Introduction to Portrait Drawing

Start the course by getting to know Alonso Palomino. He talks about what piqued his interest in plastic arts and shares some of his biggest influences.

Learn the basic principles of drawing by studying the work of great portrait artists like Miguel Ángel and Andrew Loomis. Analyze how they approached their art and the strategies and techniques they used. Start looking at the world in three dimensions and see how shapes can be used to draw any object. Alonso also teaches you about the concepts of light and shadows and different shading techniques.

Continue learning theory by reviewing basic anatomy. Learn how to outline and construct a human head with all the essential features like eyes, ears, a nose, and a mouth. Analyze the main bone and muscle structures to help you understand their shape and proportions and develop more natural linework. Then learn a few tricks from Alonso to give your portrait a realistic look.

Now it's time to get down to work! Start by choosing a reference photo following Alonso's advice. Map out areas of light and shadows, volume, and different shades. Draw a sketch, outline the facial features, and continue to add details applying everything you've learned to create a unique and expressive portrait.

Once you've finished, Alonso shows you how to draw another version of your portrait using ink. Wrap up the course by learning how to care for and preserve your drawings so their beauty never fades.