Ed Sheeran Speed Painting Video – Portrait Time-Lapse

Painting Process

This Ed Sheeran speed painting video shows the creation of the portrait from the first marker outlines to the final brush highlights. The focus of the session is capturing the character and energy of the artist through fast, expressive layers of acrylic paint.

Although I often listen to the music I grew up with, I also enjoy painting contemporary artists. Ed Sheeran is one of those exceptions. His style and musicality stand out, which made him an ideal subject for this Ed Sheeran speed painting.

I started with a black marker to sketch the basic outlines — head, shoulders, pupils, facial shadows, and the darker parts of the hair. Then I painted the eyes, nose, and mouth. These features pop more in terms of color, so I used a mix of Magenta, Cyan, Titanium White, and a bit of Ivory Black for depth and highlights.

For the cheeks and skin tones, I blended Magenta and Yellow, adding Cyan for shadow. The rest of the face was painted from dark to light, while the shirt and neck were left simple — just blocked in with base colors for contrast.

The hair was tricky. The darkest parts almost looked black, but I mixed a deep red-orange to match his natural tone and added layers of brighter reds and oranges. I finished by painting the background and adding highlights to the lips, eyes, and facial hair. Finally, the tape came off — always a satisfying moment.

This piece is part of my music and artist portrait series, where I capture iconic performers in fast, expressive painting sessions.