Portrait Painting - Part 1

In this two-part paint along video, you’ll learn how to create a lifelike portrait in soft pastel from the drawing stage all the way to a loose, painterly finish. Here in Part 1, Alain will show you how to sketch in the portrait to create a strong likeness. Then we will mass in our dark values in the background, hair and shadows. Watch Part 2 here: • Portrait Painting - Pa...
Join my Painterly Portrait Online Course: www.picardstudio.com/learn-wi...
Alain's Pastel Supply List: mailchi.mp/0b911600ddd6/paste...
Alain's NuPastel Portrait Palett Colors: mailchi.mp/8d1c9c603b4a/nupas...
Join the Waiting List for Alain's Painterly Portrait Online Course here: learn.picardstudio.com/ppc-wa...
Alain's Workshops: www.picardstudio.com/workshops/
Learn more about the Colorado Pastel Society: www.pastelsocietyofcolorado.org
If you enjoyed this video, please subscribe!

[@natalieanderson7732]

Thank you for your great instructional video.

[@j.p.7914]

Thanks 👌🏻🙏🏻🍁🌻🍁

[@bettyjose8240]

Hi Alain Betty from Australia I'm 92 years and started to use pastels two years ago Have enjoy your you tube videos and the newer ones that you share are so very helpful As I live on my own you have made my life so rich God bless your ministry

[@AlainPicard]

Thank you so much! God bless you as well, may you see beauty and share it with others!

[@05Urszula]

Thank you for sharing the portrait painting session.Your mark making is absolutely gorgeous. I am learning a lot about importance of color values and their relativity. I am looking forward to part 2!

[@kathyhall668]

Learned so much ,I like the skewer, and talking us through it.

[@emilyadams6194]

So interesting to watch this video. Putting in the dark background early was very affective and was such a good time to continue adjusting the outside shape. Will move on to the next part.

[@kerryhelelr8037]

Another fabulous demo. Thank you Alain! I learn so much from you. One day I hope to take one of your live courses

[@jeannetteastigger6814]

This is helpful. Jeannette

[@irisprusky3907]

thanx for ur important teaching of how to make the right background to a portrait

[@kathleenjones2687]

Alain, your use of a skewer as a measuring device is brilliant! Its long enough to measure your entire subject and it’s light enough so that it allows you to maintain your fluid movements across your sketch.

[@olivierdeme3886]

What a great tutorial. A real master class. Priceless. Thank you.

[@letsdrawwithmanya1328]

Thank you ! For this lesson 🤗

[@AlainPicard]

You're welcome 😊 Glad you liked it.

[@kathycoleman9260]

Ok. I'm all in. Pencil/pen&ink portrait artist. Learning W/C&ink, pencil. Thx for lesson. I'm 74 and soaring with ur help. Thank You!!

[@AlainPicard]

it's a pleasure to encourage your creative growth Kathy!

[@leitang2267]

Great, I’ve learned a lot from part 1 and looking forward to part 2. Enjoy so much and thanks .

[@telvachase9920]

Thanks Alain, again for another amazing video. Can't wait for part 2. This will really help with my portrait work. I've begun to use the smaller prelim sketch and it has really helped develop those value shapes come alive in my process.

[@hollyhill5937]

SO looking forward to part 2, to see how you bring this together. Thanks Alain!

[@AlainPicard]

You bet, Holly! I am sure it's tough to be left hanging half way through the portrait. It's coming real soon!

[@lynatno1]

Excellent. Look forward to part 2. The Roché are wonderful to use and the colour range is amazing..

[@jrightone]

Added to my watch later list so I can watch both parts at the same time. Thanks for providing this Alain!

[@AlainPicard]

You are very welcome Joshua!

[@janetchen959]

Thank you Alain for your demo. Your painting is marvelous.

[@AlainPicard]

Thank you Janet, look forward to sharing the completed work with you!

[@oliviahardrick9399]

Thank you so much ! I'm learning a lot with that video, trying now to do a self portrait with your advices. Looking forward to seeing the second part !

[@denisegrossman3840]

Yeah!! So glad I happedned to see this, what a treat!! Thanks Alain so generous!

[@AlainPicard]

You are very welcome Denise! I'm really glad you enjoyed this video!

[@aliciamolloy5948]

Hi Alain thank you so much for this video. I love your thumbnail I am so looking forward to seeing the final painting. I know it’s going to be amazing.

[@juul7737]

Thank you for the mail. I was hoping for so long you would make portraits. You made me so happy🤗👍

[@AlainPicard]

That is great to hear, Julia, I'm so glad you enjoyed part one!

[@gailjanetbrown8183]

Thank you, Alain, for this opportunity. Looking forward to Part 2.

[@AlainPicard]

You are very welcome Gail!

