Portrait Information
Hello, my name is Margaret Lukasik and I have painted soft pastel chalk portraits since my late twenties. However, I now paint portraits through my multimedia process using acrylic, oil, and various other mediums I may use to create a collage effect of a persons memories or personality.
I offer both types of portraits, but I no longer paint an exact replica of a picture. I incorporate a story into the painting, catching the essence of the person I paint. So I ask for as much detail as possible to create a beautiful painting that is like no other, especially a photograph. If you would like me to capture "the essence of you or someone you know," let me know and perhaps we can work together.
Here is how I work:
- I will keep you informed from the beginning of the process before I even begin my work.
- Then I will show you my progress until the final rendering. At that time, you can let me know if you are satisfied. If not, we can work together to fix any problems.
- I use only the best quality products in all mediums that are of archival quality. (Archival quality refers to the ability of a material or artwork to withstand the test of time without deteriorating or losing its original quality)
My Portrait Process: Creates a Unique Masterpiece.
View my acrylic and oil portrait process as it progresses..
Acrylic Underpainting
Once I have decided the design of the painting and have chosen my pallette of colors, I wash the canvas with a light coat of acrylic paint in a color I choose and then let it dry. I do the underpainting with acrylic paint next the acrylic mediums I want to use. If I need collage materials, I will incorporate them as needed.
Acrylic Paint
Once the underpainting is dry, I organize my pallette by transparent and opaque colors that compliment each other. My brushes are clean and ready to be used with a medium that slows down the drying process for acrylic paint which drys quickly. I paint the background and person in acrylic until the painting is almost complete.
Painting With Oil
The last 3 steps of the process are to glaze over parts of the background, face and body with transparent paint. Next I'll go over other parts with opaque oil paint and fix and problems not addressed with the acrylic paint. The paint will dry quickly because of the quick drying medium I use. The last thing I do will be to use varnish for protection.
My Soft Pastel Process: A Smooth and Lifelike Portrait.
View my soft chalk pastel process as it progresses.
Paper, Color & Theory
I use only the best paper and soft chalk brands to create my pastel portraits. I start with a #5 grade sanded paper. I use various chalk colors, that I'll be using in the painting, to create the underpainting. Then I'll pour 91% alcohol over the paper and let it dry.
Form and Composition
When the paper is dry, I begin with the same pallette of chalk sticks and add Pan Pastels to build the portrait and background. Because of the paper I use, I can build up to 9 or 12 layers with beautiful results. If the portrait includes a pet with the focal person or a child, I make sure that both are cohesive.
Completion
Once the painting is complete, it is ready to frame. I do not use a fixative because it changes the colors. However, I do use a fixitive to cover some of the layers if necessary. I do not frame the paper, however I send it in a special paper that keeps the chalk safe. Each side of the paper has a 1/2" unpainted border.
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Do You Like Flowers? View My Floral Series!
Shop Now!
Finding Beauty in Art
Visit My Gallery:
Of Inspirational Art
Leave Custom Portraits By Margaret Lukasik For Home Page.
Copyright (c) 2025. Margaret Lukasik. All rights reserved.