HOW TO DRAW A PORTRAIT.

GROWING UP I ALWAYS WATCHED MY UNCLE DRAW PORTRAITS AND BECAME VERY FASCINATED. HE WAS A WELL KNOWN FASHION DESIGNER IN THE PHILIPPINES BUT ALSO HAD A PASSION FOR PORTRAITS.  THE MORE I WATCHED THE MORE I LEARNED I SLOWLY DISSECTED THE PROCESS IN WHICH HE CREATED HIS PORTRAITS. NOW I AM GOING TO SHARE IT WITH YOU!


1. SKETCH THE SUBJECT LIGHTLY. PAY CLOSE ATTENTION TO THE PROPORTION OF A FACIAL FEATURE. YOU MAY USE THE GRID METHOD OR THE GUIDE TO FACIAL PROPORTIONS SEEN BELOW.

GRID SYSTEM

FACIAL PROPORTION GUIDE

2. ADD DETAILS WITH VARIATIONS OF TONE. USE 4B CHARCOAL FOR LIGHTER    SHADOWS SUCH AS THE FACE AND NECK AND 6B CHARCOAL FOR DARKER SHADOWS SUCH AS THE EYES . DO NOT WORRY ABOUT THE ROUGH TEXTURE.

3. BLEND TONES WITH YOUR FINGERS, A TISSUE, OR A BLENDING TORTILLON.

4. USE KNEADED ERASER TO LIFT HIGHLIGHTS.  AND CLEAN UP!