Drawing pencil portraits-finding a new hobby that you can love!

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.