Realistic Portraits in Colored Pencil

INTRODUCTION

“Why not just take a photo?”

Any artist who works in a photorealistic style has heard this question over and over. A photo is fleeting, but a portrait—particularly a photorealistic portrait—is an intimate exchange between the artist and his or her subject.

To create a photorealistic portrait, you need to study every nuance and detail in that person’s face. You need to draw on the essence of that person, but at the same time, instill some of your own essence into the artwork. By the time you have completed a photorealistic portrait, you have the privilege of being uniquely familiar with every feature, flaw, and facet of the face. It requires attention to detail, patience, and the ability to look beyond the obvious for subtle color ...