Summary
Padmé Amidala Speed Painting by contemporary artist Bart Carels — a fast, expressive tribute to Natalie Portman’s Star Wars character in full regalia.
Title: ‘Padmé Amidala’
Artist: Bart Carels
Year: 2020
Process
Today was Star Wars Day — so, May the Fourth Be With You!
When I looked at the reference photo of Padmé Amidala, I knew I had to balance the purple, gold, and red. Yellow seemed like a safe choice. However, I wanted the gold headpiece to really stand out. That’s why I went for green instead. It plays nicely with purple and complements the subtle red makeup on Natalie Portman’s face.
Since this was a Padmé Amidala speed painting, I knew I wouldn’t have time to cover everything perfectly. That’s actually part of the fun. Letting the background show through in certain places creates texture and depth. It’s something I often do on purpose, especially when time is tight.
I usually begin with the darkest areas first, followed by the eyes. If the eyes aren’t right, the whole portrait can feel off. This one was a real challenge. Capturing her face was tricky, and I wasn’t sure I could pull off the gold textures in time. But I went for it anyway.
Once the dark parts and eyes were roughly done, I moved to the face. I blended blue (Cyan) and red (Magenta) with white and a bit of yellow for the skin. Then I added the red dots on the cheeks and a mix of red and pink for the lips.
The gold headpiece came next — mostly yellow and magenta. For deeper reds, I used more magenta. For areas with a slight green tint, I mixed in Cyan. Highlights were painted in light yellow and Titanium White. Shadows got extra depth with added Magenta, Cyan, and a hint of Ivory Black.
This piece also fits into my growing collection of movie-themed speed paintings. Alongside music portraits, I enjoy capturing iconic film characters — from science fiction legends like Padmé to other cult favorites. These quick studies are all about energy, expression, and bold choices under time pressure.
Finally, I tweaked the face. The eyes and nose gave me some trouble. One millimeter off and it changes everything. With more time, I could’ve been more precise, but for a speed painting of Padmé Amidala, I’m pretty happy with how it turned out. I skipped all the tiny fabric details on purpose. It saves time and, honestly, I like the unfinished look. It gives the piece character.
Painting Specs
- One-of-a-kind artwork
- Medium: Mixed Media on Paper (black marker & acrylic paint)
- Size: 24x32cm / 9×12 inches
- Color Palette: Cyan | Magenta | Yellow | Black | White
Availability
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