Coloured Pencil Drawing Fundamentals: Create A Realistic Portrait

Do you want to learn how to create incredibly realistic coloured pencil portraits from start to finish?

Coloured pencils can be a challenging medium. However, they can be used to create incredible portraits full of depth and vibrancy. I'm going to share the fundamental techniques so you can understand how!

This class great for all levels. It may be beneficial to have some drawing experience but you can be a complete beginner when it comes to colouring pencils. Whether you are a complete beginner or advanced, you are sure to pick up fundamental techniques to help your portraits. 

Some of the challenges people face for coloured pencil portraits:

1. Finding a good reference picture
2. Capturing likeness
3. Picking the right skin tone colours
4. Creating smooth skin
5. Polished finish on the drawing

To tackle these, I’ll be focusing on the following techniques in my teaching: 

1. 5 things to look out for when picking references and where to find good ones
2. Creating an accurate sketch
3. Undertones, colour mixing and layering
4. Blending techniques
5. Capturing fine details using mixed media

You will get to practice the skills you are learning immediately with practical examples throughout the class. The class projects call for you to apply the techniques you have been learning for various blending exercises and then your very own portrait drawing. By the end of the class you should feel more confident to draw different portraits of a variety of skin tones using your coloured pencils. I hope you enjoy the class!

• Introduction
• Class & Project Orientation
• Supplies
• Picking the best photo references
• Types of pencil strokes
• Exercise: 2 colour blending
• Exercise: 3 colour blending
• Picking skin colours for different skintones
• Create an accurate sketch
• Map the colours on your sketch
• Creating an underpainting with markers
• Achieving details with colour pencil
• How to colour hair
• Fine details and finishing touches
• Conclusion