MATERIALS
• Derwent Pastel Pencils
• Prussian Blue
• Raspberry Red
• Process Yellow
• Indigo Blue
• French Grey
• Vanilla Yellow
• Spectrum Blue
• Cadmium Red
• White
• Burnt Umber
• Orange Earth
• Brown Ochre
• Yellow Ochre
• Magenta Red
• Burnt Sienna
• Umber
• Zinch Yellow
• Flesh Tone Tints Conte A
Paris Pastel Pencils: Pink No 48, No 49, and No 07
• Pastel Sticks: Burnt Umber,Warm Grey, Indigo Blue
• One sheet of Canson Pastel paper
• Kneadable rubber
• Soft brush
STEP ONE
Start drafting your shapes on Canson Pastel paper with a white Derwent Pastel pencil. I found using this old photo (of when I was only 16) a real skill to practice. The most important thing is to sketch your outline of the picture first so then you will know that the composition will always balance.
STEP TWO
I block in some of the shapes with Cadmium Red and Prussian Blue pencils. I also use a skin tone pink No 48 Conte Pastel pencil for the faces, arms and legs. For the boys’ pants I use Burnt Umber, with Indigo Blue for the dark shading, and Burnt Sienna for the Ugg boots and hair. I use Spectrum Blue for the front of the boys’ jumpers as well.
STEP THREE
I then proceed to the background of the picture, and start blocking in the bricks with Raspberry Red, with Indigo Blue for dark shading and White for the outline. I also use Cadmium Red and Indigo Blue for shading, White for the scooter, the seat and the inside of the wheel, and French Grey for the scooter’s motor cover. I block in the ground with dark shading using Indigo Blue. Then I proceed to the middle boy’s jumper with Vanilla Yellow.
STEP FOUR
I start blocking in the dark shades through the picture. I use Prussian Blue and Raspberry Red for shading the skin, and only press the pastels very lightly for the skin. I use Indigo Blue for the dark shades through the rest of the picture, and use Umber for the lines through the vanilla jumper of the middle boy.
STEP FIVE
I then proceed to block in the detail of the faces and hands with Indigo Blue, and use Magenta Red for the balloons the two boys are holding. I also start putting in the eyes and mouths outline with Indigo Blue and also use this on ‘my’ neckline.
STEP SIX
I proceed to block in more medium colours in the faces and hands with Conte Pastel No 49 and Conte Pastel No 48, put a bit of Orange Earth and Brown Ochre through their hair and do some more detail on the face features with Indigo Blue.
STEP SEVEN
I then proceed to the light shades of the skin and clothes with White pencil. Do not press too hard; you only want a very faded shade, so then you will know that the light shades will balance.
FINAL STEP
To finish off the pastel picture, continue to add more warm highlights with White. You can also use Zinch Yellow with White, pressing only very lightly with the pencil, for a very soft tint highlight. Highlights are a very important part; this will bring the picture to life.
ARTIST’S HINTS AND TIPS
• Always use quality pastels. I find Derwent Pastel pencils a very high quality product and they give a very soft finish and are textured.
• Fixative spray can be very helpful when you cannot layer anymore pastel on the paper. You can also use a kneadable rubber to remove any excess pastel.
• Never give up on any subject, nothing is impossible.
