Watercolour and Pencil Portrait of Noel Gallagher
Having recently painted a Liam Gallagher portrait it was time to paint one of Noel, the man behind some of the most iconic Britpop anthems of the 1990s. Rendered using a combination of watercolour and coloured pencils, the artwork brings to life Gallagher. Using watercolours as the base adds a softness to Gallagher’s otherwise sharp and defined persona. Watercolour, with its translucent quality, allows for the subtle blending of light and shadow, evident in the gentle tones that highlight his cheekbones and forehead. Yet, it doesn’t wash away the intensity of his expression. The use of coloured pencils brings back the sharper details that define his stoic gaze and furrowed brow, emphasizing his well-known “no-nonsense” attitude.
The contrast between the smooth washes of watercolour and the precision of the pencil strokes mirrors Gallagher’s musical duality — the ability to craft both sweeping anthems and more intimate, detailed ballads. I like to think the layering technique reflects the many layers to Gallagher’s public persona, from the loud, brash rock star to the thoughtful songwriter. The colour palette is muted, with soft greys, blues, and browns dominating the image creating ann almost classic look, avoiding any flashy or vibrant tones.
A favourite part of the process is when I start to refine the portrait, using coloured pencils to introduce details around key features of the face.
Tools — Faber-Castell Polychromos & Derwent Lightfast pencils
The incomplete, almost water-washed edges of the portrait create an interesting contrast with the finely detailed face. This unfinished element is something I want to explore further as I aim to loosen up my style. To see a time lapse reel of how this artwork came together you can see this post on my Instagram.
