The Portrait

STEP ONE

Preparing your canvas, drawing

I give my canvas a light sanding as I like it smooth. I prefer to paint on linen these days; it has a lovely texture and absorbs the paint differently to canvas.

I begin by painting the canvas with acrylics a block colour, usually a mid-flat brown as shown. I find it easier to draw my image on colour rather than a stark white background. I then draw the image with a watercolour pencil so as I paint the first layer of acrylics