[@sarahneglia7626]

Thank You so Much, Alain!!! Can't wait for part 2!!!

[@AlainPicard]

My pleasure, Sarah!!

[@yvonnefurse5375]

This was the first time I watched an artist do a portrait (not as yet completed), and thoroughly enjoyed the process. I can't wait for Part 2. I have done a couple of portraits in class, using the graph method, which I found useful, so when I saw you paint, it was very interesting how you used the skewer for measurement and placement. As mentioned below from vicki ross, the pipe insulation was an extra tip for me to remember. Thank you Alain.

[@miguelesteinmetz6019]

Thank you Alain I’m looking forward to seeing part two 🙏

[@AlainPicard]

So glad you enjoyed, Miguele all the best to you!

[@mjpete27]

I Love, Love, Love that you kept referencing the source rather than your study as you put the portrait on your surface! As you continue to show us how to make good marks even when using a piece of pip insulation as a mark maker in blending your colors! Your treatment of the negative spaces to help us frame the figure and realize our future likeness of our subject. I hope to see the development of the color study in the future, just another subject for a future video! Looking forward to part 2! Please be sure the thank the pastel society for allowing you to share this amazing portrait with us, your viewers!

[@AlainPicard]

Thank you Michael, yes I keep observing the reference throughout the development, even at the late stages. Observe, observe, observe is my motto here. All the best!

[@bk50587]

/ Many thanks. Will be watching the second part. This made me want to paint. Great technique and explanations

[@gjlaird]

Thanks Alain, very interesting and informative to watch you create and mark in values for the negative shapes of the "puzzle" pieces. Can't wait to see the completed work!

[@AlainPicard]

Really glad you enjoyed the process, Jim, and even listened to what I was saying, wow! Extra points for you. Part two is coming soon!

[@jimqartworks]

wow, awesome, thanks

[@AlainPicard]

You are very welcome Sweaty Palms!

[@Ron-wf1tt]

Sooooo good to see you again!

[@AlainPicard]

Thank you Ron, I'm glad you enjoyed it!

[@Dony3791]

Thank you for sharing this video. It's very informative. I'm looking forward to part 2!

[@AlainPicard]

Glad you enjoyed it! I'm looking forward to sharing part 2 with you.

[@michelegirard]

Thank you so much for this. I can’t wait for part 2!

[@AlainPicard]

You are very welcome, Michele, I look forward to sharing it with you!

[@bonniemueller1308]

Thank you, Alain. Looking forward to Part 2.

[@AlainPicard]

You are very welcome, Bonnie!

[@faridahnoor5498]

Thanks Alain. Looking forward to the second part.

[@AlainPicard]

Coming soon, Faridah, you won't have to wait too long! thanks for watching.

[@annfoster1980]

I loved this. Looking forward to part 2

[@AlainPicard]

Thank you Ann, glad you enjoyed. It'll be here soon!

[@MJas1016]

Can't wait for part 2!

[@AlainPicard]

Hi Jason, thanks, I'm glad you're excited!

[@cg3830]

Thank you for this enlightening video and for sharing your knowledge so generously, with genuine intent to teach and a beautiful smile. I will look forward to the Second Part dear friend.

[@AlainPicard]

You are very welcome, glad you enjoyed!

[@jamesholder13]

Amazing!

[@Vickilou92]

Enjoyed watching how you used the pipe insulation. When I’ve seen artists use it in the past they tend to smoosh all the color into the surface. You used it sparingly and deliberately. Can’t wait to use it this way!

[@AlainPicard]

Just another tool to model and adjust the tones, values, colors and edges with! Have fun Vicki, all the best

[@riverlandart]

Thanks so much Alain....4am in Australia couldn't sleep and discovered this, thoroughly enjoyable.... look forward to part 2 at a more civilised time lol...stay safe...

[@AlainPicard]

Yikes that's early! I'm honored to spend the early hours of the day with you. Look forward to sharing the rest with you too!

[@danielmanalili2062]

Thank you for this lesson ❤️ stay safe sir

[@sjommillera2109]

Thanks so much! Excellent educational experience!

[@AlainPicard]

Glad you enjoyed it! It was a pleasure to share with you.

[@ceciliabaker2015]

Hi from Cecilia from Seattle. did your workshop in Mississippi several years ago. Love your way of teaching. So easy to understand where you are going. Thanks for this.

[@AlainPicard]

Hi Cecilia, so great to hear from you, and thank you! All the best in your work!

[@debiwomack5063]

Wow! You are amazing!

[@AlainPicard]

Thank you Debi, I appreciate it!

[@denisegrossman3840]

Awesome! Its rather intimidated but I am working on my thumbnail and then I will tackle actual pastel painting.

