3 Keys to Painting Aging Faces with Dignity

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There is a profound nobility in the weathered faces of our elders, each line and contour telling stories of decades fully lived. Their expressions carry the weight of experience, the quiet confidence of wisdom gained, and the subtle dignity that comes with advancing years. As artists we have a unique opportunity to capture these qualities through the sensitivity of our medium, creating portraits that honor both the strength and vulnerability present in our seasoned subjects.

I’d love to walk you through three essential keys to capturing their character with authenticity along the way.

Alain Picard, The Fisherman, 18x12” pastel 

1. Master Your Initial Observation

Begin your portrait journey through careful observation and sketching. Document the essential architecture of aging: how surface skin patterns relate to the bone structure beneath, where characteristic wrinkles appear, and how proportions shift with time. Pay particular attention to thinning lips, enlarged noses, and developed ear lobes. Study the depth of eye sockets and how hair patterns change, including areas of thinning and graying. With careful observation you become a student of aging faces.

 
 

2. Build Form Through Light and Shadow

A solid structure is more important than surface details. Start with charcoal or hard pastels, applying thin, controlled initial layers following the fat-over-lean principle. Rather than drawing individual wrinkles, concentrate on how light interacts with the form and surface of the head. Establish your major light and shadow areas first, considering positive and negative shapes. Use the technique of squinting to see broader value patterns clearly. Once confident in your foundational layers, transition to soft pastels, using light, side-stroke applications to build your forms progressively. Let the play of light tell the major story of your subject's features.

3. Suggest Rather Than State

Exercise restraint in depicting age lines – less really is more! Kindness matters at this stage. Use side strokes for broader areas and let your application method create natural texture with soft pastel. Build depth gradually through varying pressure, allowing underlying tones to show through. Pay special attention to areas where blood at the surface of the skin may influence color like around the eyes and use cooler tones in more recessed areas like the jaw or in the hair. If your character is rugged like the weathered fisherman, then hatching with choppy marks is a great way to suggest this quality. Every mark should serve to suggest rather than explicitly state the effects of time.


Remember: Your goal is capturing the essence of the individual, not cataloging their age. Each mark contributes to telling your subject's story with dignity and grace.

Enjoy this rewarding creative experience as you celebrate the aging faces in your life!


Keep showing up at the easel for your creative dreams, Alain!

Alain

Your Creative Journey Matters

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Let’s talk about artistic passion

Your desire to create isn't just a passing impulse—it's a calling that lives deep within you. When you honor this creative fire, you're not only nurturing your own fulfillment, you're adding more beauty and wonder to our world. Every stroke of the brush, every mark you make, line you draw, every piece you create ripples outward, touching lives in ways you might never see.

This journey you're on? It matters. Not just to you, but to all of us.

Down the Stretch, 12x16" pastel by Alain Picard

The Challenge We All Face

Yet for every calling to create, there's a force that rises up to oppose it. We call this force Resistance. It shows up as procrastination ("I'll start tomorrow"), self-doubt ("I'm not good enough"), or fear ("What if I fail?"). The good news? You're not alone in this struggle, and recognizing these symptoms is the first step to overcoming them.


Your Creative Calling is Valid

Here's a truth worth embracing: You don't need to be a professional artist to have a valid creative calling. Whether you dream of hanging your work in galleries or simply want to express yourself through art, your creative journey has profound value. The world needs the unique creative gifts that only you can offer.

 

Breaking Through Resistance: YOUR ACTION PLAN

 

1️⃣ Start Today Don't wait for the perfect moment—it will never arrive. Tomorrow is too late. Set aside even 15 minutes today to create. 

 

2️⃣ Embrace Imperfection Let go of the need for perfection on the way to your creative dreams. Remember that every great master had to start as a beginner, and every piece you create is a step forward. Valuing progress over perfection will lead you toward your goals.

 

3️⃣ Seek Supportive Feedback Connect with fellow artists or mentors who can provide you with constructive guidance. The right feedback can illuminate your path forward and bring vital encouragement along the way.

 

4️⃣ Take the Next Small Step What's one small action you can take right now toward your artistic goals? Maybe it's organizing your workspace, sketching for 10 minutes, or signing up for that workshop you've been considering. Never underestimate the power of small steps in the right direction. 

 

The Power to Choose Is Yours

Every time you choose to create despite resistance, you're not only making art—you're bringing more beauty into the world. Your creative journey isn't just about the art you produce; it's about becoming the artist you are meant to be and enriching the lives of others through your unique expression.✨

Encountering beauty brings hope. That’s the impact your art makes. The power to start is always in your hands. Why not begin right now?

 

Keep showing up at the easel for your creative dreams!

Ignite your Creativity: Action Steps for Artists

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Every artist's journey begins with a dream.

There is an aspiring artist living inside all of us, no matter what stage we may find ourselves in.  

At some point, the desire to create beautiful works of art began to stir in you. 

Can you remember the first time the dream of becoming an artist took hold? 

Think about it now. It may have been decades ago…or just recently, but this dream is a seed worth germinating.

The journey to bring your creative dreams to life can be daunting. Distractions conspire to keep us from our creative pursuit. Without a plan, everything else takes precedence over our art. 

Important things, like caring for loved ones and raising a family. 

Challenging things, like providing financially or enduring through illness.

However noble or important these priorities may be, they can’t change the fact that you were made to create. 

You are an artist. Let that sink in.

This is who you are. When you engage your creativity, others benefit richly from the inspiration you share. Pushing your creative gifts to the back burner not only hurts you. It deprives the world of the unique expression of beauty that only you have to give. 

