I took a smaller piece of paper with me to Life Drawing Group, and used pastel pencils. This is what I got done tonight. A standing pose is more challenging with proportions, especially the hips in this case. Next I will do the shading. I roughly mark where the shadows and highlights are, and I’ll finish the work at home without the model.

This is the same figure same size rendered with Sennelier Oil Pastels. I didn’t work with the background as much.

When I did the oil pastel (right) I didn’t take the Pastel Pencil version out until I finished. I was shocked how much brighter the oil pastel looked. Soft Pastel should have more intensity than Oil Pastel, because soft pastels have more pure pigment by the nature of the media, but Pastel Pencils are a hard pastel, they need more binders to create the pencil form. Alone though the Pastel Pencil version has great intensity, and the texture’s softness lends itself to flesh, and it was faster because the pencils were easier to handle blending. So, I can see them both for different purposes.

I put in the highlights on the figure, and a background of greens, blues, purples to make it stand out more. Ordinarily it’s good to work from back to front, but if I do the background last in this case it will be in better harmony with the figure. I liked using the Pastel Pencils for this task, I might try the same figure in oil pastel and see what I like better.

Since I liked the looks of the pastel pencil, I wanted to try it with a figure drawing. It would allow me to do smaller life drawings, because of smaller more accurate tip. I first put in my darks and started the mid-range tones. I’ll finish it up tomorrow. 8.5″x10″ Brown Pastel Paper

Our Life Drawing Drawing Group didn’t meet for 3 weeks because of conflicts, but we finally did last night. I really missed it. I enjoy the challenge and the company of other artists. This is a rough in of the lightest and darkest areas of the figure. Next sitting I will go and fill in the color without the model. I tried Sennelier Oil Pastels, they’re smoother, and softer. I am interested to see how it comes out in full color. Strathmore Brown Paper, 18×24″

I put the family in the proper village. I love these huts! Ideally it should be populated in the background, but this gives me a chance to try methods. I have yet to find a picture of one with a door, are they hard to see? Anyway, this is hard pastel and pastel pencil on brown Strathmore Brown Pastel Paper. I like the pastel pencils, they are Carbothellos, they are nice for small details like on the people. I think it would be best to have them sitting so they can be bigger in the picture. I still don’t know if the pastel paper is the best way to go, or use watercolor underneath. I have to find a smooth watercolor paper with enough tooth for pastel.