An inspiring, direct guide to painting beautiful portraits alla prima. Rob Wareing has built a formidable international reputation as a portrait artist. This is his first book, and here he draws on over forty years' experience to provide a complete guide to painting portraits in oils. In Rob's view, the most effective way to capture character is by working from life rather than photographs, and to follow the alla prima method to create a painting in one sitting. Starting with a fascinating overview of the subject, Rob then guides you through the materials he uses, how to pose and light the sitter, and how to prepare your work area before you start painting. This is followed by detailed coverage of design and composition, the importance of proportions, and the painting process itself - from colour mixing through to finishing a painting without over-working. With clear, step-by-step demonstrations and numerous examples of the author's work throughout, this book provides both an expert guide to portrait painting and a unique insight into the working methods of one of the world's leading portrait painters.