There are not exact answers on how to paint a face, or how to draw a realistic portrait. We all have different stiles, favorite art materials, techniques and no one has “the formula”, but it is always interesting to see how other painters work.
Working on my posts, I have realized there are some patterns I follow in most of my pastel portraits. So I decided it would be interesting to simplify the stages and write something more schematic. Here are the steps I followed on another pastel portrait that I´d like to share with you. It is a head and shoulders portrait of a young girl painted from a picture taken outdoors. I was impressed from her! She has such a hypnotic blue eyes! A soft expression, very calm and relaxed…
While looking at the image, I immediately wanted to paint her and thought it would be a wonderful painting, and why not, a wondeful review too… Here is the process step by step.
The drawing is a very important part. Photo by ©Graciela Bombalova, 2019
I started to build the portrait from the light. Photo by ©Graciela Bombalova, 2019
1. For this portrait I used mostly Schmincke soft pastels .I chose a Chanvre clare Canson pastel paper, which I cut to 19x 19 inches size.
2. I did a detailed drawing with a Stabilo CarbOthello pastel pencil.
3. I started to build the portrait from the light. I marked the strongest and brightest spots on her hair with free energetics strokes.
The face at the first stages… Bogra art studio, ©Graciela Bombalova, 2019
Mixing the correct red color, Photo by ©Graciela Bombalova, 2019.
4. Then, I used my brightest scale of pastels for the light of her face.
5. I added the middle tones being very attentive to the temperature of color.
6. I´ve mixed the lips color on a separate pallet, and then I placed it using my finger as a brush.
The red color for the lips, Photo by ©Graciela Bombalova, 2019
Looking for the blue of the eyes, Photo by ©Graciela Bombalova, 2019
7. I did the same with the eyes… At this stage, I had a good base to work on the details of the face.
A white sharped Caran d´Ache pen, Photo by ©Graciela Bombalova, 2019
8. I started from the light of her eyes, using a sharped white Caran d´Ache pastel pencil. Remember that you can buy the materials one by one.
9. I worked with the same pencil on her nose, lips, and chin.
The white reflection on the lips, Photo by ©Graciela Bombalova, 2019
10. It was time to define the shape of her eyelids, eyelashes, eyebrows, the contrast of her nostrils and the line of her lips… I worked on this delicate matter with a lead of sepia in a mechanical lead holder.
Photo by ©Graciela Bombalova, 2019, All rights reserved Bogra art studio
The expression on the eyes, one of my favourite parts…Photo by ©Graciela Bombalova, 2019
11. The expression of the eyes is my favorite part! I used well-sharped Conte 3B black pencil for the details.
12. The next step was to create some contrast around her face.
Photo by ©Graciela Bombalova, 2019, Bogra art studio
Starting to work on the background with some greens…Photo by ©Graciela Bombalova, 2019
13. I worked on her hair adding rich colors for the middle tones and the shadows….
14. I enjoyed the background with free rough strokes.
Ready to sign…Photo by ©Graciela Bombalova, 2019
15. I spent my time, getting on the details of the dress. A lot of white and several details where required..
16. Some more colors for the space around her… It was ready to sign.
Graciela admiro mucho tu trabajo, es un lujo tenerte de maestra, muchísimas gracias
Hola Gemma,
Gracias a usted por seguir este blog!
un saludo,
Graciela.
I love studying your work. Rich, fearless, luscious color. You are a master of perspective and proportion- which can only be won with countless hours and a pencil (and perhaps much more that can only be learned with courage).
Thank you so much for sharing. What a beautiful way for me to spend a snowy Sunday morning!
Dear Catherine,
So glad you enjoy that much the posts! I really appreciate your comments and they encourage me to make some more… Knowing that some real persons out there read them and enjoy them 🙂 Wish you a good week!
Graciela.
I love your way of drawing. Most of all, I admire how you can easily create the preliminary drawing. Everything fits on Ahieb. I need a lot of time and corrections. Great!
Hello!
Thank you Suzan,
The drawing is very important. If we have a good preliminary drawing we have a good base to make the portrait, It is like a map for the road to get to the right place.
And do not worry about the corrections! We never get directly to the point but correcting constantly… one way or another.
Best,
Graciela
You are incredibly talented! I loved your sketch more than the photo. So much precision and detailing in your portraits.. Love them ♥
Hi Maytrayee,
As I said before the drawing is very important, so I take my time on the drawing. 🙂
On the other hand it is a great exercize so I do it constantly… Thank you f or your nice words!
Best regards,
Graciela.
Hi Graciela,
I have been watching some of your pastel portrait paintings on YouTube and it was mesmerizing to watch the whole process and outcome. You are very talented.
All the Best and keep up the good work.
KC
Thank you, KC!
So glad you like the youtube channel and the posts!!
I hope I´ll make a new video in the near future! Thanks for following…and writing!
Graciela.
Thank you so much for sharing how you work. I love to watch your videos as well, they always inspire me to try again when a piece doesn’t work out. So sorry to hear if your recent health issues but so glad you are still painting, art is so healing and precious, Best.
Anita Tovey