Any fans of horror movies will probably know who Vampira is - I like to think of her as the real Elvira. She just passed away a few weeks back and I decided to draw a 8x10 photo of her which I think I might put in a frame for myself. I used Charcoal pencils for the black which have worked great as far as getting the real dark black - but I still struggle on not having those little white specs of paper showing through no matter how much I color it, and smooth it with blending sticks. This is what I have so far anyway. I also attached the reference pic.
Full Version: Vampira WIP
Looks good so far Jim!
On you charcoal issue, it is kind of the nature of the beast. Charcoal just lays on top, the pencils you are using are compressed charcoal and will penetrate more than vine or willow. The tooth of the paper or lack there of is what addes to the white showing through I think. Looking forward to seeing the progress!
On you charcoal issue, it is kind of the nature of the beast. Charcoal just lays on top, the pencils you are using are compressed charcoal and will penetrate more than vine or willow. The tooth of the paper or lack there of is what addes to the white showing through I think. Looking forward to seeing the progress!
QUOTE(airscapes @ Feb 2 2008, 02:44 PM) [snapback]31412[/snapback]
Looks good so far Jim!
On you charcoal issue, it is kind of the nature of the beast. Charcoal just lays on top, the pencils you are using are compressed charcoal and will penetrate more than vine or willow. The tooth of the paper or lack there of is what addes to the white showing through I think. Looking forward to seeing the progress!
Thanks!!!! It can definitely be frustrating sometimes trying to get that solid dark black - thats for sure! But its not looking to bad right now. I got a lot of homework to do this weekend so I dont know how much more ill get to work on it the next couple of days, but I will have a lot of time next week.
looks perfect to me 
looking good Jim you have captured the mood and look of her very well 
Hi Jim, are you going to br able to tone down the shadow under her chin? You have it as dark as the background, but it eases into & out of the deepest shadow under there and there is still a hint of visibility in the darkest area.
It just draws my attention and after your comment about the carbon I was wondering if those types of shadow you might not be better off using a 6B to 9B graphite to get the softer shadows??
Great under drawing - and you are handling all of the other details well. I am being picky.
It just draws my attention and after your comment about the carbon I was wondering if those types of shadow you might not be better off using a 6B to 9B graphite to get the softer shadows??
Great under drawing - and you are handling all of the other details well. I am being picky.
QUOTE(Kaly @ Feb 2 2008, 04:26 PM) [snapback]31416[/snapback]
looks perfect to me
Thanks!
QUOTE(bigs @ Feb 2 2008, 10:35 PM) [snapback]31429[/snapback]
Hi Jim, are you going to br able to tone down the shadow under her chin? You have it as dark as the background, but it eases into & out of the deepest shadow under there and there is still a hint of visibility in the darkest area.
It just draws my attention and after your comment about the carbon I was wondering if those types of shadow you might not be better off using a 6B to 9B graphite to get the softer shadows??
Great under drawing - and you are handling all of the other details well. I am being picky.
Thank you!!!
QUOTE(bigs @ Feb 2 2008, 10:35 PM) [snapback]31429[/snapback]
Hi Jim, are you going to br able to tone down the shadow under her chin? You have it as dark as the background, but it eases into & out of the deepest shadow under there and there is still a hint of visibility in the darkest area.
It just draws my attention and after your comment about the carbon I was wondering if those types of shadow you might not be better off using a 6B to 9B graphite to get the softer shadows??
Great under drawing - and you are handling all of the other details well. I am being picky.
You know what I agree with you and thought the same thing, but if you look at the orignal picture, the shadow under her chin is as black as the chair - its crazy! I might lighten it up just for personal preference though, because I kind of thought the same thing. Thanks for your great input.
QUOTE(Jimmer1220 @ Feb 3 2008, 01:17 PM) [snapback]31458[/snapback]
You know what I agree with you and thought the same thing, but if you look at the orignal picture, the shadow under her chin is as black as the chair - its crazy! I might lighten it up just for personal preference though, because I kind of thought the same thing. Thanks for your great input.
Jim wait on it .. I would bet it looks different without the flash and after you fill in the rest of the dark you may find it is ok. Charcaol has (at least with me) a tendeancy to lighten up over time.. i.e. as you move the picture around finishig it up the medium fall off! I had things on my last that looked way to dark but in the end, I didn't touch them and they were fine..
Well here it is, it looks better in person, because of all of the black its hard to not get reflections with or without a flash. I think it turned out pretty well.
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like it Jim, you did a great job
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