First Pastel

[Julie Deane]

Hi -

This is my first pastel, other than unsuccessful attempts years ago.
Any comments/critiques welcome.

I wasn't originally planning to tackle pastel for a few years, but had a customer who wants it due to a lower cost, and so this is a practice piece.

[Allan Rahbek]

Very nice portrait. The hair is especially well drawn, good values.

I would look at the highlight on the bridge of the nose. On your drawing it is placed about halfway between the two eye corners. It should be about 1/3 from the left and 2/3 to the right eye.
And I also think that a darker shadow on the back of the T-shirt would balance the fine contrast of the hair and background.

Allan

[Garth Herrick]

Julie,

I'm impressed! You're pastel is far nicer than the photo; but isn't that the point! To me this is entirely successful as a first pastel. Her sparkling hair in particular is just perfect, in the way you have managed primary and secondary highlights. I think Allan's points are good ones.

I'm quite rusty with my ancient pastels. With your success, you make me want to try this!

Garth

[Julie Deane]

Thanks, Alan and Garth -

I had to rush to have something for an example to send to a charity auction. I knew this portrait was far from perfect, but went ahead and sent it in. When I get it back, I will make corrections. Isn't it funny how we can miss something that becomes obvious when someone else points it out?

I was really dubious about trying pastels due to my past inability with the medium. I borrowed a video demonstration from the Portrait Society of Atlanta's collection, and all of a sudden it clicked. It was an "aha" moment - it's the same progression from dark to light as there is in oils - I guess I am treating it somewhat like an oil.

But - with oils you don't get dust all over the computer keyboard!

[Michele Rushworth]

...a customer who wants it due to a lower cost.

One of the reasons I don't offer pastel portraits is that people usually expect them to cost a lot less than oil portraits, yet they take the same amount of work. Chris Saper offers pastel portraits but charges the same amount as she does for her oils. (Chris, please correct me if this is no longer the case.)

[Julie Deane]

Hi Michelle -

I understand your point, but I figure a sale is better than no sale. Being a beginning portraitist, I need to generate sales and samples, and with pastels as part of my repertoire, I can offer a wider range of prices, with a better chance of finding one that fits a client.

This sample took less time for me than an oil would have. I'll have to keep tabs on future ones to see if that stays the case.

[Jimmie Arroyo]

Wow, that's great handling for a first timer. Did you feel like it came naturally?

Also, if you don't mind, sharing the pastel brands and surface used? It looks like Canson Mi Tientes, rough side. Congrats on a good lookin' first.