One Color Portrait: Oil Pastel Value Study

Create an expressive portrait using one color, three tones, and simple graphic marks.

Drawing · Beginner · Free · 1 min · 1 lesson

About this class

Learn how to create a bold oil pastel portrait using just one color and three simple values.

In this class, Maya demonstrates how a limited palette can actually make portrait drawing easier. You’ll focus on light, midtone, and shadow while building the face with loose, graphic pastel marks.

The goal is not perfect realism. It is to understand value, simplify what you see, and create a portrait that feels expressive and intentional.

Lessons