Self-Portrait in Graphite and Pastel: Techniques of Light and Form
A course by Gustavo Ramos , Portrait Artist
Master light and form techniques to create dynamic self-portraits in graphite and pastel while working from life.
Master light and form techniques to create dynamic self-portraits in graphite and pastel while working from life.
You will learn how to create a self-portrait using graphite and pastel while exploring the fundamental principles of light, tonal value, and shape design. Throughout the course, artist Gustavo Ramos will guide you through the process of creating a self-portrait by working directly from life using a mirror, starting with a straight-line block-in and progressing to a high level of refinement. With techniques aimed at improving proportion accuracy and a method designed to make the most of the materials, you'll achieve remarkable results. Ramos, who has exhibited internationally and collaborated with renowned brands, shares his refined artistic approach in this course, helping you understand the relationship between light and shadow as you bring your portrait to life.
What will you learn in this online course?
17 lessons & 15 downloads
- 246 students
- 17 lessons (3h 23m)
- 15 additional resources (4 files)
- Online and at your own pace
- Available on the app
- Audio: English, Spanish
- English · Spanish · Portuguese · German · French · Italian · Polish · Dutch
- Level: Beginner
- Unlimited access forever
What is this course's project?
You will create an 11x14” self-portrait drawing from life using a mirror. The process includes a straight-line block-in, toning the white paper, establishing deep darks with pastel, and rendering refined light gradients with graphite to achieve striking results through form, value, and line quality.
Who is this online course for?
This course is suitable for complete beginners, but students who already have a basic understanding of drawing proportions will benefit from the focus on achieving a high level of finish in the final project. If you're interested in improving your portrait drawing skills, especially by working from life and mastering the use of graphite and pastel, this course will guide you through the steps to achieve advanced results.
Requirements and materials
No extensive prior knowledge is required, but you will need some basic materials such as graphite pencils (2H, 2B, 4B, 8B), a 2mm lead holder, Strathmore 300 Series 140lb watercolor paper, various types of erasers (kneaded, retractable, Tombow Mono Zero), black PanPastel, paper towels, and a flat synthetic brush. You will also need a mirror and an easel.
A course by Gustavo Ramos
Gustavo Ramos is a Brazilian-American artist specializing in portrait drawing and painting. Trained at Southern Virginia University and the Florence Academy of Art, he has gained international recognition for his mastery of light and shadow in portraiture. His work has been featured in major art publications, and he has exhibited globally. Today, Ramos balances his professional work with a strong presence on social media, where he shares his process and artistic insights with a wide audience.
Content
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U1
Introduction
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About Me
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Influences
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U2
Testing Out the Materials and Visual Concepts
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Materials
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Creating Value Shading Strips
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Learning the Properties of Light and Shadow by Drawing a Sphere
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Methods of Checking Accuracy 1
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Methods of Checking Accuracy 2
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U3
Drawing the Self Portrait
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Setting up the Pose and Beginning the Straight Line Block-in
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Clarifying the Block-in
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Massing-in the Shadows and Toning the Paper
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Merging the Lights through the “Fog”
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Mapping Out the Midtones and Light Area 1
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Mapping Out the Midtones and Light Area 2
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Sculpting from Flat to Form 1
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Sculpting from Flat to Form 2
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U4
Final Considerations
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Tips for Your Finished Artwork
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Applying to Other Media
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FP
Final project
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Self-Portrait in Graphite and Pastel: Techniques of Light and Form
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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.
