The Weeknd Speed Painting – Progress Video

Process Behind the Speed Painting

This The Weeknd speed painting video was inspired by a photo that immediately stood out. The lighting, color, and mood were perfect for capturing something expressive. Rather than simply recreating a pop star portrait, the goal was to turn a fleeting moment into movement on canvas.

The painting begins with a vibrant Vermillion orange background. Over that base, loose lines were sketched using Primary Cyan to establish the structure of the portrait. From there, the darkest shapes — the hair, shirt, and sunglasses — were built using a custom mix of Ivory Black, Magenta, Yellow, and a small amount of Cyan. This mixture creates darker tones that feel warmer and deeper than pure black.

Next came the skin tones, layered gradually while allowing the orange background to glow through the paint. This technique gives the portrait a cinematic quality. Highlights were then added using a mix of yellow and magenta to enhance the lighting and atmosphere.

The final stage of the speed painting video focuses on the jacket shadows, reflections in the sunglasses, and additional contrast in the background to push the portrait forward visually.

In total, this The Weeknd speed painting took around 90 minutes to complete. The rough textures and visible brushwork were intentional, reflecting the surreal and emotional tone of Blinding Lights, the song that inspired the piece.

This portrait is part of a broader series of music-inspired paintings. If you enjoy expressive contemporary portraits and creative time-lapse videos, you’ll find more works like this throughout the collection.