Christelle specialises in black and white portraits, which is why she rarely uses coloured pencils. So, she was very excited about the idea of exploring the world of coloured pencils. Discover her step-by-step process!
Materials:
- 60-Pack Faber-Castell Polychromos Pencils
- Posca Paint Marker
- Drawing paper from Strathmore
- Reference image
To start, choose an image that inspires you and is very colorful.
“First of all, I had to choose a reference photo. I was looking for a simple subject but with bright colours. My choice fell on a photo of a Japanese geisha, I immediately found the photo inspiring given my fascination for Japan. »
Then, before starting your colour portrait, it’s important that you choose the right type of paper. For drawing, Bristol paper offers a nice smooth surface that is recommended for drawing with pencil or graphite, as these are oilier and can be spread easily. Also, with Bristol paper, pencil lines will not be obstructed by the fine paper grain!
If you decide to use a Posca Paint Marker, mixed media paper may also be suitable, as it will help ink penetrate and limit smudging.
For her project, Christelle opted for a medium surface drawing paper from Strathmore.
For more information on how to choose the right type of paper, read our article here.
STEP 1: CREATE A TEST GRID
To get familiar with the pencils and the different shades available in the box, create a grid in which you can test each pencil in two different ways: by pressing lightly on the tip, then by pressing hard.
Then, as you draw, you can compare your reference image to your chart to make sure you select the right pencils.
STEP 2: DRAW THE GUIDELINES
Draw your guidelines using a graphite H pencil, taking care not to press too hard so that the graphite is easy to erase.
STEP 3: START WITH THE FACE
To ensure that face colours blend well, apply light pressure when colouring. Then, using the white pencil, go over each section and unify the overall tone.
Next, work on your subject's hair and other accessories. Feel free to press hard on the pencils to achieve brighter, more opaque colours.
Tip: Zoom in on your image to see if you need to mix multiple colours to achieve desired results.
"When I zoomed in on my reference image, I quickly realised that I had to mix several colours to get realistic results. For example, a section that may look completely white is actually a combination of blue, pink, purple and white."
STEP 4: USE A POSCA PAINT MARKER
Use a Posca Paint Marker to add light effects to your subject—it makes your artwork really pop!
Once finished, the last step is to draw your subject's clothing, always staying true to your creative style.
"I like it when my subject floats on the page—that's my style. I recreated the clothing in a minimalist way."
Christelle passed our challenge with flying colours! Her experience was very rewarding and she is tempted to create other colour portraits when she comes across images that inspire her. Why not dare to step out of your comfort zone too … who knows what creative results you will get!
Happy creating!
More on Faber-Castell and Polychromos Coloured Pencils
Christelle loved working with Faber-Castell Polychromos Pencils. She finds that they glide very well, that the colours are vibrant and varied, and that the leads are easy to sharpen and do not break even when pressed hard.
Faber-Castell Polychromos Coloured Pencils are equipped with a soft and thick lead measuring 3.8 mm. Rich in high-quality pigments, they offer bright colours that are resistant to water and light.
They provide excellent adherence and covering power for many mediums: paper, cardboard, wood or textile. Faber-Castell is a renowned brand with an expertise dating back several centuries.
They are committed to environmental protection and have their own FSC-certified forests that absorb over 900,000 tons of CO2 and neutralise the emissions of their production sites.
Discover them here!
