What do I do With the Backgrounds to My Portraits?

An otherwise successful portrait painting can be spoiled by a background that jars with the subject. An element placed in the background may create an unwanted focal point, or a garish colour may make the portrait look amateurish. What is the best background for portraits?

Portrait Backgrounds That Do Not Work

Backgrounds to a Portrait
Rachel Shirley

Understanding the causes of unsuitable backgrounds in portraits or pet portraiture may help improve future work. The following practices often result in a portrait ruined by its background:

• Using photographic reference that includes incidental objects (washing machines, vans, clutter) and copying them exactly without artistic editing.
• Selecting a background colour too similar to the sitter’s clothes, hair or skin (pink/red, orange/pink, purple/blue), causing colour conflict.
• Choosing harsh or garish colours (yellow, bright green, orange) that advance toward the viewer and push the portrait back.
• Using a flat, over‑smoothed background that looks like emulsion paint — lifeless and uniform.
• Guessing how a sitter’s shadow falls on a wall, resulting in an ugly dark patch behind the figure.

Great Backgrounds for Portraits

Think about the background before starting the portrait. Several approaches can be effective:

A photograph with many background elements can be edited by cropping. Simplicity is often more effective. A corner of a window, a splash of sunlight or part of a lamp can add atmosphere without clutter.

Featuring a complementary colour can enhance the sitter. Smoky blue, cool brown or forest green bring out warm flesh tones. Cream, china blue or cool mauves complement Asian skin tones. Consider clothing colours similarly.

An empty background can be energised with broken colours and varied brush marks. Avoid directing all strokes vertically. Move strokes around the figure to give presence. Tonal gradation or colour shifts add dynamism. A paler colour in one upper corner, darkening toward the opposite lower corner, often works well.

Oil Painting Backgrounds for Portraiture

Painting the portrait onto a white surface gives a misleading impression of tonal and chromatic values. Apply a neutral glaze (mid‑brown or blue) to the surface before beginning. This helps judge suitable colours and prevents a washed‑out portrait once the background is added.