A Portrait of Love - Ellie and Jake
When I was asked to create a portrait of Ellie and Jake, I was excited to turn a special holiday moment into a timeless piece of art. Although the original photo lacked sharp detail, its warmth and meaning were unmistakable. By refining the composition to highlight their connection, the final portrait captures their love and closeness beautifully.
Artistic Process
Creating this portrait was both rewarding and creatively challenging. The original photo wasn’t very clear, so I made adjustments to refine the composition. I replaced the noisy background with a dark grey half-circle backdrop to create focus and mood while removing a chair handle that disrupted the visual flow. As a personal touch, I depicted Ellie and Jake holding hands, adding warmth and connection to the piece. The portrait captures a tender moment just before an intimate kiss, highlighting the closeness of their bond.
Materials and Details
Size: A4 (21cm x 29.7cm)
Materials:
Graphite pencils for soft, realistic textures
Premium-grade paper for smooth layering and detail
Blending tools for depth and seamless transitions
Features: Focus on the couple’s expressions, a custom dark grey background, and personalized elements like hand-holding
Favourite Details
One of my favourite parts of this piece was capturing the couple’s expressions. Their subtle eye contact and shared warmth were the heart of the composition. Simplifying the background and adding thoughtful touches like their hands holding helped make their connection the focal point of the artwork.
A Glimpse Into My Process
In this short video, watch as I carefully add shading to the black t-shirt in the portrait. Using graphite pencils, I build up layers of soft, subtle tones to create realistic shadows and depth. Each stroke is focused on capturing the fabric's texture, making sure the t-shirt feels lifelike while maintaining the overall balance of the portrait
Ellie