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Laura Dreyer Illustration

  • About // Contact
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Adding color to a portrait drawing.

Dreaming in Flowers - A Portrait from Sketch to Color

May 22, 2018

As I wrote in my last post about coloring my lettering drawings, I LOVE when two-dimensional art feels like a sculpture. I also wrote about how adding color can feel like it takes away from this three-dimensional, tactile feeling for me. However, adding color to this piece felt right! I wanted to use some "jucier" colors, like jewel tones—something that felt like a deep blackberry, or ink. Here's my process!

1. I started with this pencil drawing: 

Sketch in pencil of a girl and flower crown by Laura Dreyer

2. Adding Color

And then I added magentas to the linework on periwinkle background in photoshop. I didn't want to use the full range of values, because I wanted it to feel a little dustier and gentler than a deep, dark blue. Adding some pink (You know I had to!) brought out some subtle warmth to flesh tones, and I called it finished!

A purple portrait drawing of girl with flower crown

Here's a closeup detail shot:

Detail of purple portrait drawing of girl with flower crown

You can see more of my dream portraits here!

Thanks for reading! - Laura

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Laura Dreyer Illustration Blog

Laura Dreyer Illustration and Artwork

Laura Dreyer is an illustrator & artist who creates detailed portraits and rococo-inspired drawings. She is also in love with trees. This blog is a collection of new artwork and thoughts on creativity and life. She also interviews creatives from diverse disciplines in her series, Dimensional Creatives.

Connect with her on instagram, twitter, and pinterest, or shop.

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