This Is My Process To Create An Illustrated Portrait

My initial response to starting a portrait is dread. The first sketches never look good. The proportions are always out of whack. I don’t know what colors to use. Which brush in Procreate should I use?

My other response to making portraits is more dread. I compare myself to other artists who have been practicing for years. So I’ve put myself at a complete and ridiculous disadvantage. As of this post I’ve been consistently making portraits for about 2 years.

My first portraits were Black women who were pioneers in their professions. I committed to drawing for a month. I started with Nancy Wilson by emulating an illustrator’s style, a naive line drawing. I wasn’t happy with the finished piece but I returned to the project daily. Over the month my approach to creating the work changed. I transitioned from line drawings with color to color blocking then refining. After my 30-day commitment I returned periodically to the work. That was over five years ago.

Today, my work starts with either a sketch or color blocking. Once I have a basic shape of the subject’s head and shoulders I focus on an eye, the nose, or a hand. I try not get too fussy with the work so I tend to jump around the canvas. Some portraits are completed quicker than others. I included a short video of my process where you can see how I proceed.

Once I get into the work my dread subsides. I love what I can do what I do.

By the way commissions welcome.

Below, video of the process to create a portrait.

Completed portrait