Photoshop & Rebelle MASTER DETAIL AND TONE

As he paints a portrait, Lixin Yin shows his process and explains how to solve different problems at each step

- Lixin Yin

This workshop will demonstrate how I paint a portrait from start to end. I will explain how to use lines to define composition, proportion, and facial structure.

I will also illustrate how to set the tone at the beginning, then add details, highlights, and so on. In this process, you will see very clearly the enhancement of light and the gradual increase in details. We will take a look at how I deal with different areas of the portrait, such as hair and clothes, and the face. By the end of this workshop, you will learn about the problems I solved in each step, and know which parts need to be handled carefully.

Please note that many of the steps are not required to be mapped out. Usually, I keep some steps in my mind when I paint a portrait, especially the earliest steps. If you are a beginner or a student, please spend more time on the early stages. It will help you to improve the quality of your work and avoid many repetitive problems. Okay, let’s get started!

1 Proportion

At the very beginning, the most important thing is proportion. I use two lines. The vertical line represents the centre of the face, and the horizontal line determines the approximate position of the eyes. By using these two lines, we will roughly determine the position of the head.

2 Shape