Portrait Painting with Helen Van Wyk

Join Helen Van Wyk as she demonstrates the fundamentals of portrait painting in this engaging lesson. Known for her insightful approach to oil painting, Helen delves into the techniques that bring a portrait to life, focusing on proportion, lighting, and the subtle relationships between features. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced artist, Helen’s wisdom and humor will guide you through the complexities of portrait painting.


00:00 Music and Intro Graphics
A brief music intro followed by Helen Van Wyk's graphics, welcoming viewers to another oil painting lesson.

00:35 Prepare the Canvas
Helen discusses the importance of starting with a prepared canvas. She emphasizes that applying a light wash or underpainting helps set the tone for the rest of the portrait, allowing for better depth and overall cohesion.

02:20 Accept the Unfinished Look
Here, Helen explains that during the early stages of painting, the portrait will look incomplete. She encourages artists to be comfortable with this stage, as it's crucial to building up layers gradually.

03:00 The Pressure of Time
Helen shares insights about not rushing the process. She advises artists to ignore time pressure and focus on what the painting requires rather than how fast it can be completed.

03:52 Add Shadow Side First
Helen demonstrates her technique of starting with the shadowed side of the face. She explains that by blocking in the darkest areas first, the lighter tones stand out more effectively later on.

04:53 The Painter's Eraser
Helen introduces a method to correct mistakes or unwanted marks. She refers to wiping off excess paint as the painter's equivalent of an eraser, a useful tool to keep the painting clean and accurate.

06:07 Importance of Proportion
Helen highlights the importance of getting proportions right from the start. She explains that if the proportions of the face are off, even by a little, the entire portrait can look wrong.

07:42 What is Flesh Color
Helen delves into the topic of mixing flesh tones, explaining that there isn't just one 'flesh color.' She demonstrates how various shades of red, yellow, and blue are combined to achieve realistic skin tones.

10:27 Extra Initial Color
Helen talks about the importance of adding a little extra color early on. This layer can be adjusted later, but it helps bring life and warmth to the skin tones from the beginning.

10:42 Color Noses in Two Parts
Always paint the nose as two different sections. Bone and cartilage, and use separate strokes.

14:34 Painting the Eyes
Helen demonstrates her technique for painting eyes, focusing on capturing the light and depth that make them appear lifelike. She explains how subtle shifts in tone can add to the realism of the eyes.

19:50 Mistake? Wipe it Out!
In this section, Helen emphasizes again that if an area isn't working, it's better to wipe it away and start over rather than trying to fix it in place. She reminds artists that oil paint is forgiving.


Helen took the time to teach us the principles and reasons behind painting each element in the progression of a work. Her sensibility in basic natural fundamentals taught us we can paint anything by employing these basics. Subject matter was a minor consequence to Helen. Using the basics, thousands of artists received the confidence to paint any type of subject.

Subscribe now and embark on an unforgettable journey of artistic discovery with Helen Van Wyk!


Please note that the model’s face has been pixelated to protect their privacy, allowing the focus to remain on Helen Van Wyk's portrait painting techniques. We appreciate your understanding and respect for the model’s confidentiality.