In this exclusive real-time tutorial, you’ll watch me create my very first colored pencil portrait using Faber-Castell pencils on Strathmore’s 400 Series Stone Tan paper. Since it was my first time working on this textured surface, I had to experiment a lot with layering and blending, and you’ll see both the mistakes and the fixes that led to smoother results. I’ll show you how to build up skin tones with gradual layers, how to blend colors properly on textured paper, and how to use tools like a white blender pencil, Mono Zero eraser, and even an electric eraser to refine highlights and add realistic textures. You’ll also learn how to carefully render details in the eyes, lips, hair, and clothing while balancing contrasts to achieve depth. More importantly, this session is about learning through trial and error—understanding what works and what doesn’t when shifting from smooth papers to textured ones. By following along, you’ll gain confidence in layering, blending, and highlight control, and hopefully avoid the same mistakes I made along the way. And as usual, the references of this tutorial are included in the Materials section.