For your class project you’ll paint a portrait in black and white. These are the steps you’ll follow:

Find a good reference photo. You can try visiting Unsplash, Pexels, or Pinterest for inspiration. Use keywords like portraiture, model or even high fashion for some interesting results.
Set up your workspace and create your value-scale. We’re using a 7 step scale, which means you’ll have 1 white and 1 black swatch, and a total of 5 different greys between them.
Begin sketching a foundation for your painting. This is an exploratory phase so don’t be afraid to make ugly drawings! Remember that you can keep reiterating your sketch a few times on different layers until you’re satisfied.
Begin the block in. Look at your reference photo and determine your most dominant values. Try to paint with only 2 or 3 values at this point and ignore the details in your reference. Squint or zoom out to see the big shapes.
Take a Break!
Paint in shadows. Gradually paint in the shadow shapes that you see. You should be working on the dark end of your value-scale - between your mid-grey value and black. Ignore highlights for now. You can switch between an airbrush and hard round while you work.
Take another break if you need it
Paint in the highlights. Now look for values that are on the light end of your value scale. Begin painting in the big shapes and gradually work in the details as you go.
Take one more break if you haven’t already!
Move on to exaggeration and finishing touches. Take a good hard look at your painting. Is anything off? Make repairs if your proportions are incorrect. You can also adjust your values using tools available in Photoshop (levels, curves, dodge or burn). Clean up the background if you haven’t already.
Share your work! Post to Skillshare, on your social profiles, show a friend or even your cat. You’ve worked hard and now it’s time to celebrate!

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Taylor Stender

Watercolor Artist & Illustrator

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