Sarah Edwards Art

Monochromatic Palette: The entire image is more sketchy than the full colour option. It will be rendered in shades of grey, from the lightest silvery tones to deep graphite blacks. There's no colour—just the interplay of light and shadow.
Line Work: Lines may be crisp and defined or soft and sketchy depending on the quality of the photo. I can layer strokes to build form or use techniques like hatching, cross-hatching, or blending.
Shading & Tonal Range: Light areas are achieved with gentle pressure or erased highlights. Mid-tones are built with consistent strokes. Dark shadows come from heavy pressure or softer pencils (like 6B or 8B).
Texture: You might see the grain of the paper subtly peeking through, especially in lighter areas. Textures can mimic fur, whiskers and eyes, depending on the subject.

Rich, Layered Colour: I build up hues gradually, layering multiple shades to achieve depth and realism. Fur might include unexpected tones—blues, purples, or ochres—to mimic light and shadow.
Fine Detail: Coloured pencils allow me to create meticulous rendering of features like whiskers, fur texture, and expressive eyes. Each stroke contributes to the illusion of softness or sleekness.
Lifelike Eyes: Often the focal point, eyes are drawn with glossy highlights and subtle gradients to convey emotion and personality.
Backgrounds: Some portraits have a clean white background to keep the focus on the pet. Others will include a background that range from soft, blurred colours to more detailed settings like the surface of the ground.

Greyscale Pencil