Elnaz Ahmadi HOW TO DRAW PORTRAITS
First Edition
CONTENTS
Introduction 6 Materials
7
Handling pencils
8
Varieties of pencil
Techniques
10
Shading
11
Subject
12
Blending
Materials Every brand of pencil has its own handling qualities. The pencils are usually sold singly as well as in set, so it is worth trying out a few different types. As well as variations of texture, the color ranges vary between brandname products, and you should keep in mind the versatility of the palette if you decide to buy an expensive boxed set. The paper quality or the surface finish of the paper you use also significantly affects the pencil application. Ordinary drawing paper is fine for practicing your skills, and is often used for finished work.
Varieties of Pencil HB Pencils Guide
A B grade means the core has more graphite, and will make a bolder, darker line, and also be a little smudgier than a light pencil. An H grade means the core has more clay, and will make a lighter, finer line, and will be less smudgy than a dark pencil. Harder pencils, such as 2H to 6H range, are great for very light sketching, like drafting an outline of something before you go over it with something bold, like a dark pencil or a pen, or for laying out a sketch before you pai
Handling Pencils
The conventional grip in which the shift of the pencil rests in the curve of the thumb, with the tip guided by your thumb and first two fingers, gives tight control. You can make very delicate mark, firm lines. For more open, hatched, you can use more sweeping movement of your hand and arm.
Conventional grip
Holding the pencil higher up the shaft gives you a freer handling method for loose shading and hatching, and you can also approach the drawing from different angles.
Overhand Grip
If you hold the pencil with your forefinger over the shaft. rather as if you were stabbing something with a fork, this tends to encourage firmer pressure. It is a good way to develop dense shading.
Techniques Always start with a sharp pencil. This advice applies particularly to the softer frade of pencil, as well as to charcoal and carbon pencils. Softer pencils are good for quick sketches, requiring less pressure than the harder pencils that demand more accurate control.
Shading Shading should be as tight and smooth as possible with a gentle gradation from dark to light... this will ensure a smooth blending of the pencil marks. Keep the tortillon at a slight angle to prevent the point from being pushed into the body. like to shade in two main ways: the first is with all of my lines going in the same direction, which makes my shading appear more cohesive. This pencil drawing technique also helps my details pop out from the lines I’m using for shading. The second method I use is working in patches, which help define shape. Patches of lines go around the form, which help keep things in perspective. This technique is also great for backgrounds and adding texture. “Understanding how light falls on an object is fundamental to creating believable illusion. drawing an imaginary sphere is a great exercise for learning how light and shadow behave on a simple object before you attempt more complex subjects.
Blending Some people like the texture of the paper showing through, but I find you get the best shading results by blending. A blending stick is a small tube of tightly rolled paper that lets you smooth out pencil shading. You can use it the same way you use your pencil: on an angle with regular strokes. Again, you won’t’ need to press hard! Start at the lightest
value and work towards the shadows. If your blending stick gets too dark, wipe it on a clean sheet of paper, or press it into your kneaded eraser. Learning how to shade well isn’t difficult, but it will take practice. With each drawing you’ll find yourself getting better. Remember, don’t be too timid with your shadows; a nice dark shadow will give your drawing depth.
Projects 1
I have drawn this with just HB pencil on requalr blank paper
Projects 2
I have drawn this with HB pencil and i have used paint brush with just water to blind and make it look darker
Projects 3
I have drawn this with just HB pencil on requalr blank paper
Projects 4
I have drawn this with just HB pencil on requalr blank paper and then took it to photoshop and just blended with simple blush with low opacity.
Projects 5
I have drawn this with just HB pencil on requalr blank paper and then took it to photoshop and just blended with simple blush with low opacity.
Projects 6
I have drawn this with just HB pencil on requalr blank paper and then took it to photoshop and just blended with simple blush with low opacity.
Tutorial
First step what i do is look for an inpirational face or a model. Then just start with a face, draw a circle and slowly you will get the shape. then do the hair, then after having the shape done. Jump to adding shaing to it slowly.
Second, start shading eyes, for shading its best to do it slowly one layer at the time rather than pressing your pencil too hard.
Third, I like doing the lips, my style as you see, is very simple but creative. after the pencil tracing, take a black ink and draw lines start from bottom and go all the way till you finish one line, do it each carefully and separetly.
step four, when im done with eyes and lips, i like to take my HB pencil the number4, and start shading more and more to get the portrait to stand more.
Then i like to trace all the pencil to black ink. This is because it makes the drawing to pop out more.
As you start adding the black in and some shading you will see the pictures is coming along, and its going to be easy to add shading and or where to add shading.
Start shading the side cheeks, by the reqular pencil, and then press it a bit hard t get more shading and depth to the picture.
Slowly slowly you see by adding shades and inks you see more the drawing to look real and nice.
I personally leave it at this point with just pencil drawing and or i take it to different level, where i take the picture and put it on photoshop, i just use the simple brush tool and just add some blending to the picture to make it more poping and give it a digital look to the picture.
Finall Drawing
By: Elnaz Ahmadi