Alain Picard, Fresh From The Market, pastel 10x10

I really felt you needed to hear this today. Is it time for a fresh start? 

Are you overwhelmed by the journey ahead? I understand. 

American author, Mark Twain once said, “The secret of getting ahead is getting started. The secret of getting started is breaking your complex overwhelming tasks into small manageable tasks and starting on the first one.” 

When embarking on a fresh creative journey, you can expect to feel overwhelmed. Our frustrated inner artist critic shows up in all shapes and sizes to discourage your growth (I call mine Mr. Perfect).

Fear is a common denominator that we all face, myself included. It's how you respond to the fear that defines you. You can be resourceful, and activate a plan to overcome intimidation and make consistent progress. You are only one step away from moving forward on your journey! 

Use these three P’s to activate your mission:

PURPOSE -  Gain clarity about your personal motivation for showing up as an artist. What is your  big “why”? This is the dream inside of you that motivates you to create. Write it down in a special journal. This will give you much needed clarity and resilience for your journey ahead. Then read it every day. When your purpose is anchored, you become an artist on a mission. 

PREPARE -  Now it’s time to prepare your creative space and gather the materials you need to get to work. This could be a corner in your living room or a plein air easel packed and ready in the car. Maybe it’s finally time to convert that extra bedroom into a studio. Prepare your creative space. This is not frivolous. An artist needs a base of operations to flourish.

PLAN - Now get out your calendar. Be realistic about your creative goals and give them priority in your schedule. Carve out a regular weekly time to practice your creativity. This will serve you well in the days ahead. Plan your creative schedule intentionally to ensure that you are ready to show up regularly and do the work. Share your calendar with loved ones who will help you protect this time from other demands. 

With a clear purpose, a prepared space, and a schedule to practice your art, you are activating a plan to turn your dreams into reality. You have no idea the impact this will have on your personal well-being and creative fulfillment, not to mention the world around you. 

Your art matters, friend. This world truly needs the unique expression of beauty that you have to offer. Don’t put it off another day.

Do one thing today to turn your creative dreams into reality. 

Be inspired,

Alain Picard 

Are looking for fresh inspiration? Try my Expressive Mark-Making mini course to get you in motion!



What Makes Great Art?

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In the world of art, there's a big question that artists and art lovers ask: What makes some art truly great? I was recently asked this question by one of my students. It's an important question, because it goes beyond just looks and digs into what makes art truly special. Whether we are evaluating our own art or visiting a gallery or museum, answering this question requires us to consider some important factors.

Joaquin Sorolla, Summer, oil 1904

Let's break it down together and figure out what makes great art stand apart. I like to evaluate a piece of art by filtering it through four key areas.

Mastery of the Foundations

First off, let's talk about the foundations. Great art usually starts with a solid understanding of the building blocks of art—things like getting proportions right, dealing with light and shadow, and using colors effectively. When artists nail down these basics through consistent practice, their art shines brighter.

Another key foundation is design. This one is so important, it could have its own category. Design is so much more than putting things together; it's about arranging shapes, values and compositional lines in a way that directs your eye, balances visually, and grabs your attention. Strong design causes you to experience the work in a more meaningful and specific way, according to the artist’s intention. Think of it like creating a rhythm or flow that pulls you into the work and keeps you engaged with a unique point of view.

 

Handling of the Medium

Another important theme to consider is the artist’s handling of the medium. From paint application to edge manipulation, surface textures to the way an artist makes her mark, this is so important. Consider Sargent’s bravura brushstroke oils, the expressive mark-making of Edgar Degas in pastel, or Andrew Wyeth’s transparent watercolors. A masterful artist will handle the medium with excellence, insight, and familiarity.

John Singer Sargent, Cashmere, 1908

The Artist's Vision

Next up is an artist’s vision. This is where things get personal. Great art isn't just about copying what's in front of you; it's about revealing the world through your own eyes. Artists who can tell a story or make you feel something special with their art—they're the ones who create something truly memorable. They’ve got a fresh point of view that helps you encounter the world in a new way.

The Art’s Resonance

Here's the thing: great art isn't just about what the artist wants to say—it's also about how it makes you feel. Great art sticks with you, even after you've walked away, resonating with a lingering power. It's a kind of magic—it touches something deep inside you and leaves a mark that you can't shake off. Art like this lives on through the generations with energy and potency. This happens when an artist finds the intersection between their curiosity, skill, and the unique story of the work.

Progress Over Perfection

Want to know a secret? Even the greatest artists don't hit the mark every time. They make mistakes, try new things, and sometimes it just doesn't work out. That's okay! Because art is all about learning and growing. Even those "failures" can lead to amazing discoveries. Let this encourage you forward to continue to practice and grow.

 

So, what makes great art? It's not just about mastering the foundations or following all the rules—it's about telling your story in a way that makes people stop and listen. It's about creating something that touches hearts and minds, leaving a lasting impression long after the paint has dried. And most importantly, it's about embracing the journey of creativity, knowing that every stroke brings you one step closer to the greatness that is inside of you.

Paintings That Tell A Story

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Everyone loves a good story. Are your paintings communicating clearly and purposefully with a unique voice that speaks to your viewer? As visual artists, we are storytellers. We have a desire to express ourselves through our work. We do this by communicating with pictures to engage the viewer's imagination. This video will give you four tips to telling a compelling story through your art.

Kids Art Camp

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We just wrapped up our historic first kids art camp at Picard Studio, which culminated in an "Emerging Artists Art Reception" complete with Awards Ceremony. Children from 1st to 6th Grade created some outstanding works of art! Here are some pictures of the masterpieces. Teaching these kids was such a fulfilling experience for my wife and I. Look out art world, here they come!

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