How can I learn to paint in the style of realism?

Painting people and/or landscapes that look real is no easy task and cannot be learned in just a few days. Learning to paint realistically takes a lot of time, effort, and practice. Much of the process consists of trial and error but here are a few elements you can focus on to help you improve: 

• 
  Perspective - Perspective is soimportant when it comes to both painting and drawing. It's what's going to make your...

Painting people and/or landscapes that look real is no easy task and cannot be learned in just a few days. Learning to paint realistically takes a lot of time, effort, and practice. Much of the process consists of trial and error but here are a few elements you can focus on to help you improve: 

• 
  Perspective 
  - Perspective is so important when it comes to both painting and drawing. It's what's going to make your creation look like a 3D image despite the fact that it's painted on a 2D canvas. 


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  Scaling and Proportion 
  - Focusing on scaling and proportion is absolutely crucial when painting realistic images because, no matter how well you can perfect intricate details, your painting's going to look strange if your subject's head is too small compared to the rest of their body. So pay attention to scaling; you can even use a pencil to lightly sketch a grid on your canvas beforehand. 


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  Color 
  - Color exists on a spectrum. There are tons of different shades and hues for each primary color you can name. You should be blending colors if you want your painting to look lifelike because, in reality, almost nothing is the exact shade of color you'll find in a tube of paint. Mix and blend without regret!


• 
  Shadowing 
  - Shadows aren't just blocks of black space. Surprisingly enough, they're actually made up of many different shades and they should be viewed as extremely subtle shifts in color. Although shadows can be tricky at first, with lots of practice, they become second-nature. Keep in mind you should be adding shadows to your painting while you compose the entire thing, not after.

I've added several hyperlinks to "how-to" sites in each category, so feel free to reference those. Good luck with your painting and remember to have fun!