Winter Pastel: Portrait of a Boy

Paintings have proved to be a unique and always appropriate gift, which makes your nearest and dearest feel special. In this tutorial, AKVIS Pastel software is used for creating a portrait of a child. Delicate pastel strokes faithfully reproduce delightful winter colors and let you wallow in nostalgia.

• Step 1. Open a photo in AKVIS Pastel.
  
  Source Photo
• Step 2. In the presets list, select a preset with thick, creamy strokes (e.g. AKVIS Fresco). The preview window displays the approximate result of the current preset settings. You can draw several guidelines using the Stroke Direction tool .
  
  Program Window in AKVIS Pastel
• Step 3. To edit the whole image, click on the button . You can also add a few hand-painted strokes using the Pastel Chalk to make the image look more realistic.
  
  Pastel Painting
• Step 4. Open the source image in AKVIS Draw and choose a preset which converts your photo into a quick sketch.
  
  Sketch in AKVIS Draw (picture 1)

  You can create several sketches - with long strokes as well with high level of detail.

  
  Sketch in AKVIS Draw (picture 2)

  We will merge these images using a layers blending mode in the image editing program. Apply AKVIS Pastel once again to give the lines a velvety texture:

  
  Pastel Strokes in AKVIS Pastel
• Step 5. In the graphics editor, combine two pastel drawings (with dense hatching - Step 3 and outline - Step 4) into one document. Change the blending mode to Multiply and reduce the Opacity to approximately 80%. The boy's facial features become more expressive and lively.
  
  Combining Layers
• Step 6. To add the finishing touch, insert the drawing into an artistic frame.

  Call the AKVIS ArtSuite plugin (Filter -> AKVIS -> ArtSuite) and select the Ragged Frame with following parameters: 74%/1/0.

  
  Ragged Frame

  You can also use a white brush to give the impression that the painting border has been left unpainted:

  
  Using White Brush
  
  Result
  (click to enlarge)

Pastel v. 5.6 - 10日間の評価期間