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ipromisedmyself
Posts:6
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| 02/18/2008 8:50 PM |
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Hello,
I am new to this whole deal. But, I am a high school student applying for my BFA and I'm having some trouble with a pastel portrait I'm doing. I can't seem to get the right color combo for flesh and with that, the way a white light looks on flesh. I attempted with peaches, pinks and a bit of yellow and grey. Result: softening with white and making this icky not fleshy color.
Thanks for the help! |
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LovetoPastel
Posts:78
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| 02/19/2008 7:38 AM |
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| Without seeing the portrait it is hard to give you advice, But I would stay away from greys in skin tone. Reds, purples, browns mixed with the base skin tone would be better. Depending on the skin tone, olive green might work as well. It is also going to depend on the light source in your reference. I would google 'pastel portrait painters' and study the colors that they use. Another great reference for skin tone is the book, Painting Beautiful Skin Tone with Color and Light, by Chris Saper. Good luck! |
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Suzanne |
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ipromisedmyself
Posts:6
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| 02/19/2008 11:05 AM |
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Thank you so much for the help, i pretty much took all the mess off the painting today, and i have attached the image I am working from. Thanks 
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ipromisedmyself
Posts:6
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| 02/19/2008 11:06 AM |
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Muckleskate
Posts:103
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| 02/19/2008 4:16 PM |
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I'm glad to see you decided to start off with such an 'easy' subject!! But then, why not start with a real challenge?
Sometimes it's easiest to paint on a toned background so the white paper doesn't get in the way. Try using a really pale yellow, instead of white, for the highlights. 'White' skin tones have a lot of yellow and peachy-yellow as well as lavenderish-brownish shadows, and not much pink at all. Books are always a good source for ideas.
Check out the various portrait sets and look closely at the colors they contain and see if you have those in your collection already. It might be worthing getting a few extra colors. What paper or board are you working on and what type of pastels? |
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Sandy
Signatures Gallery
Brookings Harbor, OR
www.signaturesgallery.com |
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ipromisedmyself
Posts:6
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| 02/19/2008 5:38 PM |
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I tend to do that to myself. I have only done one other pastel and have never actually done a portrait, only fashion illustrations. I got the form down fine its just the shading and tone of the flesh that I'm sucking at. I am using strathmore 80lb pastel paper in an eggshellish color, not quite white but nothing too daunting either and a set of 30 Rembrandt pastels.
I started, and my (the one on the right's) face alright, but it makes me look like an old man because i figured it would make sense to use the grey from the vest. As far as the boy on the left, his face is in the light way more (it was, the picture doesnt do it justice) so i tried to make it lighter,m and it just looks like he;s sick. I'll attach a photo from my isight so you can see where i am.
I didn't really consider the strange face --> difficult subject thing, but I'm running with it. Thanks for all the help, more would be lovely |
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ipromisedmyself
Posts:6
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ipromisedmyself
Posts:6
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| 02/19/2008 5:48 PM |
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| its not quite as screwed up as it is in the photo, but you get the idea. |
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Muckleskate
Posts:103
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| 02/22/2008 2:55 PM |
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Have you looked into getting a 96 piece set to Nu-Pastels? This is a very good starter set and you can continue to use these as a base after you start getting more and softer pastels. If you do get these, break them into nice 1 to 2 inch pieces. Much easier to handle as you will use the sides a lot. Remember you are working with shapes. Your shadow is a shape, the midtone is a shape, the highlight is a shape. All of which is blocked in using the side of the pastel. Don't worry about blending at this point. Think big, think light, think dark. When you think you have it about right, you will probably need to both lighten and darken your colors.
Sometimes working with a paper close to your midtone helps things get started. Have you tried a heavier weight paper, like a Canson? It comes in two weights and a each has a smooth and a more textured side. (Unfortunately, their is usually a price marker on whichever side you want to use!!) Often artists will figure out what their lightest light and darkest dark is then put a stroke of each on their paper before starting. That reminds them to keep everything within those perameters.
It make take several starts, but don't give up. Pastels are FUN once you get the hang it!!! |
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Sandy
Signatures Gallery
Brookings Harbor, OR
www.signaturesgallery.com |
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