Vibrant Portrait Drawing with Colored Pencils
A course by Gabriela Niko , Illustrator and Sketchbook Artist
Fill your sketchbook with colorful, semi-realistic portraits by exploring drawing techniques and experimenting with values, shades and contrast
Fill your sketchbook with colorful, semi-realistic portraits by exploring drawing techniques and experimenting with values, shades and contrast
Drawing with colored pencils allows you to explore unconventional combinations that capture the unique spirit of your subject. Artist Gabriela Niko mostly uses them to illustrate people – their beauty, diversity, expressions, and emotions. She works primarily on book illustrations, art commissions, and tutorials, and shares her knowledge with over 350K followers on Instagram.
In this online course, Gabriela teaches you how to illustrate semi-realistic portraits using colored pencils and a sketchbook. Draw a person’s face, based on a photograph, exploring fun color compositions to create unexpected works of art. Build an artful journal just as unique as you are!
This is Gabriela’s second Domestika course. In her first, Portrait Sketchbooking: Explore the Human Face, she teaches you the fundamentals of drawing facial features in detail with pencil.
What will you learn in this online course?
21 lessons & 41 downloads
- 99% positive reviews (691)
- 29,990 students
- 21 lessons (4h 8m)
- 41 additional resources (18 files)
- Online and at your own pace
- Available on the app
- Audio: English, Turkish
- English · Spanish · Portuguese · German · French · Italian · Polish · Dutch
- Level: Beginner
- Unlimited access forever
What is this course's project?
Illustrate a semi-realistic portrait in your sketchbook using colored pencils.
Projects by course students
Who is this online course for?
The course is for anyone who wants to learn how to create captivating portraits using simple drawing tools.
Requirements and materials
No previous experience is required.
In terms of materials, you will need art supplies including colored pencils, a sharpener, and an eraser, along with a smartphone and an editing app.
Reviews
A course by Gabriela Niko
Gabriela Niko is a freelance artist based in Poland. Having grown up in a family of artists, her passion for drawing came at a very early age. She went on to study design at the Academy of Fine Arts in Poland, and started her professional career in sports apparel design. After almost a decade of working in the clothing design industry, she decided to leave her position as a designer and pursue drawing full time in 2020.
Gabriela uses her social media platforms to share her work and has quickly gained recognition by amassing over 350K followers on Instagram. She is currently a brand ambassador for Paper Concept, a Polish art store, and has completed a number of commissioned works, including book illustrations, tattoos, and logo designs.
Content
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U1
Introduction
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About Me
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Influences
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U2
Materials and Color Theory
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Materials and Mindset
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How to Use Colored Pencils
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The Basics of Color Theory
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Values and Contrast
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U3
Head Structure, Face Features, and Hair
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The Basics of Face Proportions 1
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The Basics of Face Proportions 2
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Face Features 1
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Face Features 2
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Face Features 3
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Different Hairstyles 1
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Different Hairstyles 2
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U4
Making the Portrait
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Picking Good References
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The Initial Sketch
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The Base: Cool Shadows and Warm Highlights
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The Hues of the Face
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Layering Hues, Saturation and Values
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Adding Details and Final Touches
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U5
Documenting and Sharing Your Work
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Editing the Drawing
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Sharing the Drawing and Creative Process
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FP
Final project
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Vibrant Portrait Drawing with Colored Pencils
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What to expect from a Domestika course
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Learn at your own pace
Enjoy learning from home without a set schedule and with an easy-to-follow method. You set your own pace.
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Learn from the best professionals
Learn valuable methods and techniques explained by top experts in the creative sector.
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Meet expert teachers
Each expert teaches what they do best, with clear guidelines, true passion, and professional insight in every lesson.
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Certificates
PlusIf you're a Plus member, get a custom certificate signed by your teacher for every course. Share it on your portfolio, social media, or wherever you like.
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Get front-row seats
Videos of the highest quality, so you don't miss a single detail. With unlimited access, you can watch them as many times as you need to perfect your technique.
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Share knowledge and ideas
Ask questions, request feedback, or offer solutions. Share your learning experience with other students in the community who are as passionate about creativity as you are.
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Connect with a global creative community
The community is home to millions of people from around the world who are curious and passionate about exploring and expressing their creativity.
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Watch professionally produced courses
Domestika curates its teacher roster and produces every course in-house to ensure a high-quality online learning experience.
FAQs
Domestika's courses are online classes that provide you with the tools and skills you need to complete a specific project. Every step of the project combines video lessons with complementary instructional material, so you can learn by doing. Domestika's courses also allow you to share your own projects with the teacher and with other students, creating a dynamic course community.
All courses are 100% online, so once they're published, courses start and finish whenever you want. You set the pace of the class. You can go back to review what interests you most and skip what you already know, ask questions, answer questions, share your projects, and more.
The courses are divided into different units. Each one includes lessons, informational text, tasks, and practice exercises to help you carry out your project step by step, with additional complementary resources and downloads. You'll also have access to an exclusive forum where you can interact with the teacher and with other students, as well as share your work and your course project, creating a community around the course.
You can redeem the course you received by accessing the redeeming page and entering your gift code.
koutna.marianna
Gabriela Niko's course on drawing portraits with pencils is fun and exciting :-). I like creating color palettes, layering shades and increasing color intensity. I recommend!
blossomwatercolor
PlusMe ha encantado, para mí fue la continuación que me permitió continuar aprendiendo a realizar rostros.
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azaelmartinez100
marivillosos curso
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alkawazali25
PlusThis course is fun and provides a clear, concise explanation of the fundamentals of drawing heads and facial features. It also offers a solid introduction to color theory, with the artist sharing their process for selecting colors and techniques in an accessible way.
eli_ok
Gabriela es muy clara y didáctica, sus métodos de trabajo y sus referencias son muy valorados.
Comparte muchos recursos prácticos, de materiales y de modos de trabajo que son muy útiles.
Me encantó conocerla y realizar este curso.
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