Drawing the Light

In this portrait lesson, we’ll create a profile portrait on black paper using a white pastel pencil.

We will be using black paper because it provides a unique canvas for emphasizing light values. When drawing on black paper, the highlights and lighter areas stand out more prominently, creating a striking contrast against the dark background. This technique allows you to focus on capturing the variations in light and shadow, resulting in a visually captivating profile portrait.

By paying attention to proportions, form, angles, and feature distances, you’ll capture a beautiful and visually captivating profile portrait.