I was watching a interview with Mads, and apparently his name in his native language meant to be pronounce 'Mass' which I find interesting:)
To be perfectly honest, I am not particularly happy how this portrait turns out. I feel It is not Mads alike at all. I know I need get into pencil drawing again, because I am losing my ability to use this tool. I am using pencil every now an then, but I don't spend enough time with it, to really develop my skills, to make visible progress.
On the contrary, I think I have lost the latitude to use a pencil. I know that it is a very demanding tool, it exposes technical deficiencies, lack of anatomical knowledge, lack of observation from nature. That is why I decided to return to this tool. No, not to publicly berate myself for my rusty pencil skills, but to find the joy of getting back to basics again. Because the pencil is the very basis undeniably. It is a very strict teacher, but can reward you handsomely if you take the time to perfect your craft.
@wongi got me thinking about use of a mirror image in my previous portrait of Mads. Drawing a mirror image is not an easy task. In this case it was little bit simpler, because the mirror is broken and it is much easier to suggest its presence. It is sufficient to use a well-sharpened pencil to strongly suggest cracks on the glass.
However, when there is no such obvious suggestion as (in this case) a broken glass, how do you manage and distinguish in the drawing the face from the reflection? How to subtly guide the viewer?
This can be done in many ways. In my opinion, one of the easiest is to use a regular, hard pencil eraser and carefully, gently, evenly drag eraser across the entire surface of our 'reflection'. Not only do you get a slight blurring of the contours, a blurring of the shapes but an even 'colour' of the reflection.
It is also possible to erase whole patches down to the white paper to suggest a dazzling reflection of light. If you are afraid of using an eraser, you can try using a 'fisher' tool - a tightly rolled paper stick, sharpened like a pencil. A very nice tool if you like very smooth, delicate drawings:)
I'm working on another Mad's portrait at the moment, I'll be back with a new portrait as soon as my RC is renewed!
Have a lovely weekend!
Greetings,
Strega
Source of the picture I've used to do my drawing
Drawing & pics was done by me, all rights reserved @strega.azure ©
I've used pencils: 8H, 4H, F, 2B, 4B, 10B.