Today I want to share a new drawing that I've just finished. It is of a Bald Eagle head with wet feathers. This one was a challenge with a lot of details so I thought that I should try to draw it mostly from my head. I made a sketch from my reference photo but when the major shapes was drawn I stopped looking at my reference and started drawing from memory.

Drawing from memory is a good practice for every artist. When you start drawing or painting your mind takes over more times than it should if you try to make it realistic. You look at your reference and when you put your pen on the paper your mind has changed it. So in the beginning I would recommend looking often at your reference, but when you get better at recreating your photo you should practice drawing from your head.

This drawing was made on a A3 paper and with graphite pencils. Some of the white I have made with a white gel pen. I still haven't found a good white or something to draw thin white hairs, but I guess I have to keep looking.

My reference

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