In this lesson, I decided to create a portrait illustration of the "Squid Game" frontman. To begin, I set up my workspace and gathered my materials. I used a graphite pencil to sketch out the initial guidelines, which are critical for establishing the proportions and composition of the face. I began by drawing a vertical line down the center of the page, extending from the top to the bottom. This line would serve as a guide to ensure the face was centered. Then, I drew a horizontal line across the vertical line, forming a cross that would help me position the facial features in a balanced way. From this center point, I drew a circle to represent the head. I didn't aim for a perfect circle; my goal was to ensure it was well-positioned in the center of the page. With the circle in place, I added more guidelines extending from the circle to the sides, allowing me to begin sketching the facial features. Locating the eyes in the lower half of the circle, I drew a horizontal line to find the midpoint. From there, I drew two vertical lines to mark the position of the eyes, making sure to leave adequate space between them. This is crucial for maintaining the proportion of the face. Next, I began shaping the eyes, angulating the lines toward the tear duct and creating a crease beneath each one. I made sure the eyes had an expressive shape, as they are a critical part of the portrait. Next, I defined the nose. To do this, I marked its length with a straight line that ran from the brow to the bottom of the nose. I connected the ends of this line with a gentle curve that went up and then down, forming the base of the nose. Next, I moved down to locate the mouth, drawing a line that crossed horizontally to mark the center of the lips. As I moved down, I also defined the chin, making sure the jawline was shaped appropriately. For the ears, I drew lines extending from the top of the head toward the jaw, creating a natural connection between the features. With the preliminary sketch in place, I began to clean up the drawing, erasing unnecessary guidelines to make the proportions more visible. This step is important, as it allows me to clearly see how the facial features are forming. Next, I focused on the details, starting with the eyes. I added shape to the eyelids, ensuring they had a slight curve that brought the expression to life. I worked on the subtle details around them, such as creases and shadows, which are essential for adding depth. I continued by defining the eyebrows, giving them a slight curve that complemented the shape of the eyes. From the eyebrows, I moved on to work on the bridge of the nose, adding a small crease between the brows to give the face more character. Next, I moved down to add detail to the nose, drawing the nostrils inside a half-circle and darkening the inside to give them volume as I went. I readjusted the shape of the mouth, making sure the lips had a natural, expressive shape. I added the upper and lower lips, paying attention to symmetry and proportion. I also worked on the eyes, defining the iris and pupil, making sure they were positioned correctly and not too close together or too far apart. I added some highlighting to the top of the iris and darkened the inner side to create a more realistic effect. Then, I began working on the cheekbones, raising the cheekbones from the temple side and bringing them closer to the center of the face. This helped to give shape and definition to the face. Next, I focused on the hair, starting from the top of the head. I drew the hairline, making sure it had natural movement. From the center, I brushed the hair to the left, adding texture along the edge of the hairline. Then, I curled the hair up and to the right, creating a dynamic effect.
Returning to the ears, I added more detail, ensuring they had the proper shape and internal texture to give them a more realistic look. I adjusted the height of the head, lowering the outline a bit to keep everything in proportion. As I worked on the hair, I made sure it wasn't symmetrical, which gave it a more natural and dynamic feel. The character's hood also needed attention, so I drew it to look asymmetrical, lifting it to one side for a more dramatic effect.
With the sketch more defined, I did a final cleanup, erasing the guidelines I no longer needed and making sure the main lines were clear and precise. I switched to a thicker, 0.9 mm pencil to begin adding more contrast and detail. This pencil allowed me to refine the edges and give more depth to the shadows. I started working on the eyes again, adding more detail around the eyelid and darkening the dark circle beneath them to give them a more intense and expressive look. As I went along, I also wanted to highlight the cheekbones, giving them a little more shape and shade to make them stand out. I worked on the jaw area, making sure it had a defined shape and blended well with the rest of the face. At this point, I also adjusted the height of the hairline, making sure it wasn't too high and that it looked natural along the forehead. As I continued, I added texture along the edge of the hairline, ensuring the hair looked fluid and had movement. I also worked on the neck and hood, adding details that made the hood look more realistic and blended in with the rest of the portrait. For the body, I decided not to be too detailed, as I wanted the focus to be on the face. Finally, I switched to the side edge of my 2mm pencil to add subtle shading to the face and body. I started again on the eyes, working around the eyelid and the dark circle underneath, making sure everything was balanced. As I neared the end, I tweaked my shadows and details, ensuring each feature was well-defined and that the portrait had a visual cohesion. Once I was happy with the result, I signed my work in the bottom corner. I looked at the portrait of the "Squid Game" leader with satisfaction, feeling I had captured the essence of the character. The lesson not only allowed me to practice my drawing skills but also gave me the opportunity to explore the expression and form of such an iconic character. I hope those who follow this process find inspiration and enjoy the experience of creating their own illustration. I was excited to share the result and grateful for the opportunity to work on this portrait.
Consistent practice and attention to detail are key in art, and I look forward to continuing to explore and improve my skills in future lessons.
taken with a Samsung Galaxy A03
