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Hilary Pearce

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My next art class we’ll be using conte crayons (sepia and white) and tackling portraits of children.  I have no experience of said crayons or indeed portraiture.  I would be most grateful for any advice at all
With Sarah, Phil, Ellen, Rose the dentist, and the granddaughter whose name I forget.

Robert Jones, NAPA

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Conté crayons work well on toned paper; they do come in several degrees of hardness, though I've found them a bit hard to locate in my preferred state recently - and the softer ones need a fixative; although would probably survive under glass (the snag is, keeping them smudge-free before they're framed).  They blend well, and respond much like hard pastel. 

Alan Bickley

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I love drawing with the square sticks, sepia and white are an excellent combination, although sanguine is my favourite. I find the black sticks extremely hard for some reason. Yes, as Robert has said, tinted paper is a must, and one with some tooth to it will work better. They’re perfect in my view for portrait sketching.

Hilary Pearce

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Thank you Robert & Alan. So I assume pastel paper will work ok?

Alan Bickley

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Pastel paper is fine, I find scraps of  tinted mountboard quite useful also. Stick to greys, blues and light earth tones - there’s some dreadful colours in some of these mixed pads.

Hilary Pearce

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Thank you Alan, much appreciated
Moi 17

Linda Wilson

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The big tip for portraits of children is “less is more”.  Best to avoid teeth is you can. Children’s faces are rounder than adults, noses are shorter and eyes are bigger.