"AI Vs Soft Pastels" Can Soft Pastels Beat AI? Drawing a Hyperrealistic Portrait

Can human hands surpass artificial intelligence in terms of hyperrealism? In this video, I take on the challenge of recreating an AI-generated reference photo of a Japanese woman catching the rain, using pure soft pastels and charcoal on textured paper. This is a complete step-by-step masterclass where I share my signature techniques for layering and blending to achieve that elusive, ultra-realistic wet skin effect. Here is what we will cover in this tutorial: • How to choose the right sandy paper for soft pastels. • Blocking in massive color shapes using Blockx soft pastels. • Using Faber-Castell charcoal and pastel pencils for hyperrealistic details. • Why fixative coating is the ultimate secret weapon in the middle of your process. • Step-by-step shading for skin textures, eyes, nose, lips, and realistic water droplets. For me, drawing a wet portrait is the ultimate satisfaction. It forces me to see every single pore and control the composition of flowing water. Hyperrealism isn't just about talent—it's about patience, focus, and consistent practice. As I always say: Repetition is the mother of mastery. If you enjoyed this process and want to support my artwork, please SUBSCRIBE and hit the notification bell! Drop a comment below: Did the pastels beat the AI? 🎨👇 • Materials Used: Blockx Soft Pastels, Faber-Castell Charcoal & Pastel Pencils, Marie's Extra Soft Charcoal, Pastelmat Paper, Fixative Spray. • Reference Image: AI-generated. Voice-over generated with a commercial license. Timestamps: 00:00 Opening 02:50 Step 1 Initial sketches and outlines 05:11 Step 2 Drawing the background 06:36 Step 3 Shading the hair 08:01 Step 4 Shading the face 13:30 Step 5 Spray fixative over the entire surface of the drawing 13:36 Step 6 Detailing 25:06 Step 7 Final spray of fixative for durability of the soft pastel colors