4 Tips: How to Use Tutorials to Improve Your Artwork

I really think the Will Smith colored pencil piece I completed using one of Kirsty Partridge’s step-by-step tutorials was a huge turning point in seeing skin undertones. (Scroll down to watch the video below)

While was was confident in the eyes themselves, the skin around them was an entire different story.  I followed her video for the surround skin of the eyes.  Once I past that area I paused the video and began working on my own.

Focus on Layering

I took the knowledge I learned from the skin around the eyes and started working the next area which was the nose.  If I wasn’t sure of something then I had the option of scrubbing through her video to see how she accomplished or layered something.

Essentially, practicing the layering technique and started making my own decisions on how to layer.  The colors where already chosen…it was just the matter of applying them to the paper.

As I progressed, I tried to work in the same order she did in her videos so if I got lost, I would be able to easily find where I may have had a question to guide me through that area.

Moving around the face, I again did not watch the video as I was confident in my layering process, but now I needed to learn how to see the colors within the skin.

Focus on Undertones

I started focusing on what the underlayers in each area were.  Then I continued on to the middle and top layers.  Essentially, training myself to see the colors within the colors.  I really focused on this area and the order to achieve the realism I was going for. 

Scrub Though Video

Once I got to his beard, I then wanted to see how she tacked that.  So I watched a bit and scrubbed through to different parts to get a general idea of how she created it.  I really focused on the highlighted area under the chin to see what methods were used to achieve that bright white.

I then when back work on my piece and used what I had learned and applied to the piece.  Recalling from memory, not while watching.  This is key.

Once I was happy with all of that I then moved to the hair…now this is something that I also struggle with.  I did watch most of this area on the tutorial and found that she changed her technique not too far in. 

I decided to pause the video and continue with the original technique to see how it looked.  I only resumed after I was satisfied with my current layering to see how she layered the colors to create the rest of the hair texture. 

The Outcome

Overall, I used the tutorial about 20-30% of the time as a guide to get me started and through some of the areas that I had questions or wanted to see her technique and approach.

Because I made many of the decision on my own AND had just 2 goals to focus on with this piece, I feel both were successful and I am much more confident with portraits now that I was before going through the tutorial.

I was skeptical at first, but comparing the before and after the tutorial portraits, the results are clear.  By using these techniques, after just one tutorial, the results were amazing.

I am now more confident know that I can achieve realism in color portraits and do not have to rely on someone telling me the choices I should make.  I can make them on my own.