Pastel Demonstration: Step 1:Using Rives BFK paper, lightly sketch in charcoal to work out the image proportions. In this case, Tucker, the golden retrieve dog. Working from one main photo for the lay-out, later using other photos for details. Once the basic drawing is in, tone the background. I generally will tone the whole paper first and pull out the image using a kneaded eraser but since there was such a strong difference in background and image, I left the image the tone of the paper, tan.
Tucker
Adding undercolor
Step 2 & 3: Start to add shadows and undercolor with pastel sticks. I prefer less soft pastels that do not flake as much. Undercolors, shadows are the darker colors, blues are often what I start with and may add some purple or brown. I never use black in shadows. In this image there were undertones of red, I used siennas to build the form.
Working from photographs has it's advantages and disadvantages. Advantage the animal does not move. You can make a B&W copy of the photo to better see the shadows and highlights. Disadvantage, you miss small details that a photo just does not pick up. Like the color of the eyes. Sometimes photos are the only option for doing a commission piece. Try to get several photos for references.
I do not do preliminary drawings for pastels. I may do small graphite drawings to study the animal but do this as a separate piece. I frequently use the same image and do a series or study in grahite before or after the larger pastel piece.
Adding blue for shadow areas
Sept 4: Details... I need to establish the face, more specifically the eyes. I do some of the detail to get the form and angles of the face correct. For this I start using pastel pencils and charcoal pencils. The charcoal pencils vary in hardness, I start with HB. I have found that you need to test each charcoal pencil, sometimes 2B can be harder then HB, I find the one that gives me the hardness I like and keep it aside.
I do not add much color at this stage, just a hit here and there to bring them to life and start their personality.
Adding details
Directional process with pastel
Step 5: Directional Work Depending on the image, I may work left to right, right to left or top to bottom. On "Tucker" I worked right to left, I continued to work on the head, adding color, details using pastel pencils, charcoal pencils and stick pastels. I continue moving across the body layering colors and creating texture. The fur is created with directional strokes using pastel pencils, white charcoal pencil and kneaded erasers. The eraser can be used like a pencil. I do use spray on most pieces. The spray knocks the white color down, I go back into that again with the stick pastel and with white charcoal pencils. I add the highlights to the eyes at the very end and do final touch-up.
