It's hard to imagine that drawing pencil portraits could end up being such a passion for you. A lot of people start out sketching simple little things on a sheet of paper. Before you know they are saying to themselves "I really do have a talent for this"!
If you have ever dreamed of trying your hand at this kind of art there is never a better time to start. The really great things about drawing pencil portraits is that you don't need a lot of money to get started.
A basic sheet of paper and a leaded pencil is all you really have to have initially to get started. You will find that a mechanical pencil will come in handy though as you go along. Your lines will be much crisper and cleaner.
Some of the problems that many beginners experience include the following.
1. Difficulty with shading and achieving lifelike results.
2. Getting the shape of the lips, eyes, nose and ears correct.
3. Starting your portrait with a reference point in mind on the sheet of paper.
4. Making sure the proportions of the face match your subject.
Plan on spending a lot of time using your eraser for a while. Even as you get better there is always room for improvement. That's the challenge of drawing pencil portraits. No matter how good you get you can always make your portraits even better!
Another great advantage with this medium is that you can concentrate on the basics. There is no need to worry about colors and backgrounds. You get right into the "nitty gritty" the moment you pick up that pencil.
One thing that becomes a good investment is stiffer paper. Bristol 2ply heavyweight board will more than pay for itself. With constant erasing standard paper plies will break down very quickly.
Last but not least, it's never a bad idea to find some kind of a tutorial or lessons. While pencil sketching activities may seem simple there really is a lot of skill involved. Your frustration level will be kept to a minimum until you learn the basics.
Sunday, January 2, 2011
Saturday, January 1, 2011
Drawing Pencil Portraits-Making The Subject Come Alive!
Have you marveled at someone that can make drawing pencil portraits look so simple? Just watching them make that subject so realistic is a thing of beauty. The truth is you can do the same thing with a little practice and right instructions!
Will you need to practice to become good at it? Of course! Does it take a genius to figure it out? Obviously not...
Part of the magic and simplicity of this medium is that it is very forgiving. If you make a mistake more often than not you can fix it with a good eraser. Beginners are well advised to try this type of art before moving on to other things.
Drawing pencil portraits can be very rewarding and frustrating at the same time! But, you learn to take the setbacks in stride and keep pressing on!
All too often you end up spending hours searching the internet trying to find courses and lessons that will help you get started. Unfortunately, the "freebies" are often just a way of getting you to buy something later on. The reality is you might as well spend a little money on instructions that will lead you by the hand and keep you from giving up.
Most beginners have some of the same problems. You are trying to grasp new concepts as far as shading, form and shape that may be new. All the while you are trying to learn how to hold the pencil and use it effectively. It doesn't happen overnight!
Pencil sketching is an extremely economical to see if you have the talent for bigger and better things. Can you make a living with your portraits. Probably not...but it doesn't cost much to get started either.
A mechanical pencil really comes in handy for a variety of reasons. You won't have to keep sharpening your lead constantly for one thing!
You can get away with just about kind of paper if you have limited funds. Over time, using Bristol 2ply heavy weight board will work much better. A stiffer paper is really important for beginners that end up doing a lot of erasing when they are first starting out.
Stick with it! In due time your progression will be very noticeable. Your pencil drawings portraits will start becoming more realistic before your very eyes!
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