Speed Painting - Horse portrait in pastel (Cara)

A time lapse film of my painting of Cara, a beautiful black mare. I made it using pastels and pastel pencils on sanded paper (Fisher 400). This was a commission for Cara's owner, and the painting is about 16x12". I hope you enjoy watching. To answer the FAQs that I usually get: This painting took about 10 hours work. I took my own photos of Cara to use as references. I don't use water or any fluids. The background is in soft pastel sticks, the 'brush' looking thing I use on it at the start is a silicon 'colour shaper' tool: it blends the colours. The horse is underpainted with hard pastel sticks and then worked up with pastel pencils. Mostly I use Faber Castell & Schwann CarbOthello. I used to use Derwent, but have had quality issues so I've stopped using them and cannot recommend them. The stick you can see some of the time is a Mahl stick, as used by signwriters. It's just to lean my hand on without smudging the work. I do sell my work and take portrait commissions in the UK (it's my living, so please don't ask for freebies!), more about that on my website for anyone interested. I don't do any teaching or tuition, I just make these videos from time to time because people seem to enjoy watching the process. Hope you do too... happy viewing!

Category:

Pets & Animals

Tags:

• speed
• painting
• horse
• pony
• equine
• pastel
• art
• portrait
• artist
• drawing
• animal
• pet
• time
• lapse
• cara
• derwent
• faber
• castell
• pitt
• schwann
• carbothello

[Rockaran100]

would you paint my horse if i sent you a picture of him???

[portraUK]

@Rockaran100 I'm happy to take portrait commissions - please see w w w .portra.co.uk for fees & info ...I prefer to meet the animal if I'm doing a pastel portrait but I can always do a sketch from your own photos. Best thing is if I can see the photos available and then I can let you know what I'd be able to do

[missy2shoes]

How do you keep your pencils sharpened? When i try to sharpen mine they just snap off :) Also, why do you sometimes use a rubber glove for blending?

[portraUK]

@missy2shoes I use a Stanley knife to shave off the wood, but I don't cut into the pastel core, just paint with it as it comes. Sometimes for very fine marks I make a chisel shape by rubbing on sandpaper too. The surgical glove keeps the painting and my fingers clean.

[yankeesdoodle101]

Hey! My Name Is Cara, and I LOVE Horses! LOL! What A Coincidence?! You Are A Really Good Artist! =]

[LogicFail]

Lol...whenever i saw such stunning pictures ( I am 12, hobby artist and...well, i thought I am good before I saw tis...) I said :" These all are faked photos...they should suck my ass..." but now...*-*

amazing and absolutly awesome ^-^

[bellabelliboo]

Excellent!!! it looks SO real!! You really captured the beauty of that horse!!!

[bellabelliboo]

Excellent!!!

[Necroman666]

name of song?

[Necroman666]

so much layers in it!