A Firefighter Helmet Pastel Painting Progression

Pastel, painting, progression. Pastel, painting, progression. Try saying that ten times fast! Ha. Alright, moving on.

The pastels I work in are the soft pastel encased in wood, forming the pastel pencil.  Using a variety of brands – Derwent, CarbOthello, Conté, Faber-Castell, and Cretacolor – I have a large variety of different colors, which saves time with less layering when I have to find the right color.  Although, I still have to work with what feels like a gagillion layers to achieve the color match.   So, minus a gagillion layers of just mixing and trying to find the right color and that still equals a gagillion layers left of acquiring the correct perception of depth.  Phew!  Okay, maybe not a “gagillion,” but it is still a lengthy process.  Making the larger pastel paintings takes possibly three weeks to a month to complete.

Because of the messiness that always accompanies pastels, I work from left to right, almost completing the sections as I go.   With all of the colors that I’m constantly pulling up, there are always at least ten  pastel pencils between my left hand fingers as well as a pile of the pastels in a tray connected to the easel for quick access.

To learn about the sanded pastel papers I use, visit this blog post!

Now I’ll be showing you the progression of one of the pastels that exhibits extensive layering.  Again, no stencils, no grids, no projectors. Take note — these are just ten stages. They’re not actually the amount of layers that were applied.

Stage 1:

A light sketch in a similar color that of the helmet. No detail. Just a map to locate and position of the different parts.

Helmet Progress #1

Stage 2:

Applying the general foundation of the color, blocking the shapes in, starting in the upper left corner and working my way down. I chose a blue/black background, just using my artistic license, plus I think it will go very nicely with the red and white. It helps the helmet pop.

Helmet Progress #2

Stage 3:

Working my way over, blocking in more color. I haven’t applied deep detail yet. This whole helmet was a highly reflective object. Those yellow reflectors were really nice to have against all of this gray.

This is a man’s fire helmet and I decided that I was going to keep within shades of gray — no pinks, purples, or blues in the shadows!

Helmet Progress #3

Stage 4:

Aaaaaaaagh!!! The reflective surface of the medal was tough. It’s an eagle. Those tiny little black lines weren’t a piece of cake. Keep your pencils sharpened for tiny detail!! To a point!  Look at those tight little stitches.

Helmet Progress #4

Stage 5:

Now I start really cranking out that detail. Scratches on the medal, more stitches, texture on the reflectors, dents, and scratches.

Helmet Progress #5

Stage 6:

Originally, the photograph didn’t have the yellow neck guard and strap coming down. I had another picture of it and brought the two together in the painting process.

Helmet Progress #6

Stage 7:

The badge’s perspective, stitches, texture, and depth took the longest out of the rest of the helmet. It’s the “centerpiece.”

The helmet is coming to life!

Helmet Progress #7

Stage 8:

More letters. The numbers start feeling like leather. The badge is almost finished.

Helmet Progress #8

Stage 9:

All that’s left is the last portion on the bottom and detail touch ups.

Helmet Progress #9

Stage 10:

Completed! Detailed. Depth. Don’t you want to reach in and touch it?

Helmet Completed