I want to draw my mum in pastels but need some advice

[Abbietaya]

Hi there,
I am currently watching and re watching the pastel classes, i hope you have seen some improvement in my work from your teachings. I want to draw my mum in pastels. I only have a very small thumb nail photo of her. My query is her hair , when she was young she was auburn, she never went white all over, there were small areas like for example her temples where she went white but she went more of a salt and pepper colour with areas of an auburn underlying grey. Of course the colour photo shows the auburn as black. I am wondering how i can depict the salt and pepper in the front fringe area along with the underlying auburn in the main body of the hair . So face on the auburn underlying will be mid to crown of her head but the grey will pick up the light at the crown area.. i am thinking underpainting for the auburn area and possibly similar for the salt and pepper. But need some advise.. hope this make sense!

[Val]

I have not come close to even thinking about attempting a portrait in pastel. I think we need to find someone to bring a bit more experience to your aid! Hang in there, someone will be along shortly. 

[lynn p.]

Hmm.  I'll take a shot at this.  First off, so sorry you have such a small pic as it is SO hard to paint from (I've done this!).  I would convert the pic to black and white if it is not already so and be sure as you paint the hair you lay in the correct value structure.  That is far more important for the likeness than the absolute colors.  I agree with you though, I would lay in the darker values of auburn you see in the "salt and pepper" areas first.  All you may have to do is carefully draw a few light gray strands through your base color with a pastel pencil.  I would mostly concentrate on masses though with less fine detail.  My portrait teacher always says, "don't think 'hair' and then draw the hair, think abstract shapes and values".  Near the end I almost always turn my portraits upside down to see if I have the shapes correct.  Don't know if this helps.  Please post as you go.  I know it will be fabulous.

[Abbietaya]

Hi lynn,
Thank you for your insight, i will certainly take it on board.. i am going to play around on other not so important portraits and then make my first attempt. I will keep this thread updated on progress

Thank you