How Color a Portrait with Colored Pencils (Split Portrait Project)

In this video, I will demonstrate how to begin coloring your portrait using the Prismacolor Premier colored pencil set in the portrait colors. You'll need to begin by deciding what skin tone is best for you using the chart. Then, determine the Prismacolor portrait pencils that are best for your mid-tone, highlight, shadow, and blush color. First, on your drawing, lighten your pencil lines with an eraser. This is crucial for a clean portrait because the graphite pencil will smear and turn your lighter skin tones muddy gray if you color directly over it. Next, look at the skin tone map. Lightly note where the highlights are and leave these areas alone for now or lightly color them with your highlight color. Your next step will be to map the shadows. You'll want to use extremely light pressure for this. Using your shadow pencil, gently map out the darkest areas under the chin, the side of the nose, and the eye sockets. Use small circular motions and very little pressure. You're just creating a map, not laying down final pigment. Your fourth step is to apply the base mid-tone all over. Use your mid-tone very lightly and apply an even layer over the entire skin area, lightly overlapping the shadow areas you just mapped out. You can avoid the highlights completely or just press very lightly. Next, you can repeat your steps. Going through highlights, shadows, and the mid-tone again with a little bit of extra pressure will help get more color onto your paper and fill in some of that white space. But don't begin pressing too hard yet because we still need to apply some blush. That will bring us to step five. Lightly add in the blush and warmth. Apply your blush color to the cheeks, lips, and tip of the nose. Human skin has blood flowing through it, so adding faint warmth to the forehead, chin, and ears will also make the portrait look alive rather than flat. Finally, repeat all the coloring steps. Layer and blend until the paper is well coated and your colors have blended. Build up the pigment gradually. As the tooth and texture of the paper fills up, the colors will naturally begin to blend into a smooth, realistic skin texture. Just remember to take your time building up layers gradually and use your resources to help you do your best work. When finished with the skin tones, use the additional colors of colored pencil to fill in your eyes, hair, and, of course, the other side of your split portrait.