I was browsing through my subscribed news feed and bound onto this site showing a collection of portrait photographs. Those close-up photographs of models, artists, and celebrities are stunningly beautiful and alluring.

View it as you scroll down one after another photographs posted in 35+ Captivating Images of Beautiful Portrait Photography.

Lady Gaga Portrait Photograph

Andrew Wyeth (1917 ~ 2009) was a well-known American painter. specifically as a realist artist. Most of his artwork involve people, figurative and portrait paintings, done in a realist style.

Below some of his famous quotes.

• I get letters from people about my work. The thing that pleases me most is that my work touches their feelings. In fact, they don’t talk about the paintings. They end up telling me the story of their life or how their father died.

• I dream a lot. I do more painting when I’m not painting. It’s in the subconscious.

• It’s a shock for me to go through and see all those years of painting my life, which is very personal for me. It’s a very difficult thing for an artist to look back at his work.

• One’s art goes as far and as deep as one’s love goes.

• Artists today think of everything they do as a work of art. It is important to forget about what you are doing.. then a work of art may happen.

• My aim is to escape from the medium with which I work; to leave no residue of technical mannerisms to stand between my expression and the observer.

• You think you’re developing and getting better and then you see something you did years ago. Looking at your early work.. sometimes it has a depth that surprises you.

• I’ve never studied the Japanese. That’s something that must have crept in there. But the Japanese are my biggest clients. They seem to like the elemental quality.
  

  Andrew Wyeth, Braids, 1979

Conventional design of a camera captures images which technically translate into either still photographs or motion pictures. This device is nothing new, even to adorable children who love taking portrait photography.

Camera with small lens are integrated into most of our mobile phones these days.  It has become indispensable in our daily life in many ways; making it much simpler and conveniently to capture moments in a few clicks.

How camera works? How it record pictures? These simple questions should leave it to those encyclopedia writers.

To write down in detail of each individual design modular and components, and then explain the mechanism how camera works would, I think, occupy another long series of blog posts. Theoretically, it is still doable.

Such a lengthy explanation shall not be included in the context of this advanced technology I am about to introduce next.

Have you heard of ball-camera capable to capture panoramic photographs?

Imagine a spherical ball, evenly spaced and integrated with multiples of such miniature lens onto it’s round surface. User throws the ball up into the air, cameras automatically capture a panorama of surroundings. As the ball-camera descends, user catches it.

Till this point, everyone agrees it is absolutely easy to use. My great grandma living in the old folk’s home wouldn’t have any problem on this usage, either.

What comes next will require a bit of techies knowledge. One would only able to view all the recorded images in the computer by using a specialized software application.

Just last month, expertise from Computer Graphics Groups, TU Berlin, has engineered a new photographic technology dubbed as the Throwable Panoramic Ball Camera. An Emerging Technologies demonstration at SIGGRAPH Asia 2011.

The technology as described, “it captures a full spherical panorama when thrown into the air. At the peak of its flight, which is determined using an accelerometer, a full panoramic image is captured by 36 mobile phone camera modules.”

Obviously, its not a mobile camera phone. Never will the mobile phone going to design in spherical shape. Likewise, how cumbersome it can be if a traveler would to bring such a ball-camera.

While watching the video below, instead of expecting any advance technology, my first impression was user throwing the round object that look more like a volley ball player ready serve behind the line.

Whatever is your thought, this interesting technology could possibly given new experiences on how one can view the world in a panoramic perspective.

Thinking of it, how ingenious and awesome to capture portrait photographs of children in a party with a throw of the ball-camera into the air?

Just middle of last year, one of the Pablo Picasso’s portrait paintings fetched nearly $52 million with commission at a Christie’s auction. That portrait painting is none other than the aesthetically fine painting, entitled “Portrait of Angel Fernandez de Soto“, signed and dated in 1903. As mentioned by Christie’s, all the proceeds will benefit to The Andrew Lloyd Webber Foundation.

Recently, Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber has decided to pledged the proceeds of auctioned amount to arts organization in United Kingdom. How honorable this donation can be, as the intention is to make “a significant contribution to many people’s lives”.

“Previously we have concentrated on fine art and arts education, but we have decided to help a broader scope of people and projects directly with the funds invested from the Picasso sale,” said Mark Wordsworth, the foundation’s chair of trustees.

Every man’s work, whether it be literature or music or pictures or architecture or anything else, is always a portrait of himself ~  Samuel Butler (December 08, 1835 – June 18, 1902)

Indeed, what else can be more reputable to his undeniably generous contribution of monetary assets, than owning a valuable portrait painting, “Portrait of Angel Fernandez de Soto“, framed and hang on the blank wall?

Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber

On a quick post this week, I’m sharing two Youtube videos on women portrait; photography and paintings. Video created by Philip Scott Johnson.

The first one has received millions of views, and nominated as Most Creative Video 2nd Annual YouTube Awards.

