Portraits have always been more than just a likeness of a person. They offer a glimpse into who someone is – their mood, their story and their time in history. While the reasons for creating portraits have changed over the centuries, their importance has remained. In this blog, we’ll take a look at the history of portraiture and how it continues to inspire artists today. Whether you’re just starting out or looking to sharpen your skills, we hope this helps you feel more confident exploring portrait art.
The Power of Portraits
Portraits can say a lot without using words. A single brushstroke or colour choice can set the tone and mood, showing how the artist sees their subject. Unlike photographs, hand-drawn or painted portraits let the artist include subtle details and personal touches – like the clothes, background or expression – to tell a deeper story. Think of the Mona Lisa: her quiet smile has sparked curiosity for centuries, making it one of the most recognised and talked-about paintings in the world.
Tracing the Origins of Portraiture
Portraits didn’t always aim to look realistic. Prehistoric artists might have formed plaster casts of skulls, while Egyptian pharaohs commissioned paintings that captured their essence of power rather than their precise features. This shift marks the beginning of portraiture’s evolution from simple representation to conveying deeper meaning. In ancient Greece and Rome, monarchs, philosophers and important citizens aimed to leave a visual legacy, and so realistic sculptures were made of them to capture the significance of their character. Portraiture flourished during the Renaissance, with the demand ranging from nobles to commoners, and artists were celebrated as masters of their talent. With the invention of cameras, portraiture underwent a dramatic shift, and the public marvelled at the seemingly perfect realism and complete representation offered by photographs. Today, art has no limits. Artists are encouraged to experiment with different mediums and expose themselves to different colours, textures and styles with the aim of being creative rather than being simply realistic.
Exploring Mediums and Celebrated Artists:
Acrylic paint – David Hockney
David Hockney (1937) is a celebrated British painter and photographer who showcases the brilliance of acrylics in portraits. Due to their fast drying nature, they allow for vibrant, multi-layered hues to capture the essence of the subject in the moment. Perfectly suited to his bold painting style, Hockney uses acrylics to explore light and colour to highlight modernity and personal connection to all humankind.
Oil paint – Frida Kahlo
The world-renowned Frida Kahlo (1907-1954) was a Mexican painter best known for her self-portraits. Oil paints’ realistic depiction and texture allowed Kahlo to add depth and character to her portraits. Its slow drying nature gives ample time to blend and refine, allowing for subtle adjustments to create significant changes. The richness in oil paint enabled Kahlo to capture the details and richness of her expressions and emotions.
Pastels – Rosalba Carriera
Italian artist Rosalba Carriera (1673-1757) is widely credited with elevating pastels to a respected medium for portraiture. Its portability and direct application made it exceptionally convenient, while its remarkable blendability allowed Carriera to achieve the smooth, luminous quality that distinguishes her work. The diverse textures of pastels, ranging from soft and velvety to rough and grainy, enabled her to capture the depth and essence of her subjects with emotional depth.
Coloured pencils – Marco Mazzoni
Marco Mazzoni (1982) is an Italian artist renowned for his surreal and highly detailed colored pencil drawings. Mazzoni’s masterful control of the medium allows him to create meticulously vibrant artworks. The pencils’ ability to layer and blend seamlessly enables him to build depth and bring his images to life. With patience and skill, Mazzoni achieves photorealistic effects and captures delicate hues which are difficult to achieve with other mediums.
Digital art – Loish (Lois van Baarle)
The Dutch artist Loish (Lois van Baarle, 1985) is celebrated for her distinctive style of digital art. Its unparalleled flexibility and freedom enable a smooth and almost ethereal quality to her artwork. The sheer range of brushes and effects at her fingertips empowers Loish to explore and innovate, producing portraits that are both captivating and technically masterful.
The Enduring Legacy of Portraits
At The Seasons Art Class, we’re dedicated to helping you grow your artistic skills in a friendly, structured environment. Our 14-week courses cover a variety of mediums – including portraiture – and are designed to suit beginners as well as those returning to art after a break. With support from experienced and enthusiastic tutors, you’ll be guided step by step as you build confidence and explore your creativity. To find out more, call us on 02080 644 744 or email info@theseasonsartclass.com. We’d love to welcome you to one of our classes!