Understanding Values in Skin Tone and Painting Facial Features

Many artists these days are so concerned about "toxicity" they routinely wear surgical gloves and here we have Susan Sprung slathering paints (even cadmium!) directly on her own skin in order to make her major points....it's radical, refreshing and oh so New York. I learned a lot watching this, and I think it will take several viewings to really absorb (pun intended) the nuance of it all. After she explains and mixes flesh for us she eventually paints some body "pieces" for us (eye, nose and mouth). Helpful, to be sure, but the ending demonstration leaves us feeling that we got an abbreviation. An entire face or figure demonstration would have resulted in five stars instead of four. If you paint figures, however, this is definitely worth your time.

I am an artist who does portraiture. I occasionally like to review "art instruction" videos and books. So many of what is offered is so bad that it frightens me to think someone might try to emulate someone else's "Bad Art". I am always interested in another artist palette so I purchased this DVD. I WAS BLOWN AWAY! Not only is Sharron Sprung an excellent artist she is also a good teacher. (Not every good artist is a good teacher and unfortunately many good teachers are BAD at Art)I have watched this video several times and I have actually CHANGED MY Palette following her suggestion. (I also purchased the brand of oil paint she suggests). I only wish she had more instructional videos available. If she did I would certainly purchase them. If you paint human skin you really should purchase this DVD.

I love Sharon Sprung's paintings and was very interested in what colors she uses and how she mixes her paints. I picked up a few useful tips. I do wish the second part of the tape had more detail about how she develops a portrait. I was a bit disappointed in the second part because I was expecting a painting demo of her actually painting a portrait in stages, but she only showed a painting near the beginning, and then showed a final product. The first part of the DVD was more specific,and she explains things very clearly.

This is the most in-depth beginner's art instruction I have encountered. Sharon Sprung doesn't give you a minimal "quick fix" to satisfy instruction requirements--she gives you your money's worth. For example, in defining form she identifies the six elements used to create a three-dimentional object/shape: highlight, light, half tone, average shadow, reflected light, and cast shadow. She also breaks-down these six segments/categories and explains the hows and whys of each one; e.g., which segment of light best describes texture, and which one best describes the object's shape. She also tells you the exception to the rule, e.g., how metal is different. She is not stingy with her visuals either; you "see" every step. The only negative is I wish she had more in-depth art instruction tapes!

At a conference, an artist in the studio came up and showed his arm with tattoos. She said she could mix the colors to match as well as flesh without tattoos.

I haven't had a bad experience with Amazon and its products.

This video explained in simple terms of how to create various skin tones using oil paints. The instructions were clear and easy to understand in what otherwise would take years to master. It is a must have for the serious portrait and figure artist.

All I can say is... "Sharon, make more of these dvd's they are great"..... I would love to see her complete a whole figurative painting. If you are looking for a teaching video....this is a great place to start. I will get every one she comes out with.

Sharon Sprung, vielfach ausgezeichnete New Yorker Portraitkünstlerin, gibt auf dieser DVD einige ihrer Rezepte zum Farbmischen für die Portraitmalerei. Der erste Teil über Licht, Schatten, Mitteltöne, Lichtreflexe scheint mir recht ausladend, macht aber Sinn, denn man könnte sich allein mit dieser DVD selber Einiges erarbeiten. Verschiedenen Ausmischungen von Hauttönen, die sie auf ihren Arm streicht sowie die kleine Portrait-Demonstration sehe ich als eine Anregung, denn sie gibt keine komplette how-to-do-Anleitung.Wer mehr erwartet und etwas ausführlicher an den Geheimnissen der Portraitmalerei interessiert ist, sollte sich zusätzlich Bücher von Chris Saper und Suzanne-Brooker ansehen.Ich finde, wer ernsthaft mit Portraitmalerei beginnen möchte, sollte allerdings eher Kurse bei einem professionellen Portraitmaler belegen.Für den Preis ok.Die DVD ist codefree.