[@charlottesmom]

Wonderful!! I'm learning a lot from your videos, this one has me captivated. I'm an "okay" sketcher but your hints and way of doing things is incredibly helpful...I also think on some level is helps that you are a lefty (as am I).

[@jmeetze8]

Thanks for sharing with us, it was interesting to see how you started without the underpainting. I will be looking for part 2:-)

[@AlainPicard]

Thanks Janette, so many different ways to start, but this one has a challenging facial angle, so I wanted to draw it first. All the best!

[@coletterahal1007]

Thanks Alain for thé vidéo I enjoyed watching. I was supposed to meet you in France last june but everything bas been cancelled! May be another year. Looking forward watching part 2...

[@AlainPicard]

So sad about France getting cancelled, but I am praying for next year to work out. Thank you for the kind words, and all the best to you!

[@autocode5324]

I am a new subscriber to your channel. I'll be around here. I loved this part one of the video series very much. Your content is truly educational. Your style is quick, which is entertaining. I didn't notice how one hour passed while I was watching your video. Please do include in the part two video how you do varnishing. Pastel paintings tend to get damaged/displaced easily compared to other media.

[@DianaSobrado]

Thank you.

[@AlainPicard]

You are very welcome Diana!

[@alexalexanderman1238]

I really appreciate how Alain is able to judge the shape and dimensions of the portrait using just the skewer. I would assume that mastering this technique takes a lot of practice, with many hours in front of the canvas. While I am working toward this level of skill, I have, in the meantime, developed my on way of transferring the likeness from photo/sitter to the canvas without using a grid that may be of some help to beginner portrait painters. You can check it out here if you like: www.passionforlife.gallery/blog/portraitsbyproportions

[@eugeniabates-yielding]

I am so grateful for your lesson videos, your confidence, and your finished artworks! When you translate value into color do you use your value scale?

[@jcmchann7]

Your work, as ever is AMAZING! I was able to attend one of your workshops several years ago. So inspiring. Thank you for this instruction. I was wondering on this piece, other than the fact that the reference is printed landscape, is there a specific reason the work was not done in portrait? Hope you and your family are safe and well during these strange times. J. Clint McHann

[@vincentquirke9657]

Thanks for the very helpful demo. Regarding sanded UART paper, what criteria do you use for deciding between (1) black vs beige sanded and (2) 400 vs 500 grit?

[@jainejackson3265]

May I ask what your surface is for this portrait. Gottaloveyourstyle and thank you for sharing

[@sonidas4497]

Alain can you mention the colours that you used please because I don't know what skin and hair and background colour you are using please

[@ruthburley7386]

I've started a portrait of my daughter and feel quite lost, but your video has really helped me to see what I need to do. I noticed that your reference photo was about the same size as your paper. If the reference photo is small, and the paper is quite a bit larger, your measurement process would be quite a bit different, correct? So, how would you describe a measuring technique for a circumstance such as that? Thanks so much! Looking forward to watching Part 2.

[@sujanithtottempudi2991]

Why do you like UART sanded paper ...when it doesn't hold pastel well like Pastelmat?

[@AlainPicard]

If you watch my videos, I talk regularly about the qualities of sanded paper that I like. PastelMat is also an excellent surface, just different. They are both great in unique ways.

[@sujanithtottempudi2991]

@@AlainPicard but do you feel UART....holds the pastel dust? I can't see many layers in UART sanded paper compared to pastelmat

[@patriciozazzini3182]

what brand of paper and gms are you using?

[@AlainPicard]

Hi Patricio please check out my video here on what pastels I use: kzbin.info/www/bejne/bH-TpKWtbtWeoqc

[@robynwhite5662]

I’m on my phone so I don’t know how to find the description you speak of at the start..

[@AlainPicard]

Hi Robyn, when you are on your phone, and the video is playing, you can look below the video on the right hand side, there will be a little triangular arrow. Click on that arrow, and it will open up the description information below the video. There you will find the link. Hope that helps you with phone viewing!

[@jaige95]

Is there anything else that can be used in replacement of the pipe instillation?

[@AlainPicard]

Hi Jasia, there are many ways to blend, but with this sanded paper, it will cause paper towel to tear and pulp up. Fingers can work, but when the paper is still bare, it can rub your skin off. So the best way is to use some kind of foam, or you can wash the pigment with a solvent. I do that as well, using alcohol. The pipe insulation is a great way to do a dry rub with the pigment though. All the best

[@jaige95]

@@AlainPicard thank you! Looking forward to part 2🙂

[@mjpete27]

They sell tools for a nice high price if you do not want to use the cheap pipe insulation. Just look on Jerry's or Blick they will be happy to sell you some!

[@jaige95]

@@mjpete27 thank you for that info 👍🏾

[@paodrake3842]

wheres the link ?

[@AlainPicard]

It's in the description below the video. Just click "Show More" and you'll see them all.