Oil Portrait Painting in a red Café

Описание: Welcome to Scott Bradley Art, and happy New Year!
In this video, I’m sharing a new portrait painting I recently completed — a piece that marks a small shift away from landscapes and into a more narrative, atmospheric portrait.
After painting a lot of landscapes lately, I wanted to challenge myself by creating a portrait with a setting. This painting features a woman sitting at a bar with a glass of wine, surrounded by subtle background elements that help tell a story. The subject of the painting is my partner and current muse, someone I’ve photographed many times and plan to paint more in the future.

In this video, you’ll see my portrait painting process, including:
Mixing skin tones using burnt umber, cadmium red, and yellow ochre.
Focusing on light and shadow rather than fine detail.
Painting loosely with an interest in becoming more abstract over time.
Tackling challenging areas like hands, facial features, and hair.
Letting go of perfection and embracing experimentation.

I talk through my thoughts, fears, and small “brave” decisions along the way, showing that painting doesn’t have to be perfect — it just has to feel right.

If you enjoy figurative painting, portrait art, oil painting techniques, or artist process videos, consider subscribing for more paintings and future projects.

Thanks for watching, and take it easy.