plate no. 4416

Nicolas Perchet

pastel, paperRomanticismportraitportraitfiguremanclothinghairneckwear

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, particularly in capturing subtle skin tones and rendering soft, diffused light. It also provides practice in depicting fabric and hair textures with pastels.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the oval shape and the basic proportions of the head, shoulders, and clothing.
step 02
Establish the main light and shadow areas on the face using light brown and grey pastels.
step 03
Begin layering skin tones, blending light pinks, yellows, and creams for highlights and subtle browns and purples for shadows.
step 04
Work on the hair, using short, broken strokes of grey, white, and light brown to create texture and volume.
step 05
Define the clothing with layers of blue and grey pastels, paying attention to the folds and drapery.
step 06
Add details to the neckwear, using white and light grey pastels to create highlights and shadows.
step 07
Refine the facial features, adding details to the eyes, nose, and mouth.
step 08
Blend and soften edges as needed to create a smooth, naturalistic effect.

color palette

primary · titanium white · ultramarine blue · raw umber · yellow ochre

secondary · burnt sienna · ivory black · light pink

Mix various shades of skin tones by blending white, yellow ochre, burnt sienna, and a touch of blue or purple. Create the blue of the coat by mixing ultramarine blue with black and white for highlights.

techniques

·blending
·layering
·scumbling
·soft shading
·hatching

common pitfalls

→Over-blending, which can result in a muddy or flat appearance.
→Incorrect proportions in the initial sketch.
→Using colors that are too saturated or intense.
→Failing to capture the subtle variations in skin tone.

materials

surface · Pastel paper (toned)

required

·Pastel set (soft pastels)
·Pastel pencils
·Pastel paper (toned)
·Kneaded eraser
·Blending stumps
·Fixative spray
·Drawing board
·Ruler

optional

·Palette knife
·Workable fixative

Choose a pastel paper with a slightly textured surface to grip the pastel. A toned paper will help to establish the mid-tones and make it easier to build up highlights and shadows.

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