Portrait paintings includes the famous Mona Lisa, painted by Leonardo da Vinci, as well as Raphaelesque Head Exploding, painted by the surrealist, Salvador Dali.

Another featured work is on portrait photography of Women in Film.

There are black-and-white portrait photos, where you can see, Audrey Hepburn as the world’s most famous actresses of all time. And today’s modern actress Angelina Jolie, cited as “the world’s “sexiest” and “most beautiful” woman” ~ Wikipedia

Women in Art (500 Years of Female Portraits in Western Art)

Women In Film (video By Philip Scott Johnson)

There are not new videos, however, sharing them as part of my blogging activities here. Hope you enjoy watching them.

I have been learning to blog about basic photography since last year. As an amateur photographer, sharing my past experience has been my genuine purpose.

Helping those beginners to have a good grasp of how-to on basic photography and using the dSLR. Albeit, photo portrait painting is also my primary topics in this blog.

Therefore, you will not be able to see any topics sharing too much of in-depth knowledge, but more about fundamental.

You will be able to see below 7 good posts that I wanted to share.

At the same time, I’m also listing them out for my review. Seeking improvement, as well as, wanting to add more interesting and short topics for future photography blogging.

1. Shoot At The Widest Aperture Setting for Basic Portrait Photography
2. Generic Packing List for Outdoor Portrait Photography
3. Simplified ‘Rule of Thirds’ to Photo Portrait
4. 10 Reasons Why Compact Digital Camera is Better Choice For Photo Portrait Painting
5. How to have portrait photography without lighting studio
6. What Makes a Good Portrait Photograph
7. Full Length Portrait in Photography

Pls share your comments or opinions, if you find any of the above-mentioned topics that interest you.

PS: I know… I seriously need to revamp of my current “About Me” page. As time goes by, my aim has become more definitive on purpose for this blog.

My recent trip to the temples in Angkor Thom has given me a good remembrance from the Buddha portrait carving. In particularly, the reassuring Bayon smile is mysterious, yet ever beautiful to be seen in life.

The 3-hour tour kicked off from the Terrace of the Leper King, which is located at the Northwest corner of the Royal Square of Angkor Thom. It was an adventure of exploring this ancient place dated from late 12^th centuries.

Terrace of the Leper King was built by Jayavarman VII. Sitting on top of the terrace is the statue of The Leper King. Khmer lore indicates that the statue resemble king Jayavarman VII; the Khmer ruler who died of leprosy.

Beside the statue of the Leper King, the amazing terrace wall takes you from the stone carvings of the outer wall perimeter to the inner narrow ‘trench’ of the terrace. Both high defensive walls are covered with bas-reliefs sculptures. Intricate portraits on small figures of Apsara and Devatas, carved by low-technology tools and labor-intensive workers in the early century.

The inner wall is initially built and was filled with earth, before the outer wall was added. Since late 1990s, the French archaeologists has discovered and excavated the inner region. Interestingly, no apparent explanation has been found to unfold the intention for building two separated walls.

Every portraits and figures on the bas-relief has the common smile, similar to the Buddha statues in The Bayon. Limestone slate are perfectly laid on the vertical wall. Bewildered by the aesthetically beauty on every smile of the entire wall.

You will be astounded with awe, upon the entrance to the inner wall. The question is: Has every portrait smile actually appeal to the interest of viewers? Or the mysteriously sculptured figures and their posture that makes the entirety unique? What attribute to a perfect portrait; the smile or the posture?

Below sharing some of the portrait snapshots from Terrace of Leper King. As you can see some figures with raised eye-brow are captured with the smile, yet there do not portrayed with an angered face.

P.S: I have to apologize on the poor quality of the photos from my mobile phone. Partly, due to batteries went flat half way of the tour. Having said that, one advice is to bring additional batteries for your camera; Angkor Thom is part of the area among many temples in Siem Reap.

There are lots of famous quote on portrait paintings. In this post, I just want to share 5 of the best that I have picked.

“There are only two styles of portrait painting, the serious and the smirk”
~ Charles Dickens (1812 – 1870). An English novelist of the Victorian era.

“A photograph is a portrait painted by the sun”
~ Anonymous (Photography)

“I do not paint a portrait to look like the subject, rather does the person grow to look like his portrait.”
~ Salvador Dalí (1904 – 1989), A Spanish surrealist painter.

“When you start with a portrait and search for a pure form, a clear volume, through successive eliminations, you arrive inevitably at the egg. Likewise, starting with the egg and following the same process in reverse, one finishes with the portrait.”
~ Pablo Picasso (1881 – 1973). A Spanish painter, draughtsman, and sculptor.

“Most of our modern portrait painters are doomed to absolute oblivion. They never paint what they see. They paint what the public sees, and the public never sees anything.”
~ Oscar Wilde (1854 – 1900). An Irish writer, poet, and prominent aesthete.

How good it is to own a small sketch book on hand. Always ready to draw or doodle some cartoons from an inspiring thought. I have seen friends and avid amateur artists having this best practices.

