Arnhem Land Boy

This Queensland pastellist begins by selecting a subject that interests her. She firmly believes ‘if you paint what you love and enjoy painting it, someone else will also enjoy seeing it’. This enjoyment she feels is reflected in the painting.

- Cathy Carson

MATERIALS

• Toned Colourfix paper.

• Conte pencils.

• Stabilo and Derwent pastel pencils.

• Artists’ pastels.

• Paper stumps.

• Kneadable eraser.

I really enjoy painting faces of smallchildren, adults or animals. Horses,dogs and sheep are particular favourites of mine. There is so much contained in them, the eyes particularly. I read once that ‘the eyes are the mirror of the soul’. I believe if I can capture the eyes properly, the rest of the portrait will fall into place.

This aboriginal boy has a mischievous grin and the most wonderful expressive eyes, even though his eyes are obscured by his face paint. I can still see a wonderful blue light in them and laughter reflected in them. His large, crooked teeth just add to his appeal for me.

STEP ONE

I select a Colourfix paper with a tone which will complement my painting. I find I use a lot of pastel so this seems to be the best paper to cope with my style. I use a contrasting Conte pencil to roughly sketch in the shape of the face and dominant features. Then I check the measurements to make sure my proportions are correct – such as the distance from the edge of the first eye to the end of the second eye, and the distance from eye to nose and mouth.

STEP TWO

Using another contrasting pencil, I re-check the measurements. Measurements are a difficult concept for me to see and establish immediately, and I find I am constantly adjusting these.

STEP THREE