New Pastel Portrait process video!! At last…

A new Pastel portrait process video! A big size portrait.

Almost an year and a half have passed since I posted my last youtube Instructional video…

I know it is a long time… Specially for the fast and intensive virtual world out there… But even I haven´t stop painting I felt I must stop to film for a while and take a break. I needed in some way to focus in my work. To explore new things in Pastel and change some others. We are always learning. I also wanted to come back with a different portrait…And having something good to show and say.

Painting a Pastel portrait, Graciela Bombalova 2017

This portrait was very intense and emotional to paint for me. Not only because the original image is extremely interesting as a composition, color palette, expression, position of hands, etc. but mostly because it is a portrait of a young gifted craft-man who suddenly passed away recently… The Pastel portrait was commissioned by his mother. I felt very touched by her letter.

For this work I have mostly used Unison Soft Pastels on dark grey Canson paper, the biggest size available, 29 x 43 inches. Big sizes allows me to be more expressive, something I felt necessary in this case… The set of Unison Pastels result really good on dark papers or dark surfaces. They cover well without saturating too much the paper and the range of warm colors are rich and beautiful. I have also used Schminke soft Pastels, very good for bringing brightness and light, especially on his shirt… In this color painting I didn’t wanted to be too meticulous in details but more emotional, expressive…

Painting a Pastel portrait, working the eyes, Bogra 2017

I felt so involved in the process of this painting that I had no time to doubt or retouch. I just wanted to paint it as quick as posible following my instinct. I decided to give an unfinished look to the hands knowing that this will be the key to solve this portrait at the end. The hands were very important part in this Pastel portrait since we are talking about a Master carpenter… You can take a look at this portrait process video in my Youtube Instructional channel, following the link below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3yIF2OMiicI

I hope you´ll find it useful and interesting!