A realistic depiction of humanity, rather than some idealised
concept of it, is a difficult thing to convey in an
illustration. In this tutorial, Richard Wilkinson walks you
through the process of how he created a portrait of an elderly
man grieving. The artwork was created as part of a series
accompanying an article on how police and medical professionals
deliver tragic news in The Economist’s Intelligent Life
magazine. The feature can be read in the Spring 2011 edition or
online at The tutorial includes notes on how to prepare a
sketch, create a rough digital painting, and how to finish the
piece with sharp dynamic brush strokes, subtle colour fills and
fine details through the gradual building-up of layers. You will
learn techniques to add realistic shadows, and liven up the eyes
and hair with highlights. Follow these steps to create your own
portrait of a person experiencing a profound emotion. So put
aside a day or two, grab your graphics tablet and pen, and
prepare to create your own detailed digital po