STAGE 1 Grid and Outline
DRAWING THE MAIN STRUCTURAL LINES
Many people use charcoal to draw lines, I prefer to use pencil or medium toned pastel pencil because charcoal can spoil very light areas.
When painting from a photograph, I use a piece of transparent film with gridlines printed on it (cost 20p + 30p postage).
Faces are distracting to draw because we need to look at them in a different way to our usual recognition mode (see Betty Edwards' book "Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain"). I usually turn the photograph and my paper upside down for the drawing stage (as Jane Thornhill recommends). Of course, you cannot turn a sitter upside down when painting from life!
STAGE 2 Turn upside down and dark tones
Choose at least 6 of the main colours that you intend to use e.g. warm and cool and keep all of the colours that are used in a separate dish. A 'limited palette' painting often appears more harmonious.
Where is the light coming from?
Decide whether your shadows are going to be warm or cool colours (a simple example: brown shades or blue shades), and this will depend on the range of colours that you have chosen. Stick by your decision throughout the painting.
STAGE 3 Medium Tones
Beginners often use medium tones everywhere, because they have not developed an awareness of tonal value. Ideally unbroken medium tones should not cover large areas, but instead indicate texture and act as a foil to the light and dark parts. Portraits and life drawings employ medium tones on the skin to suggest the rounded form e.g. the curve of a cheek..
