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Saturday, 07 July 2007 |
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An anonymous portrait is often very saleable as it usually looks like someone, and people often think it is someone they know.
Work on dark brown coloured paper, from a photograph if you prefer, a portrait of an old man can be painted in a few minutes by outlining the essential features in dark brown pastel. The skin tones can be added using yellow and red. Black accentuates other features.
To make really dark areas a cotton bud soaked in ink is very effective, as it does not spread to the rest of the painting. Many people spoil a good painting by leaving the background until last, instead of adding it during the course of the painting to show the overall effect.
It is important to fix the pastel and brush off the excess as you go along in order to correct any problems. Hair spray can be used instead of the commercial fixative, as it is probably less toxic. After adding white highlights the colours are blended with the fingers to give a very effective skin tone. Colours such as purple, blue or green are also used to give different tones. © GMH
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