So this summer I am focusing my fundamental studies on drawing and painting. My first project I decided to do was a simple portraiture study with a limited palette.
First I started with a quick pencil study to get basic forms, shapes, lighting, and composition.
Then I laid down the first wash/underpainting. Working only in Cadmium Red Light so far.
Once my underpainting is dry, I start by attacking my darkest darks and working the middle values slightly. This stage is probably the most important for me in this process because it helps lay down a firmer drawing - something I can work from better.
After my darks, I attacked my lighting. Focusing the highlights mainly around her features, I tend to push myself too far with the highlights and reflective lights, so that I can go into it in another session and tone them down to exactly the right value. Right here there is too much highlight above her left eye (our right).
The final step, I work back into my darks, but this time focusing more on the relationships of the values instead of just one of them. I work back and forth from dark to mids to highlights until I accomplish my desired relative values. I also hit the hair on the left with some of the brightest highlights where the light shines through, gibing it a more dramatic lighting angle and effect.
Hope you enjoyed my process, and the next illustration, drawing, or painting should be on its way. Happy Summer days!
-Ryan
