If you have ever wanted to realistically depict a portrait with pastel painting course with positive feedback, you have an intriguing challenge. Almost definitely, rich, sophisticated skin tones and soft shading produced with pastels will give a portrait lifelike appearance. To be true, though, building a realistic face is more challenging than merely sketching some lines and adding color. It’s about knowing light, color shifts, and those little details that give a face actual life. You should begin initially with a good basis.
Draw the facial outline first, gently. Try not to rush in this stage. Think of it as the foundation for a house. Your sketch will show later if it is off. Describe in passing the key forms of the face: the eyes, nose, mouth, and jawline. When you’re ready to add color, first go for the lightest tones. Skin tones combine not one color but yellows, reds, blues, and browns. Apply the pastels lightly first then progressively stack them. The secret is blending. Unlike paintings with oils or acrylics, pastels do not call for mixing on a palette.
The real trick to a realistic portrait done with pastels is catching light and shadow. Look especially at the shadows on the face, especially under the chin, around the nose, and along the cheekbones. Mix your colors, but try not to overdose yourself. Keep a gentle approach. Since pastels let one create layers and texture, they are perfect for hair. Short strokes enable you to copy hair flow.
Less sometimes is more. With layers of color, keep from overdosing; the goal is to let the pastels do their magic. Pastels let one approach a portrait anyway they want without thinking about right or wrong. It’s about experimenting with colors and styles most likely to depict what you see. And with enough effort, you’ll soon be creating lifelike portraits with only a few brushstrokes that flawlessly capture every minute facial characteristic.