Painting the Facial Features

Reviewer: Eqqq a.

This instructional DVD was really interesting. A lot of explanation from Mr. Sanden. Very, very helpful for one who is going to do portraits. Recommend it highly

Reviewer: Monique B.

He did what he set out to do which was to paint just the facial features. Very enjoyable to watch and good clear direction.

Would highly recommend.

Reviewer: Maria S.

I really enjoyed this lesson .He is very informative and his technique is easy. I recommend it.

Reviewer: Sandra M.

Wonderful teacher. This is a great video for anyone wanting to paint portraits whether a beginning artist or intermediate.

Reviewer: Els S.

This video, produced by The Portrait Institute is excellent however in order to fully understand the application of the correct colours the instructor should talk about the colours he uses. Colours like Dark 2, Halftone 2, and Neutral 3 do not explain what the specific colours are. According to The Portrait Institute website, this instructor sells a number of videos including one about Colour. Maybe this Colour video should be suggested as a prerequisite to Painting the Facial Features video.

Reviewer: SUSHEEL S.

It was good DVD - but not what I expected.

The Portrait does not match the 'model'.

Was not happy with the Flesh tones used in the Painting.

Reviewer: John Z.

In my humble opinion, John Howard Sanden is a living Master. Mr. Sanden's work will be admired and sought after for many years, (perhaps centuries), to come. It is an exciting concept to be able to travel to his studio and learn his methods that have taken decades to perfect.

The fact is that most of us will ever get to meet the man lest alone study under him. SO the DVD's presented here are the next best thing. The lessons are taught step by step in a matter of fact manner.

In response to ELs S. comment about confusion of colors mentioned in the tape, Mr. Sanden has assembled and packaged what he calls the "Pro Mix Color System". You can find the product here, http://portraitinstitute.com/promix.htm

Some say that this product is a gimmick and unnecessary. Personally, as a novice painter, I purchased the set and it really jump started my painting. I have found it difficult to mix colors from photos in a book, and having that part of the process done for you is an incredible help. Again, I am a novice. I now live in a part of the country where the only colors folks can recognize is John Deere Green n' yella. So I don't have the opportunity to join classes locally.

I have, been able to mix my own paints to reconstruct the colors in the Pro Mix System. Many purists will have me burned at the stake for not taking the time for learning every combination of color that one can mix on their pallet. I agree and am doing that while I am learning to paint.

After being a professional Portrait Photographer in Manhattan for 20 years,( I moved to the Midwest to escape the crowds), my clients and prospective clients always admired the portraits for the pose, or the lighting , or even how it brought out the essence of the individual. Never did anyone say, "That's a great portrait, did you use Kodak or Fuji film? What focal length lens, f/stop and shutter speed did you use?"

No, it was just the portrait that counted. I have found it to be quite similar in painting. I want to study form, perspective, and values. The expertise in mixing the colors will come.

Reviewer: kathy f.

This was a great video. He is an excellent teacher. If you are having problems with facial features, this will be of great help.

Reviewer: Diane H.

Very good video. I highly recommend. He makes it look very easy. I found the advice very helpful.

Reviewer: Debra F.

I enjoyed this video very much and watched it many times. In fact I'm going to buy some of John Sanden's dvds for my permanent library. Very helpful!!

Reviewer: Rita J.

Great! even for an old artist...to review and get inspired again. Thank you for your wonderful way of sharing these with those of us who have bought all we need to put in our bookshelves and look at just two or three times. Thanks So much!

Reviewer: William G.

I purchased a book by John Howad Sanden and liked what I saw. When viewing his DVD, "Painting the Facial Features," I was impressed by his narrative and excited by his art work.

I have already received and view 3 additional DVDs by JHS from you.

I am still impressed.

Reviewer: Sydney B.

I liked this much more than I expected to; it was very helpful. The only reason I did not give it the highest rating is because he does not tell what his color mixtures are. I supposed if one started from the beginning with his lessons, he would provide that information, but think each lesson should provide this information so that they are useful purchased or rented separately.

Reviewer: Bernie B.

As part of an overall training it has valuable information. But the values in the paintings were rather awkward.

Reviewer: Sean M.

Brilliant. You can not watch this enough. I watched it 8 times in a week span and picked up something important each time.

Reviewer: Robert C.

The instruction is okay but lacking...the artist didn't even bother to finish the painting...that kept me wondering if there's a disc two for this tutorial??!!!

[ SmartFlix note: No, this is a stand-alone DVD - it is not part of a set. ]

Reviewer: Charlotte M.

This is an excellent video. His way of painting eyes is explicit and they are truly dazzling. He also demonstrates painting the nose and lips in great detail with a lot of instruction. I did not particularly care for his skin colors, he is very partial to ruddy complexions. Overall, I highly recommend the video and only wish that he had completed the entire face and neck and had more realistic skin colors.

Reviewer: Michael S.

I was expecting much more from this video. I'm glad I had a chance to rent before buying. If you're hoping for a biology lesson then this video is perfect for you. For those of us who are grossed out by such things this video is like sitting in during surgery. He goes on nonstop about the Latin and technical names for the various regions, tendons, muscles, etc... The video was gross and incredibly boring.

Also, the tones and features appear to be left unfinished.

Reviewer: Lisa G.

This DVD, and the instructor were great! I am working on a portrait and the values were just not working for me. I would highly recommend this DVD for anyone wanting to expand their knowledge of the importance of value!

Reviewer: Natasha N.

I prefer a looser type of painting, but this was still very instructional and I liked how the musculature and bone structure were discussed. Really helps in analyzing what needs to be painted for the facial features. I'm okay that he didn't discuss what his color mixtures were, they seemed a little off - that's why I rent Johnnie Liliedahl.

Reviewer: William C.

This is a demonstration....it is fascinating to watch but limited at being informative by the absence of "formulas"...I put this DVD in the "GOOD" category.

Reviewer: Frank J.

If you have the book, or can go to a library, Mr. Sanden gives you complete recipes or formulas to mix each one of his Pro Mix paints. An artist that shares all of this information in a book might not feel he needs to do so in a video. I would agree with him. I have the book. The library sold it to me for $1.00! I cannot believe that they had that on the "throw-out" table. Wow! I am contemplating just buying the paints and doing the mixing at a later date. But, if anyone wants to contact me about this, email me at munsellpainter@gmail.com.

Reviewer: jan s.

I think you are at a disadvantage if you don't have the color set he uses which is through his company and his product. He doesn't really explain his mixtures but I really liked the demo. It is quite traditional but I learned a lot about the details he captures in value differences and color changes. I actually liked it a lot.