Be it on train, bus, parks, streets or any public places. People are everywhere to be the subject of their drawings. Ideally, choosing a portrait subject who is sitting or relaxing on a chair, is far better than an action-packed skateboarder dashing to and fro in their playground.

Of every best practices I listed in my previous post, I have given up to fulfill the first 2 practices. Well, I guess it is much of an individual preference. I’m sure portrait drawings for grid system still works for many readers who visited this blog.

Anyway, before I start to dodge from throwing of rotten eggs by anyone, I have to share my excuses for not following what I ‘preached’ last week.

1. I always have 2 sketch books with me. Both having different sizes. Yet not much about drawings. Most of the pages are for my written notes and mind-mapping sketches. I prefer blank paper with free spaces than a notebook with pre-drawn lines. I can do my writings more liberally.
2. I hardly do my drawing from life. When I’m outside for a stroll in the park, I often use my time talking to people and photographing, than to draw them. Nonetheless, I have adopt my best drawing practices with the reference from photograph. That is why I did it again this time, with grid system portrait drawing.

Below showing a small piece drawing of portrait’s eyes from photo. For a portion of the eyes, it has taken me 3 hours to finish.

With a closer look, very light pencil grid lines are still visible at the paler region.  While the rest of grid lines has been blended into the shading. Grid lines help to provide a precised execution on every courses from square-to-square.

I wouldn’t say it is as perfect as the photograph. However, as a hand-drawn artwork, there are more or less some offset. Otherwise, any viewers will be perceiving as a poster print, instead.

Some comments were given from friends, after posted in my Facebook photos.

Photo Portrait, Grid System, Drawing the eyes

“gorgeous !!! … but the eyes seem to look sadder than the original XD ….. “

“… ^_^ … it’s beautiful ! I really wanna draw so many things but i dont have anything feeling in art beautiful!!! “

“i like the drawing than to the original one.i mean the picture. it is bcoz it shows more emotions..it only means that the person draw this wants to express his emotions…hey!!thats my own opinion….peace…”

“hey i dont want to be critical but i love d eyes(in d drawing)!!!!!!! “

“the mystery that is captured beneath that look is astonishing “

P.S.: Subject has remained anonymous in this post.

Portrait art is primarily consists of painting, drawing and photography. Photography is more of a combination of technical know-how on the equipments and one’s creativity in composition.

Drawing is the often describe as the most fundamental, and portrait painting is much more difficult to acquire.

In a concise explanation, I feel that portrait art attribute to a common purpose.. that is, achieving the goal of capturing likeness to the actual person in life.

Cameras can capture likeness easily, but a real portrait painting requires patience and good understanding, and an eye for creativity composition that might come through the brush or pencil.

Since my last post on portrait drawing, I still cannot figure out what is the best practice to accomplish a good portrait art, specifically on paintings and drawings.

Is there any secrets to achieve good portrait painting?

Is techniques or choice of medium contribute to the best learning method?

Or practice makes perfect?

Below sharing some tips for best practices on learning basic portrait drawing and paintings. I do hope there will be useful for every beginners in portrait art.

1. Always keep a small sketch book and start drawing from life subject. This is so simple, isn’t it? Well, I hardly do that when it comes to real practice in public places. I did bring along 2 sketch books in this traveling trip, however, I use it more often as a jotter book than to seriously learn drawings on life subjects.
2. Drawing from life helps to learn how to analyze reality and put it on the page. Its time to change and seriously put in some effort to draw more. Portrait outlines are the basic, the important aspect to describe its form is by determining the light and shade. Analyze and emphasize on light source for shadows and darkness.
3. Do not rush to finish the portrait art, but given ample time for detailed observation. Eventually, what is drawn or painted is translated through your brain. Focus on proportion of drawing a typical adult head. Or perhaps, start drawing basic shape on portrait features, such as nose, ears, mouth. Eyes are very difficult to draw, I hope to have more practice on this area.
4. Learn through trial and errors. “Experience is the best teacher”. Its an old sayings.. “learn from mistakes”, “never too old to learn”, and “learning never ends”. Accuracy is important. Drawing off by the slightest bit just won’t look right. Using grids as an aid helps to minimized errors and more accurate drawings.
5. Drawing is the most fundamental. Capturing the essence of the subject is far more crucial to a powerful and successful portrait than mere details, medium, and techniques. Painting is much more difficult, you have to know what color you are seeing when you’re painting. For drawing portrait, the right shading and proportionality help to determine the value and likeness, respectively. Hue and color in painting comes latter.
6. Study of body anatomy; understand what bones and muscles are behind the skin, how big they are, what their shape is. Do you know even the great master artist, Vincent van Gogh, painted a human skull and skeleton in an anatomy class while he was studying art?

There is no shortcuts for learning portrait drawing or paintings. Will I practice hard on what I have preached?  We shall see next week post..