The "backlighting" was just when I traced the sketch onto this paper, but I didn't show any photos of that. The photos of the drawing are just with normal photos.

The very black headband really does look that black in real life, even though it's graphite. It's done with an 8B pencil in several layers, then "burnished" with a 2B pencil. R.J. Blanchette describes an even better technique here (he has more patience than I do!)

Thanks Ernest!
BTW it is really looking good!!

Looking good!

A little more last night, less than an hour, anyway. Girl number one is about done. Perhaps 5 1/2 hours so far.
Click to view attachment

I have been watching your progress and i am in awe over your work ....you have shown such growth over the time I have met you .....this is truely beautiful work .. and they will be pleased to hang in on their wall .....great job hun

Thanks, Kim!

About another hour; 6.5 hours in. Did the first girl's jumper and started on the second girl.
Click to view attachment
The second girl's red hair is going to be a challenge. I think I've got her cute smile though.

Wow, that's amazing! Keep going!!!

Ernest it is absolutely wonderful!

Am enjoying this WIP so much that I have pulled up a comfy chair to watch - anyone else want some of this popcorn???

Looking great!
Pass the popcorn Sue!

About another 45 minutes on little sis. So far so good, still, I think. This is all being done with a 2B and an H, Q-tips and a kneaded eraser, by the way.
Click to view attachment
Thanks for the encouragement, everybody -- it really helps to have company!

Your piece is coming along beautifully, Ernest!

Open up & I'll try and toss a piece in ...........missed - sorry Paulette, here help youself

Ernest I am still loving it and the fabric on the older girls dress/shirt is so soft & natural looking. But I was wondering.......sorry to bring it up ..... but the older girl's hair in front of the headband looks a little dead compared to the beautiful highlights in the rest of her hair. I know it should be darker there in the shade so to speak, but I was wondering if a little reflected light to add a little life might work?? What do you think??? It could just be the scan???

Ernest, you are very talented indeed. Keep up the good work. You've really captured these girls!

Dian

I totally agree with you; this is my least favorite area of the drawing. I will study the color photo and see if I can't figure out a way to improve it. Thanks for speaking up.

Perhaps, Ernest, you might use a very fine edge eraser and show a few more of those wispy hairs that you see curving in from her forehead into the hair. Just a thought.
If you are like me, the overall picture will certainly capture the look of both girls, - you have already accomplished that! - it's just those darned little things that make it, well, better as far as the way the artist wants it!
This is already a beautiful WIP.

OK, I spent another 45 minutes or so redoing the bangs on girl #1, and also the shadows her hair casts on her dress on both sides. Thanks, guys, it definitely looks better this way.
Click to view attachment

Like it Ernest!!!!

Great job!!!

The lighter hair works, and if you find later that you need some more darks to add some pizzazz then you can still do it but as it stands I like the "bangs" (we don't have that word over here) better now.

Are you happy with it???

Su-u-ue! Ernest she is throwing popcorn, it's going to get on your drawing.

Looking really good!!!

I am totaly impressed Ernest ..I have been keeping a eye on this thread and your work is great ...the added highlights make a world of difference ..keep up the great job .

b e a u t i f u l l
looking forward to see it finished

Thanks everyone -- you sure make a guy feel appreciated!
Here it is after another hour or so, for a total of about 9.5 hours. This is the stage where it's basically done, but I will set it aside for a day or two, and see what I think after that time. C&C welcome!
Click to view attachment

EX-CEL-LENT work Ernest. It's just great. They will be real happy with it, for sure. I know you must already be.

The only thing I could point out is that the little girls hair seems blonde. If you could keep the same look with a darker tone it would be perfect. I'm not sure how to do it, maybe the others can help some more.

Congratulations again Ernest.

I would say, Ernest, that the picture is an excellent drawing of the two little girls. If I knew them and saw this picture, I would definitely know them.
I would maybe agree with Nathalie that the younger girl does look a little like a dishwater blonde in the drawing and if she has medium brown hair you might want to darken it a little.
But, with that said, I don't believe you need to do anything else to your drawing; it doesn't necessarily need to be an exact copy of a photograph, just a wonderful portrait of the girls.

She has bright red hair, actually! I definitely wanted to show the contrast between the two: one is darker-complected and has brown hair, the other has pale skin and very fine red hair. You may be right that it's too light -- I will give it a day or two and think about it. Thanks for the suggestion!
Click to view attachment

Wonderful Ernest !!!!!

I love that contrast in the hair - red is so difficult to convey - I think you are the only one who can decide how dark to go, if at all.

This is something that the family will treasure.

My best friend had her son's portrait drawn in graphite every 4 or 5 years when he was growing up, and she had them hanging down her hall in her last home - it was a wonderful journey through his life. I think this family is on the first step of that type of journey and I hope they come back to you for more as the children grow! It is so much nicer than just a photo (no matter how professional that photo might be).

Congratulations again Ernest!!

Little sis' hair is darker; space between the girls is darker; other small improvments here and there.
Click to view attachment

I like the darker hair but something else change and little sis aged.. maybe just the lips and shadow tones.. but she got older in this last picture. they both did.. Oh I think I see one thing that is making her look different.. the adam's apple is to pronounced with that dark shadow down in the hollow. Paste the latest next to the original in one image you will see what I mean.. she has lost that young look.
Good luck and I think it is almost time to stop!

Those differences are actually just due to the photography/level adjustment in the two photos; the younger girl's neck area was not touched between these two steps.

Hard to get the contrast on scans just right!! I like the deepened hair, I think it looks more like a redhead!

Paulette's pulling faces Ernest!!!

Ernest,

I love the hair. You've done a wonderful job.

I am not

Ernest WOW

I hope you are prepared for all the commissions that are going to come from this!

what a nice job you have done Ernest, I also like the little girls hair this way "darker", in my opinion its just perfect like that! and I agree with Paulette I think you will get some comissions from this


Sue and Paulette, could you girls behave please Ernest is trying to work here

Ernest..Beautiful portrait and thanks for step by step art work and explanations.
Enjoy to read all the discussions, suggestions and different ideas.

lily

That is a beautiful portrait, Ernest.

Looking at your final or close to final drawing the hair does look more closer to the shade of the other girls hair but not the same .. I think you have done such a beautiful job on this i have been watching it progress and its beautiful

And here's the happy ending:
Click to view attachment
Thank you so much to everyone for your encouragement, suggestions, and praise; you all had a hand in the success of this project. It is wonderful that we have this "virtual artists' community" available to us.

Beautiful work Ernest!..I'm green with envy( it's sort of a warm green, like early spring grass, with a little yellow, but....)

John

Absolutely beautiful result Ernest !!

I don't know so much about us all having a hand in it - I think everyone on here are more like giving voice to that nagging little doubt at the back of our mind. Without the confirmation we tend to ignore what we are telling ourselves. I for one am glad of this community to keep us on the right path too.

Ernest, I just stopped by and saw the WIP of your commission. Wow, it is truly a beautiful portrait. I'm sure there will be more of those to follow.

Judyvan

The girls holding the drawing is adorable. What a keepsake for you! And, I know they loved it, didn't they?!

You should be very proud of this portrait , I think kids are really appreciative when they know you've done something special for them. You will get more commissions from this I am sure, nice job......thanks for sharing.

hi Ernest
wonderful job you have done
its very hard to get the exact resemblance with kids
and you seemed to have managed with that beautifully
hopefully more commissions are on the way