I created a drawing inspired by the legend of La Llorona hunting two children at night. I wanted to contrast the older sibling’s protectiveness with the looming danger behind them. I used soft pastels on tan paper, with the main challenge being sharpening edges to maintain clarity amid the softness. During this project, I also experimented with hatching, and it wasn’t until I worked on the water that I truly started to understand value. If I were to redo this piece, I would use soft pastel pencils for the body to achieve sharper features rather than a fuzzy appearance. I learned that starting with soft pastel pencils creates a much smoother texture and provides more control than drafting with soft pastels, as they have a creamier consistency. Lastly, I would add more contrast between the blue of the bow and the water.
I began by researching images for inspiration and gathering references to ensure accuracy and a strong visual narrative. I created multiple thumbnails to explore different compositions and refined one for the final layout. To establish the color scheme, I made a colored rough, experimenting with hues that would enhance the mood and atmosphere of the piece. Once satisfied, I sketched the final drawing using charcoal to establish the values and structure before layering soft pastels for depth and texture. This process allowed me to balance detail and softness while maintaining clarity in key areas of the composition.
Creative Process
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Photo References
