I prefer to render drawings, especially portraits, in the realistic style. My method varies from drawing to drawing or from portrait to portrait because I like to improve my ability in working with that style. I hope this tutorial can be of help in some way. First, let me mention the things I used for this tutorial:
- A soft brush
- 0.5 mm 2B (Dong-A), HB (Faber-Castell) and B (Staedtler) mechanical pencils
- 4H, 5H and 6H wooden pencils
- A shop towel
- A kneaded eraser
- A lot of patience
The paper being used is Canson Grain. I draw on the reverse side because the other side is too rough. The size is 11.5 x 12 cm (4.5″ x 4.75″). Let’s start!
Step 1: The outline was first drawn on a small piece of bond paper and then transferred to the Canson paper using the graphite transfer method.
Step 2: With a soft, thin brush, I applied 2 to 3 layers of graphite powder while avoiding the highlights. If I do get any graphite there, I would clean them with a kneaded eraser before moving to the next step. Because the first few brush strokes are darker, which you may not want, just take off excess graphite powder from the brush by rubbing it on a piece of paper. Then, the skin around the eye is covered with a 4H wooden pencil.
Step 3: With a 0.5 mm HB mechanical pencil, I continued the underpainting and then blended with the brush.
Step 4: Going back to the same brush, I began rendering the eye itself avoiding the highlights if possible. With the 0.5 mm 2B mechanical pencil, I did the pupil. For the iris, I drew spokes originating from the pupil by means of a 6H wooden pencil. Then using the 2B mechanical, I darkened it — especially the shadow under the upper eyelid and its edges. Used the kneaded eraser to pull some soft highlights.
Step 5: 5H wooden pencil and a light touch are used on the white of the eye to make it smooth and also to keep it from receiving a lot of graphite when the eyeball is established using primarily 0.5 mm B and 2B mechanical pencils. Lastly, B mechanical pencil is used for the tear duct. In this stage, I made some corrections on the tear duct and the crease of the eyelid.
Step 6: Rendered the lower eyelid with HB, B and 2B mechanical pencils while 5H and B were used on its thickness.
Step 7: The same thing was done on the upper eyelid. Applied 2B under the crease to make the upper eyelid “go in”.
Step 8: Established the skin tones above the crease which is then blended with a brush dipped in a bit of graphite powder.
Step 9: With a B mechanical pencil, I rendered the skin under the eye so it will be lighter in tone than the one above.
Step 10: Applied HB, B and 2B mechanical pencils on the side of the nose and the eyebrow area. Blended this with the brush and shop towel.
Step 11: Following its growth, the eyebrow is drawn using a 2B mechanical pencil.
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