Pastel practice:
Highlighted grisaille

Table of contents

Highlighted grisaille

It illustrates the steps in the work of Joan Marty, which is a sample that demonstrates the transition from simple drawing and grisaille to color. In this case, the pattern, color and grisailles are closely intertwined, it can be noted that sometimes the preliminary drawing is done in color, and the grisaille technique is applied up to the final stages of work. In the practice of painting, various techniques form a single system with which the individual creative manner of the artist is realized.

The image of the model from the back is a rather non-trivial solution for the portrait, however, the expression on the face of this girl, a graceful hat, an impeccable line of her profile are of interest for embodiment in the pastel technique in this form.

Stage 1.The preliminary drawing is done with a few light strokes of charcoal, which only outline the profile and hat contours. More is not needed yet, since the necessary clarity to the lines will give shading and spots.

2 stage. The first spots, applied with solid pastel and charcoal, are the initial stage of tonal design work in the grisaille technique. At this stage, to emphasize the details of the face, you can use a pastel pencil.

3 stage. For thorough shading of the background spot, it is necessary to use shading with a very thin end, since using it you can, without fear of getting into the inner region of the profile contour, fill its outer part with color.

How useful is boring, you can see the example of this work. It is useless to use it for shading large spots - usually a rag or fingertips are used for this, but if you need to carefully shade in a small area, it is indispensable, since the pigment penetrates the grooves of rough paper with great difficulty.

4th stage.The use of white and blue hats significantly enliven the dark tonality of the work, introducing a note of pure color into it. This contrast, in addition to coloristic value, gives the form significant relief.

5 stage. You can shade color spots with your fingers in places where there is no risk of damaging the contours, which will give the painting a required uniformity.

6 stage. The contrast of the black spot of hair with the white color of the blouse and hat is one of the most spectacular elements of this work, and its perfection of the form transmission with tonal means has also become very attractive.