A high definition photo is key to seeing fine detail. I always say 'The better the photo, the better the portrait'.
I use professional quality chalk pastels, mainly Stabilo Carbothello and Faber Castell Pitt pastel pencils on tinted Claire Fontaine Pastelmat paper.
I like to make the sketch quite detailed so I can concentrate on blending the colours and bringing the subject to life.
Chalk pastels are notoriously messy to work with. They will smudge easily.
Some artists use a 'fixer', a bit like hairspray for pastels.
I don't use a 'fixer' because it can dull the finished colours. It is therefore very important to protect the final artwork behind a barrier.
I am right handed so I work from the top left of the picture to the bottom right to avoid leaning on the pastel and smudging it.
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