Expressive Portrait Drawing with Soft Pastels

Learn how to combine mark-making, composition, and color using soft pastels to create captivating portraits filled with emotion

• Introduction
• Pastel Portraiture Fundamentals
• Creating Your Pastel Portrait
• Sharing Your Work
• Final project

Through the use of color, texture, and expressive strokes, a pastel portrait has the power to transfix its viewer’s attention. Artist and fashion illustrator Chris Gambrell is passionate about capturing the movement and character of his subjects. He has worked with major European fashion houses and editorials, including VOGUE and Artists & Illustrators magazine.

Discover the feeling of crushing pastels onto paper to create depth and layers. Experiment with different mark-making techniques, learn to balance colors, and create striking pastel portrait compositions filled with mood and rhythm.

• About Me
• Influences
• Introduction to Materials
• The Importance of Keeping a Sketchbook
• Mark Making
• Colour Study
• Sourcing References
• Initial Sketching 1
• Initial Sketching 2
• Proportions 1
• Proportions 2
• Details
• Making an Image Work as a Piece
• Colour Work
• Fixing the Work and Packaging
• Photographing and Social Media
• X Pastel Portait