Graphics tablets make speed painting much easier.
Speed painting is the process of creating a work of art in a limited work of time--usually a few hours. It can be done in any medium, but digital work lends itself well to speed painting, since it requires no drying time and is easy to rework. Painting a portrait in a limited amount of time can be a challenge, but the right tips and techniques can make the process much simpler.
Establishing Composition
Establishing the composition early when speed painting can reduce your time significantly. Use bold lights and darks to create the major shapes of the face and body, then refine later as time allows. Many speed painters avoid line drawings entirely or use only a limited line drawing, since working with bold, compositional blobs of color can make the painting progress much faster. If you do use a drawing, keep it rough and quick. Remember that the drawing won't show in the finished painting.
Choosing Colors
It helps to choose a color palette at the very beginning of the painting process. Create a separate layer with all the major colors needed for the rest of the painting. This allows you to establish an overall color scheme early and stick with it, eliminating the need to repaint passages. An established palette also prevents color migration as you paint, which can result in grayish or sickly-looking skin tones. Pick all future tones from the palette layer for a unified painting. Avoid choosing colors from reference photos, as they may look desaturated or artificial.
Working Coarse to Fine
You might be tempted to refine one area of a painting completely, then move on to the next. However, this method doesn't work well for a speed painting. Over-refining can cause you to run out of time before the painting is finished. The best technique for speed paintings is to work from coarse to fine, adding detail only if time allows. This means that artists working on portraits need a good grasp of create a likeness. Portraits painted in a limited amount of time may need to portray the person with only a few bold areas of light and shade.
Using Custom Brushes
Custom brushes aren't required for portrait speed painting, but they can make it much simpler. Choose texture stamps to create fabric patterns without drawing them, or use special brushes to create hair, skin details, and other smaller elements that would take extra time to paint separately. Keep in mind that custom brushes are a tool, not the key to a perfect painting--when used poorly, they can look artificial or clumsy.
Using Adjustment Layers
Many digital painting programs offer adjustment layers, which can change the color, brightness and tone of the painting. These layers can speed up the process of adding shadows and highlights. They can also help painters change the look of a section without the need to repaint the whole area. The type and function of available adjustment layers varies by program, so you should experiment for the best effect.
