I would like to share with you the creation of this coloured pencil portrait of Murad in six stages.
I am always fascinated by a portrait’s progress. Whether it is the approach taken by another artist, or my own work on the drawing board, I find myself captivated by the process and how a drawing evolves.
You may see in Murad that as the drawing grew his face changes in numerous ways. The main reference image for this drawing was a small passport photo which was out of focus, so it was really very challenging. What made it possible was the collaboration between myself and the client, Murad’s daughter. She guided the process with her feedback and additional photographs of her late father, and together we made something that will out live both of us. Murad’s portrait will, in time, be etched onto a black marble gravestone in his home counry of Turkmenistan, and will stand proud in the desert as a tribute to the aviation engineer, husband, father and friend that he was.
You can read more about Murad and his very special portrait in the post Murad – Commissioned Coloured Pencil Portrait
