Master mixing, layering and glazing to confidently create a highly detailed, hyper-realistic work of art.

Discover the keys to a luminous composition as accomplished artist Kerry Brooks shows you how to draw a portrait with colored pencils. You’ll choose a compelling source image and use a light color to create a freehand drawing on toned paper. Discover Kerry’s expert tips for achieving accurate proportion as you develop your sketch, and find out how to use tonal shifts to imply sculptural dimension and depth. Then, learn how to mix and layer colors to create a stunning spectrum of lifelike skin tones. Explore an array of techniques for sketching expressive, realistic eyes, and use glazing to add luminous catchlights. And, conquer the challenges of sketching hair as you learn to depict touchable texture and vibrant shine. Refine your work with professional finishing touches, and complete class with a range of transferable skills and an impeccably executed portrait.

What you get:

7 HD video lessons with anytime, anywhere access
Class materials, including supply and resource lists
Hours of close-up instruction
Answers from Kerry in our virtual classroom

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Lesson plan:

Subject Matters (25:42)
Meet your instructor, artist Kerry Brooks, and begin your journey to create polished, lifelike portraits with realistic skin tones and hair textures. First, Kerry advises you on her favorite materials — from paper and pencils to erasers and other accessories — and her preferred drawing setup. Then, explore what makes a good source photo as Kerry shares what she looks for when choosing a subject and what elements to avoid.
Establishing a Framework (24:43)
Start to build out the framework of your portrait and draw along with Kerry as you begin to pencil in the initial form of your subject. Discover how to achieve accuracy and likeness even in this rough stage as you work your way through your portrait, gradually adding detail and highlights. Gather tips for how to keep facial features in proper proportion, move throughout your portrait and analyze your own work.
Creating Value & Form (29:33)
Continue to develop your form as you begin to establish the values in your portrait. Begin with a light touch as you start your first tonal layer and then continue to bring in highlights and establish midtones with Kerry's guidance. Learn how to add deeper tones to bring your portrait to life as you continue to add dimension and refine your work one layer at a time.
Creating Realistic Skin Tone (34:49)
Learn how to layer color to build up values as Kerry leads a detailed demonstration on skin tone. Discover how to warm up or cool down your subject as you layer a variety of colors. Explore color mixing as you combine a variety of hues to vividly depict your subject’s unique skin tone.
Drawing Lively Eyes (32:10)
Turn your focus to your subject’s eyes and give your portrait life as you learn techniques for drawing accurate eyes that are full of sparkle and emotion. Layer on colors as you push and pull values to replicate what you see, building out eyelids, shaping eyes and creating realistic irises and pupils. Learn Kerry’s trick for making sure your subject’s eyes are looking in the same direction, and how to add eyelashes and “catchlights” that give your portrait a photo-realistic quality.
Creating Realistic Hair Textures (25:13)
Create lifelike hair as Kerry shares her tips for avoiding the common pitfalls that thwart many artists. Learn how to add lowlights and gather Kerry’s tips for ensuring that your highlights stay vibrant and warm. Discover how to approach hair as a unit and how to weave in texture and color as you layer reds, grays, browns and golds to achieve maximum realism.
Finishing Touches (16:38)
Put the final touches on your portrait as you use a colorless blender to smooth transitions and soften edges, adding refinement and realism. Take a final pass over your portrait as you heighten the contrast, amplifying highlights and enhancing shadows. Then, Kerry will share her advice for knowing when your portrait is done.

System Requirements:

Supported OS: Web Browser