Thanks Chris. The process is hard to describe, but...

2011-03-05T12:27:00.589-08:00

Thanks Chris. The process is hard to describe, but I will try. The first thing I do is try to disassociate the colors from the object. In other words, instead of looking at the flower and realizing that it is a flower, I try to get it in my head that it really isn't a flower. It is really just color.

By doing that, my brain is not insistent on selecting colors based on the object itself. By looking only at color, you allow your brain to notice the different hues and shades that are actually there.

Once I am in that frame of mind, I start picking out colors that I think are within the ranges that I am looking for. Then I get a scrap piece of the same paper I am going to use for the final art and I create a sample color pallet. Basically, I just draw little dashes of color and then write the name and number of the color beside the dash.

Next step is to compare the color pallet to the reference photo. I do this by placing the photo and color pallet side by side and looking quickly back and forth between them. This allows me to see what colors in my pallet are closest to the reference.

Finally, I select the colors that are closest and use those final colors to create another pallet. I use that final pallet when creating the artwork.

Being able to see exactly what the color looks like on the paper keeps me from having to "guess" at my choices.

That is pretty much it. It is a simple process, but it can be very time consuming because I spend so much time debating each color before deciding on what color is the closest to the original.

I am glad you were able to benefit from my site. If you have any other questions, feel free to ask. :-)

I learned a lot from this, and love the fact that ...

2011-03-05T08:49:27.567-08:00

I learned a lot from this, and love the fact that your text sometimes referred to the colored pencil medium as a whole, among the parts where you developed the drawing.

You spent a couple hours of study choosing the colors! Boggling. What's that process like?

Comments on Pencil Portrait Lessons: Yellow Rose - A Tutorial

Thanks Chris. The process is hard to describe, but...

I learned a lot from this, and love the fact that ...