Hello
Would anyone be nice enough to give me a little help on drawing portraits. I'll try to upload either a pic or a scan of my attempt when I can but my biggest problem is that I can draw the features big but when I have them smaller and on a face they look bad. Any Suggestions?
--Jonathon
Full Version: Tips on Portrait Drawing
Hey Johnathan
i have done a couple of portraits free hand ,, i have posted one in my gallery
the overall advise i got to improve was to use the grid method ,, i have not tried it yet but will be very soon
would be good to see your attempts then the more experianced peeps on here could advise better
i have done a couple of portraits free hand ,, i have posted one in my gallery
the overall advise i got to improve was to use the grid method ,, i have not tried it yet but will be very soon
would be good to see your attempts then the more experianced peeps on here could advise better
Once you have uploaded it we could help you out I think. 
I am about to put the example in my gallery so check it out please
QUOTE (Jonathon87 @ Dec 30 2009, 05:12 AM) 
I am about to put the example in my gallery so check it out please
Hi Jonathon
Good drawings
the portrait resembles in the style of Henri Matisse
the flower is very beautiful
OK, looking at your portrait drawing, the problem is that you are "drawing symbolically".
What I mean by this is that you are drawing symbols for "an eye", "a nose", "a mouth" and so on - you are representing an idea instead of drawing what you see.
Don't think of "features" as being separate from the head - in fact, try to forget that they are "an eye", "a nose", "a mouth" and so on.
Just try to think of the head as being a solid block - those parts turned towards the light are lighter, the parts turned away from the light are in shadow, and those parts where the surface is almost parallel to the direction of the light are the half-tones.
If you break down the face, not into "features" but into areas of light, halftone, and dark - or even, initially, just into light and dark... just get the abstract shapes right, and you will have drawn the face.
It's helpful, at first, to draw faces (or anything else), lit by a strong directional light-source. Once you can show 3D form with that sort of lighting, you will be in a much better position to draw things lit by more subtle or more diffuse light.
Dave
What I mean by this is that you are drawing symbols for "an eye", "a nose", "a mouth" and so on - you are representing an idea instead of drawing what you see.
Don't think of "features" as being separate from the head - in fact, try to forget that they are "an eye", "a nose", "a mouth" and so on.
Just try to think of the head as being a solid block - those parts turned towards the light are lighter, the parts turned away from the light are in shadow, and those parts where the surface is almost parallel to the direction of the light are the half-tones.
If you break down the face, not into "features" but into areas of light, halftone, and dark - or even, initially, just into light and dark... just get the abstract shapes right, and you will have drawn the face.
It's helpful, at first, to draw faces (or anything else), lit by a strong directional light-source. Once you can show 3D form with that sort of lighting, you will be in a much better position to draw things lit by more subtle or more diffuse light.
Dave
Ok thanks for the advice I'll try that Of course it still might take me a while to learn how to draw a decent portrait but the advice will help out alot
thanks for the advice I'll try that Of course it still might take me a while to learn how to draw a decent portrait but the advice will help out alot
Getting a likeness is (at least) as much about getting the overall shape and structure/proportions of the head right, as it is about "features" or about detail. This is why we can recognise a friend at the far end of the road.
What are you working from? Photos? If so, post a photo, and your drawing from it, and I'll discuss with you what makes it a good or bad photo to work from, and some ideas for how to go about the drawing.
Dave
What are you working from? Photos? If so, post a photo, and your drawing from it, and I'll discuss with you what makes it a good or bad photo to work from, and some ideas for how to go about the drawing.
Dave
QUOTE (Raidor @ Dec 30 2009, 05:48 AM)
Hi Jonathon
Good drawings
the portrait resembles in the style of Henri Matisse
the flower is very beautiful
Good drawings
the portrait resembles in the style of Henri Matisse
the flower is very beautiful
Thank you I drew the flower for my girlfriend the Iris is her favorite it ain't great but I reckon I done good since that was the first time I PATIENTLY drew something with colored pencils
All my other 'drawings' were done at school and for a grade
I was working from an online photo (I can't find it now) but, I don't know how it happened exactly but the picture was a fat baby with curly hair It was a strange accident getting the face wrong but I made the hair straight on purpose in an attempt to make the drawing look a little better
p.s: I remember the photo was at fineart.sk
p.s: I remember the photo was at fineart.sk
QUOTE (dcorc @ Dec 30 2009, 06:26 AM)
OK, looking at your portrait drawing, the problem is that you are "drawing symbolically".
What I mean by this is that you are drawing symbols for "an eye", "a nose", "a mouth" and so on - you are representing an idea instead of drawing what you see.
Don't think of "features" as being separate from the head - in fact, try to forget that they are "an eye", "a nose", "a mouth" and so on.
Just try to think of the head as being a solid block - those parts turned towards the light are lighter, the parts turned away from the light are in shadow, and those parts where the surface is almost parallel to the direction of the light are the half-tones.
If you break down the face, not into "features" but into areas of light, halftone, and dark - or even, initially, just into light and dark... just get the abstract shapes right, and you will have drawn the face.
It's helpful, at first, to draw faces (or anything else), lit by a strong directional light-source. Once you can show 3D form with that sort of lighting, you will be in a much better position to draw things lit by more subtle or more diffuse light.
Dave
What I mean by this is that you are drawing symbols for "an eye", "a nose", "a mouth" and so on - you are representing an idea instead of drawing what you see.
Don't think of "features" as being separate from the head - in fact, try to forget that they are "an eye", "a nose", "a mouth" and so on.
Just try to think of the head as being a solid block - those parts turned towards the light are lighter, the parts turned away from the light are in shadow, and those parts where the surface is almost parallel to the direction of the light are the half-tones.
If you break down the face, not into "features" but into areas of light, halftone, and dark - or even, initially, just into light and dark... just get the abstract shapes right, and you will have drawn the face.
It's helpful, at first, to draw faces (or anything else), lit by a strong directional light-source. Once you can show 3D form with that sort of lighting, you will be in a much better position to draw things lit by more subtle or more diffuse light.
Dave
Great post.
I would suggest doing a WIP thread of a new portrait and letting people in here help you along as you go. Start by posting your reference. Just be in no hurry to get it finished and enjoy the process.
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