Expressive Portrait

Journal Lesson

Explore expressive portraiture in our mixed media class, drawing inspiration from Joan Eardley, using charcoal and pastels.

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So delighted to be your teacher this month as we explore an expressive portrait inspired loosely on the work of our Master Artist, Joan Eardley. As mentioned, I almost gave up on her but I’m so glad I didn’t! Enjoy this mixed media lesson where I use charcoal and pastels. Please feel free to supplement or replace the mediums I use with your favorites. Focus on expression and looseness instead of accuracy or realism. Allow yourself to feel free in this project. Don’t be afraid to scrub parts out and add more layers! Joan did this a lot!

Let’s get started!

Canson Cold Pressed Watercolor Paper 9” x 12” 140lbs/300 g
Sennelier Soft Pastels - Colors are from the ½ Stick Portrait Set (40) (these are the colors I used in the skin) Golden Ochre 131, Vermilion 083, Yellow Ochre 115, Orange Lead 37
Prismacolor NuPastel (I refer to these incorrectly as Carbothello in the video). I used the Burnt Umber in the shadows on the skin and Peacock Blue in the light blue around her form.) Burnt Umber, Peacock Blue
Brush - Princeton Select ¾ Flat Wash
Creatacolor Chunky Charcoal Sticks Set - (I used Payne’s Gray and Light Sanguine. The Payne’s Gray is in the background and the Light Sanguine is in her red hair.)
Derwent XL Graphite Block - Dark Prussian (used in background)
Charcoals - General’s Peel & Sketch, General’s Charcoal Pencil 4B Soft, Compressed Charcoal Stick, Generals White Charcoal Pencil
Erasers - Generals Factic BM2 Mechanical Eraser, Kneadable Eraser

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