The family is a fundamental component in the life of any person. After all, no one appreciates and understands you like your loved ones do. They will help and prompt, console and substitute their reliable shoulder. You can relate to them in different ways, but you can truly remember them and permanently keep them in your heart by creating a family portrait. How to do this and what technique to choose, we will describe in this article.
Generalized portrait information
A portrait of a family type is one of the varieties of classic paintings depicting two or more family members. In it, silhouettes, facial features, and most importantly, the character of those people who are painted in the picture are transferred in as much detail as possible.
When working on a sketch, the artist uses a variety of tools, styles and surfaces. So, the drawing of your family can be transferred to paper with a simple pencil, paints, special charcoal, crayons, pencils, etc.
As a portrait is usually drawn : a picture from nature
A family portrait, like a single one, can be depicted from nature. In this case, all members of the family whom it is planned to capture in the picture come to the artist. They sit down as the master tells them, and then sit motionless for some time, waiting for the end of his work. At the same time, during which the artist will be able to completely finish his drawing, it depends on the chosen technique and the complexity of the work. For example, the simplest portrait can be painted in just 10-15 minutes.
In some cases, a visit to the artist is not limited to one day, therefore, a family contract will be forced to come to him again and again. Such paintings, as a rule, contain a large number of small details, for the processing of which the portrait painter needs more time.
Transfer image from photo to surface
As an option to make a family portrait, you can transfer the image of your family members from a regular photo to paper or canvas. Sometimes this is done manually. That is, the artist simply redraws the images of your children, parents or brothers and sisters. Either the image is transferred automatically, for example, using a special scanner and printer.
Pastel family work contract
A picture of such a plan is usually done in only one layer and is a portrait painted with colored crayons. Such images are drawn pretty quickly. Moreover, the image itself will initially be transferred to a special tinted paper.
Portraits in watercolor
A family portrait (a photo and its variations can be seen in our article), painted with watercolors, has a special expressiveness. These are realistic and vivid pictures that easily convey the character of all members of your family. The colors in this picture are usually bright, and the strokes are clear.
Oil painting portraits
Oil portraits are considered classics of the genre. They are very colorful and saturated. The main advantage of such paints is the ability to convey the smallest details of facial expressions, clothes, gestures, etc. Oil paintings are a great opportunity to emphasize all the advantages and features of all members of your family.
Pop Art Portraits
Such portraits, as a rule, are performed using oil paints or by transferring a photograph onto a canvas. The main difference of this technique from others is the use of only three colors when creating a family image. For example, it can be: dark blue, pale blue and blue-black.
Where can I get a portrait?
You can draw your own portrait if you wish and with proper skill. To do this, you just need to choose your preferred equipment and the necessary materials. However, such work requires a certain talent and experience. Therefore, it will be much easier to take the help of professional artists and other art specialists.
Pencil family portraits: how to draw?
If you suddenly decide to draw a portrait yourself, stock up on the following tools and materials:
- family photography;
- a few simple pencils of different hardness;
- a sheet of paper;
- grater;
- crayons, colored pencils, paints and other materials to choose from.
Next, take a piece of paper and put a photo next to it. Now define the up, bottom and middle of the picture. Take a soft pencil, and almost without pressing on it, draw ovals - these will be the faces of people. In the next step, make an easy sketch of the rest of the body. And only after the sketch is ready, it will be possible to bring it with a harder pencil. In this case, it is recommended to erase excess lines immediately. After that, it remains only to color the resulting image or leave it as it is, adding highlights, light and shadow.
Alternative drawing of a family portrait
Alternatively, a family portrait can be depicted in a humorous style. In this case, it will be a friendly cartoon for all members of your family.
In addition, the images in the picture of all representatives of your family contract can have a purely symbolic character and a kind of allegory. For example, you and your family will be represented in the form of animals, birds, insects, mythological characters, etc.
What are the most famous portraits?
Many years ago, portraits were very popular among nobles and people of lower classes. They depicted the following families:
- kings;
- peasants;
- animals;
- servants, etc.
For example, revising the most famous family portraits, one cannot fail to mention the “Portrait of Count Grigory Grigorievich Kushelev with children”. This painting by the Russian artist Vladimir Borovikovsky depicts the count himself and his two sons. The second most famous painting is “Portrait of Grand Duchess Elena Pavlovna with her daughter Maria”. It was written by Karl Bryullov in 1830. The same author owns the rights to the painting "Portrait of the Volkonsky children with arap" and "Portrait of Countess Olga Ivanovna Orlova-Davydova with her daughter Natalia Vladimirovna."
A beautiful portrait was painted by Alexander Bubnov. His picture is based on the story of Nikolai Gogol "Taras Bulba" and, accordingly, has the same name with it. It depicts Taras with his two sons - Ostap and Andriy. Another famous family portrait was painted by the artist Bogdan Villevalde in 1854. The painting is called "Nicholas I with Tsarevich Alexander Nikolayevich in the artist's studio." And the painting of George DOW shows Princess Alexandra Fedorovna with her offspring.
However, in addition to famous and senior personalities, many painters preferred to portray ordinary people, including members of their family. For example, Ivan Glazunov in the film "The Artist's Family" portrayed his wife with two daughters. Perfectly reflects all the hardships of family life relating to large families, and Nikolai Koshelev in his painting "Morning in the Village." On it you can see four young children from a simple working family.