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/Portraits from photos - some background information I am pleased to supply: portraits of children, portraits of girl-friends, portraits of wives, portraits of husbands, portraits of grandparents, half figure portraits, three quarter figure portraits, full figure portraits, all in pencil, pastel or oil. Click on Contacts & Prices button for more information
Introduction Drawing portraits is not for the faint hearted. A likeness is difficult to achieve and for some will never be really successful. Drawing from photographs is perhaps easier than drawing from life but neither are a breeze. If you'd like to try it yourself there are some basic rules which will help organise the task and give you a better chance. If it doesn’t work for you fairly quickly you might possibly just give up – it’s a talent you’re born with or you will never have (I can’t work a computer to save my life so everyone has their weak points)! Drawing from photos - the basics
I am pleased to supply: portraits of children, portraits of girl-friends, portraits of wives, portraits of husbands, portraits of grandparents, half figure portraits, three quarter figure portraits, full figure portraits. Click on Contacts & Prices button for more information Completed Portraits I am pleased to supply: portraits of children, portraits of girl-friends, portraits of wives, portraits of husbands, portraits of grandparents, half figure portraits, three quarter figure portraits, full figure portraits. Click on Contacts & Prices button for more information
I am pleased to supply: portraits of children, portraits of girl-friends, portraits of wives, portraits of husbands, portraits of grandparents, half figure portraits, three quarter figure portraits, full figure portraits. Click on Contacts & Prices button for more information
I am pleased to supply: portraits of children, portraits of girl-friends, portraits of wives, portraits of husbands, portraits of grandparents, half figure portraits, three quarter figure portraits, full figure portraits. Click on Contacts & Prices button for more information my other site is: www.theweddingcalligrapher.com I am a member of | ||||
Kristen Scott Thomas - initial stage of three quarter sized portait drawing in pastel chalk 2008 - work in progress. This is the first stage of what will probably be a three stage drawing. I've got the positioning set and blocked in the main areas of light and dark. The next stage will be to bulk out the colour and add detail to the portrait element. I'll then put it away for a week or so and come back to it with fresh eyes and tweak anything I' m not happy about. I will post the second and third stages on this site as I finish them.
Second stage of drawing. The skin tone is worked up and the balance is coming together. The personality need to be worked on more with subtle touches to the eyes and the mouth in particular.
I start with a good quality photograph which I blow up using a photocopier or photo software to the exact size I need for the finished work. I then transfer the position of the main features to the drawing paper or canvass using carbon paper or a grid. I draw in the outlines of the features and hair and, referring to the original photo, begin to show where dark areas will be. Progress slowly with this part - it's easier to add in later than to rub out lines which have been put in the wrong place or are too dark.
The next step is to begin to add tone and detail to the portrait and to start to draw in the rhythms of the hair. The corners of the eyes should be drawn in careful detail with a sharp pencil. The eyes and the corners of the mouth are the main areas where mood comes through in a portrait whether done from a photo or from life.
The rest is largely continuing as above and involves a patient build up of tone and depth in the portrait. One thing to watch out for is false highlights caused by a flash or harsh spotlights. Try and leave these out altogether - they just make the final work look as if it has been copied from a photo by mechanical means.
James Prout - portrait from photo 2007. Copyright Mr & Mrs Richard Prout.
Middle aged man - portrait from photo 2008
Adele Schooler - portrait from photo 2008. Copyright Mr & Mrs Henry Schooler.
Portrait of a girl with long hair - pencil portrait from photo 2007
Portrait of a young negro male - pencil portrait from life 2006
portrait of a woman with dark hair - pastel portrait from photo 2007
