Portrait Painting Step by Step: Complete Guide in Three Sittings

James Otto Allen
Dec 3, 2017
3 min read

Updated: Nov 14

3 images of a an oil painted portrait at different stages

When tackling a portrait, following a portrait painting step by step approach can make the process more manageable and allow each layer to dry properly. In this post, I’ll walk you through a traditional direct painting method over three sittings, showing how to build up tones, refine features, and layer colour.

This portrait painting step by step approach emphasizes accurate proportions, half tones, and working from opaque underlayers to transparent upper layers while adhering to the fat over lean rule.

Portrait Painting Step by Step: Materials You’ll Need

Linen canvas with grey ground
Vine charcoal
Palette knife and brushes
Fast-drying opaque earth colours: yellow ochre, raw umber, vermilion red, burnt sienna, lead white, ivory black
Transparent colours: scarlet lake, transparent red oxide, Indian yellow, rose madder
Mediums: sansodor, linseed oil
Reference photo or live model

See my blog post on basic oil painting materials for more info...

Portrait Painting Step by Step: First Sitting – Blocking In Forms

Step 1: Map Out Proportions

Use vine charcoal to lightly sketch proportions on the linen. Focus on key landmarks: eyes, nose, mouth, and overall head shape.

A canvas painted grey on an easel in front of a grey wall. On the easel there are oil paint marks. Rough proportional drawing in charcoal on the grey canvas.

Step 2: Apply Half Tones

Mix the half tones - the true colour of each object without light or shade - for hair, background, and clothing. Apply thickly with a palette knife and spread with a brush.

A canvas on a dark wooden easel with paint marks on it. On the canvas there are patches of colour, the beginnings of a portrait

Step 3: Apply Flesh Half Tone

Lay in the mid-tone for the skin, covering the face evenly.

A canvas on a dark wooden easel. On the canvas there is a patch of oil painted dark brown hair, a cream coloured background, a black jacket and some pink flesh.

Step 4: Fuse Hair Into Background

Blend hair into the background and define the edge of the coat. Make sure no canvas remains uncovered.

a canvas on a dark wooden easel. On the canvas there is an oil painted portrait of a pink face with no facial features.

Step 5: Suggest Facial Features

Deliberately work into the wet flesh half tone to indicate eyes, nose, and mouth. Refine hair and coat edges.

a canvas on a dark wooden easel. The canvas shows a pink face with dark brown hair in oil paint in front of a cream background. There is half a mouth in red.

Step 6: Add Warmth and Highlights

Introduce warmth to the cheeks and forehead. Begin adding highlights, ensuring the hue matches natural light. Use fast-drying opaque earth colours only.

a canvas on a dark wooden easel. The canvas shows a pink face with dark brown hair in oil paint in front of a cream background. On the canvas there are some eyebrows painted and a beard in oil.

a canvas on a dark wooden easel. The canvas shows a pink face with dark brown hair in oil paint in front of a cream background. There are facial features on the pink painted oil portrait.

First Sitting Complete: ~2 hours

Portrait Painting Step by Step: Second Sitting – Adding Colour and Depth

Step 7: Darken and Add Transparent Colours

With the first sitting dry, darken areas of the coat using black mixed with turpentine and linseed oil. Start incorporating naturally transparent colours like scarlet lake, transparent red oxide, Indian yellow, and rose madder. The half tone beneath ensures your colours stay true.

Step 8: Refine Eyes and Mouth

Continue adding detail to facial features, following the same transparent layering approach.

a canvas on a dark wooden easel. The canvas shows a pink face with dark brown hair in oil paint in front of a cream background. The canvas is in front of a wicker bin.

Third Sitting: Finishing Layers

On the final sitting, mix transparent colours with cold-pressed linseed oil to follow the fat over lean principle:

Lean layers: lower opaque layers with minimal oil content
Fat layers: upper transparent layers with more oil

This reduces the risk of cracking and gives a luminous finish.

Total painting time: ~5 hours.

A framed oil painted portrait of a man in a black wooden frame. The background in the portrait is grey.

Notes on Technique

For further reading on the direct painting method, refer to American Painters on Technique 1860–1945 by Lance Mayer and Gay Myers.

Following this portrait painting step by step guide helps beginners build confidence, understand colour layering, and prepare for more advanced techniques.