flowers, if you're off even by a millimeter, the likeness disappears. I always feel a deep sense of satisfaction knowing when I've got it just right.
They Can Express Deep Emotion: Faces are inherently compelling. What's more is they have a universal language for expressing emotion. Symbolism with color or objects sometimes have too much subjectivity to be universally understood.
They're a Convenient Model: Wherever you go, you always have yourself to draw.
Control: There's a lot you can change about the human face; various angles, all the different muscle movements. It has a lot more variety than static subjects.
Historical Record: Portraits, especially when done periodically, can be a great way to show changes over time.
It's one of the best ways to learn shading: Many facial features are only distinguished by the shading. Otherwise, the painting or drawing will look flat.
The Sense of Mystery: Whenever I see a portrait, I always wonder about the sitter. Who were they, what were they thinking, etc. It's strange the way that the artwork can outlive the sitter, like looking into a time capsule.
What do you love about drawing portraits or looking at them?
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