Off Skiing

Off Skiing, Soft Pastels on Sennelier Pastel Card
Size 11 x 15 inches
Artist's Collection

For this, I used a reference photograph of my son I took in the studio a couple of weeks ago. He'd just returned from a skiing holiday, so the hat and scarf seemed apt. I love the way the turquoise of the hat brought out a similar colour in his eyes.

I don't normally crop for my head portraits, but this really called for it - Those shapes would have been so much less interesting if they'd been allowed to remain whole.

I am really happy with the palette I chose - the deep red, turquoise and yellow ochre. And although I used a lot of greys on the skin, I think the variety of other colours keep it fresh and I believe the whole thing fits.

I hope to create more of this style in the very near future.

Ten Year Old Boy

Ten Year Old Boy, Pastel Pencil on Strathmore Paper
Size 40cm x 30cm (mount size 50cm x 40cm)

I took the photograph for this close to a wall away from direct sunlight. It means there are no harsh shadows (or squinting) but that the shade is harder to find. Subtle shading can be quite hard to render and if completely absent will make the features look flat. It is important to include just enough darks to give shape to the face and to include that all important shine in the hair.

Hair reflects light better than skin can, so there will always be a lot of contrast in the hair. Even in this short crop you can see how the blocking of light in the hair shapes the head. I do seem to have a bit of an obsession with hair don't I?

For more of my portraits or to commission a painting, see my website wendybooth.co.uk or keep abreast of my portraits on Facebook.

Grandma Wyn

Grandma Wyn, Pastel Pencil on Strathmore Paper
Size 40cm x 30cm (mount size 50cm x 40cm)

When drawing from a photograph, it's easy to get bogged down in the detail. If you know the person you are drawing it can make it far easier to portray the personality rather than an array of wrinkles and blemishes.

This is my husband's Grandmother. She turned 100 last year, but I've never known anyone so happy and she's so full of life! This lady really is so much fun! I hope I caught the mischief in her eyes.

Some areas of a portrait I will copy faithfully, other parts, such as wrinkles and blemishes will generally be downplayed. This is not to flatter the subject - but because I am capturing a likeness, not drawing a map. The texture of the skin can usually be hinted at without even referring to individual lines. This impressionist approach takes practice, but I love to capture something in as few strokes as possible - if nothing else, it adds a freshness and vibrancy.

Max

As mentioned yesterday - I just love to catch that shine in the hair that describes the shape of the head. I tried to capture this here, along with a little of the texture in Max's cropped hair.

Max, Pastel Pencil on Strathmore Paper
Size 40cm x 30cm (mount size 50cm x 40cm)
Available to buy as a canvas print and a greeting card.

When shooting for this portrait we experimented with various poses and lighting. The photo I chose to draw captures this twelve year old boy, who is generally nothing but sweet and lovely, with a look of insolence - possibly a glimpse of the future. The tagline I used on my website perhaps says it best: 'Twelve Year Old Boy - That Elusive Moment Between Innocence and Insolence'.