Abstract Portrait of a Woman Cracking

This is an abstract portrait of a woman cracking. The portrait was sketched with grey and red markers to establish placement and proportion of the eyes, nose, mouth, hair and surrounding facial features. The red marker was used to create abstract shapes and decorative elements. Brightly colored oil pastels and paint pens were used to build expressive lines and blocks of color throughout the face and background. Watercolors were added, repelled by the oil pastels, flowing and filling in areas where the toned grey paper was more visible and giving her face more volume. Thin black pen, white paint pen and a gel pen were used to create details around the eyes, nose, mouth and hair. Colored pencils were used to define the edges of areas of dried watercolor and oil pastel in erratic patterns to create a surreal, abstract cracking texture. Additional shading and details were added with dry and wet mediums to build on the layered composition. The woman’s head is raised slightly as she looks down toward the viewer. The chaotic style of the mediums add an expressive rawness while encroaching on and defining her face in the portrait.