by JuliannaKunstler.com
Draw a grid on a 10"x15" illustration board:
Do not apply pressure on your pencil while drawing the lines.
Pencil's weight alone will produce enough pressure for the line.
The lines should be very thin and light.
Lightly draw your photo image onto the board.
Work with one row at a time.
Carefully draw all different shapes. Details are extremely important.
As you draw, you may "smooth out" the edges of any jagged shapes on the skin as you draw them.
The hair might have jagged shapes. Leave the hair shapes jagged as a contrast to the smooth shadow shapes on the skin.
Take your time with this drawing step.
The more accurate your drawing is, the more successful your painting will be.
Draw in all details!
Erase the grid lines completely before the painting steps.
Choose a color scheme.
Use the link to help you select colors:
Break colors into a value range from the lightest to the darkest.
Complete the worksheet:
Your photo is made up of 4-6 different values.
Analyze your photo and count all values. This step is important!! You can number them directly on the reference image.
Then select a color scheme.
Mark your color scheme on the worksheet.
Premix all colors before you start painting.
They should be of obvious different values.
The lightest value should be the lightest possible tint - add your color to White, not the other way around.
Also have some amount of black and white paint - based on your image.
Try your colors on the worksheet.
If you need to adjust a color or two - time to do it now, before you paint your project.
Label your paint cups.
Make sure you mix enought paint.
Color choice examples:
Different values of one color
Colors that are next to each other on the Color Wheel
Colors that are opposite on the Color Wheel
Colors that are opposite on the Color Wheel
Colors that are spaced by 1, 2, or 3 colors on the Color Wheel:
split 1 color
split 2 colors
split 3 colors
rectangle
square
1. Paint lightest value - we start with the lightest value as this is a more efficient way to do so for this particular project - because you already have your colors pre-mixed.
It is easier to overlap light areas with darker paint than the other way around.
Use your #1 premixed paint.
Paint in all shapes that are the lightest value in your reference photo.
2. Paint #2 (medium-light value)
3. Paint #3 (medium-dark value)
4. Paint #4 (dark value)
5. Continue painting to fill in all shapes.