I started experimenting with portrait drawing a little over ten years ago. Just like now, I recall loving to draw late at night while listening to mellow tracks. It was much easier at the time to pick out the flaws in the drawings I did, but digging them up after 10 years I was pretty surprised at how well they turned out.
I wish I had progress pictures to show the development. I never imagined at the time of drawing that I would ever share them (or that they would last this long at all…)
I love drawing.
It’s strange to write those words because it’s honestly something I hardly admit to myself or anyone else. But I’m far enough along in my life to know that it’s true.
No matter what i’m drawing, the principle process stays the same:
Keep it light; suggest where the form goes.
Be careful using harder leads. They create light marks, but can easily change/damage the grain of the paper, which is impossible to undo and will always show up later in the drawing.
Instead, I use softer leads, rarely harder than HB, in combination with a blending stub to gently move the graphite around, loosely approaching the targeted shape (an arm, nose, etc.)
Draw, erase, draw, erase… the form emerges.
I’m looking forward to sharing some newer stuff after I dust off the ol’ charcoal!
-Kabba
