Portrait of a Man with Heterochromia

This is a colorful portrait of a man with heterochromia iridis. Heterochromia iridis is defined as a difference in coloration of the iris. The portrait exaggerates and expands a multi-colored concept to include bright colors throughout the face, hair and background of the portrait. The drawing was initially sketched with pen in order to establish placement and proportion of the eyes, nose, mouth and shadows. Colorful markers were used to expressively block in the planes of the face with expressive and energetic lines in an impressionistic style. Dark cool colors were used primarily for shadows, with warmer colors in areas of highlights. Black marker helps push the darkest shadows along the side of the face that’s tilted away from the light source further into the background. A white gel pen was used to carve out the whites of the eyes and add highlights across the skin. The man looks directly at the viewer with his head tilted slightly down and away. His locked gaze grounds the portrait amid the frenetic lines suggesting surrounding motion.