Less is more: the progression of a portrait in colored pencil
- Susan Pryde
- Dec 29, 2017
- 1 min read
Meet the handsome Boomer.
Boomer is a gorgeous young lad, recently commissioned. I have been working with colored pencils since April of this year, trying new techniques and honing my "style".
One thing that I am discovering (for me), is that it is not necessary to lay down intricate backgrounds, over-think colors, or well, overthink the subject in general.
For Boomer, I chose a toned paper (MiTientes), smooth side that complemented his darker tones and began building his sketch with 10% warm grey pencil. Getting down all of the features that are forward, or in general, the lightest areas of his face, and then worked backwards into the shadows.
The one exception was his eye. In his reference photos (photo credit to my friend Kim Beveridge-Wedl), this relaxed pose was of Boomer sound asleep, eyes firmly shut. But I had several photos of him with these stunning blue eyes. So artistic license applied, open one eye!
The eyes are so important in capturing the heart and soul, that it has to be right, so it is placed and colored first. If the eye is wrong, the portrait is scrapped.
I hope you enjoy the progression, love this young man, I hope you do too!
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