Painting Luminous Portraits for Artists: An Essential Guide to Painting Facial Features, Fleshtones, Light, and Form

A comprehensive guide to oil portrait painting by Steve Forster, an award-winning portrait artist and co-director of the Long Island Academy of Fine Art. The book covers ten chapters, each including skill-building exercises and QR codes linking to instructional videos. Topics include fundamental materials and techniques, basic anatomy and feature development for underdrawing, color theory and palette structures, painting techniques with different shape and lighting approaches, and creative strategies for portraits. The guide also explores how digital painting techniques can support traditional painting methods. Designed for artists at all skill levels, the book teaches how to capture the human portrait with attention to form, light, diverse perspectives, flesh tones, and various light effects using realistic painting techniques. Part of the For Artists series, which includes titles on drawing, anatomy, figure work, botanicals, still life, facial expressions, landscape painting, plein air techniques, and sketching.