The Portrait Institute Color System: Questions & Answers

Q: What is the Portrait Institute Color System?
A: It is an organized, reliable system for the mixing of flesh colors in portrait and figure painting.

Q: What does the Portrait Institute Color System consist of?
A: The complete Portrait Institute portrait palette consists of ten specially formulated colors (the Portrait Institute colors) and thirteen standard colors plus white.


Q: What is the purpose of the Portrait Institute Color System?
A: The purpose of the system is two fold: time-saving convenience and accuracy. Time saving convenience is achieved by greatly reducing the amount of mixing required during painting. The ten Portrait Institute colors are the ten most-used colors in portraiture. When slightly modified by adding touches of the standard colors, an astonishing array of flesh colors are readily attained, with a minimum of mixing time. Accuracy comes from the ability to repeat the color combinations with assurance.

Q: How does the Portrait Institute Color System work?
A: The principle of the Portrait Institute Color System is very simple. In the traditional free palette approach, the painter may mix hundreds of color variations in the course of painting a portrait or figure subject. Ten mixtures recur with greater frequency than all the others - these are the Portrait Institute Colors. To precisely match the colors you observe in the model, you will almost always want to vary the Portrait Institute Colors slightly - by adding one color from the standard colors or another Portrait Institute Color.

For example, if the model's color is warmer than the Portrait Institute color, you will add a red color. If the color in the model is cooler, you will a cool color from the standard palette. To reduce intensity, you will add a neutral. But you will almost never have to add more than a single color to achieve your desired results. Without the Portrait Institute Color System, you would have to add three or four colors together each time.

Q: How will I benefit from the Portrait Institute Color System?
A: Instead of a hit-and-miss, trial and error approach, you will be able to mix with assurance exactly the tone desired, and you will be able to do it again and again with consistency. Professional portrait and figure painters rely on the Portrait Institute Color System. It lets you concentrate on creativity, knowing your flesh colors are right - every time.