In this portrait painting tutorial, Alex shows you how to place the 5 essential shadows of a portrait.
The 5 essential shadows of a portrait, the 2 eyesockets, the shadow under the nose, the upper lip and the shadow under the bottom lip are vitally important. Whenever you are drawing a portrait or portrait painting in oil, getting a likeness in a portrait depends on placing these 5 shadows accurately. You should have these shadows placed correctly before you start working on the refining stages of your portrait, or adding any details, because no amount of detailed work will make something look like your sitter if there is anything wrong with any of the 5 essential shadows.