THREE CATS, STEP BY STEP -
COLOURED PENCIL PORTRAIT
1. Photo reference, chosen from a selection for the most promising composition and lighting.
2. Printed guide, after playing with different layouts on the computer.
3. Main proportions traced from the printout. Shadow areas interpreted from the photos. App. 1hr 20mins
4. Precise confirmation of main lines and shadow/highlight areas, working from the photos. App. 40mins
5. Light trace onto final paper, and first colour layer. Each stage is vital so I’m usually timid at the start, hence the pale colour. App. 25mins
6. Brown. Using a main colour early gave a clearer sense of the image, providing needed confidence. App. 25mins
7. Orange. Some life! I looked for the basic colours of the photos and drew each as I saw them, trusting they’d all fit at the end. App. 5mins
8. Yellow and red. Primary colours seem to bring energy and strength. Yellow for highlights, red for midtones, blue in the shadows. App. 15mins
9. Blue. Also eye colours: green, yellow, blue, orange, and brown. App. 15mins
10. Black. Great for dimension. The last layer added, I can set the photos aside and see it only as a drawing. App. 25mins
11. Now it’s in ‘fix-it’ stage, and I finally get bolder. General enhancement of colours. More blue and green in shadow areas. Focus on form. Last pass: denser black, with a wax-based pencil. App. 1hr