B6 @home:Free Hand Portrait Drawing

• What you’re learning:– Seeing shadows and light, gaining hand eye coordination– Using deeper, darker shadows and a range of values all

the way to white.– Using charcoal, erasers and white pastel– Creating an intriguing composition with yourself as the

focal point (emphasis)– Possibly working with distortion and reflections– Working independently– Maintaining deadlines

Assignment:

• Draw another portrait using a mirror or some other reflective surface.

• This portrait should show off some of your personality.– Quirky expression?– Objects or areas surrounding you can be

meaningful?– Hand placement?– Light source? (can create mysterious shadows!)

Step 1:3 Thumbnail Sketches DUE MONDAY

• Decide what else will be in the drawing besides yourself, if anything.– Think about the background or objects nearby– Think about where you’re hands are– OVERLAP

• Avoid “dead space” and floating objects– No “mug shots”– Negative space should be considered. Shadows? Background?

• Consider the size and shape of the paper when drawing your “frame” of your thumbnail sketch

• Please note: I will not be “coaching” you during class like last time. Please turn in 3 completed thumbnails on the day they are due.

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Lk3QW56rTI

What thumbnails CAN look like

• Several on 1 sheet of paper– Can be any paper, not just one I give you

• 3-5” long/tall. Very small!• Often have written notes somewhere• Loose and quick drawing• Can look similar but noticeable differences in

layout• Main concern is COMPOSITION: how the page is

laid out and used.

• Pick your strongest arrangement/composition

Composition Idea: “T” or “Hot Spots”

Place an eye or both eyes near these points. You can also have another focal point on one of the spots

Step 2: DraftThis does not only mean “line drawing.”

It means a good start!

• Put in “figure ground” or tone (graphite stick or charcoal dust…coffee? Tea??)

• Use a mirror or some kind of reflective surface to draw from. Please don’t use a photograph. – This is meant to look and feel differently than the gridded

portraits. Remember “BREADTH”• Variety of ability and skills

• Use “face proportion” handouts & guides provided. This thing called the internet has great videos, visuals and tutorials, too.

• Proof of progress on to “good paper” DUE WEDNESDAY.

Step 3: Build up shadows

• AVOID OUTLINES. Look for areas of shadows and fill in.

• Don’t be afraid to get really dark in some of your drawing (contrast!)

• Use your “kneadable” eraser (grey eraser) to draw the light areas in and to gently blend.

This was created with “scratch board.”If you’re interested in trying some out, let me know next week.If you like crosshatching, you may love scratchboard!If you like it after testing it, I can give you a bigger piece.

Some other nice artwork. Look at the COMPOSITION and backgrounds!

Look. “Purposefully unfinished!”

A great sped up watercolor portrait painting

Click picture or link http://vimeo.com/72874423

• Thumbnails Due: MONDAY. Cut your own paper.• Draft(a good start) Due: WEDNESDAY• This assignment will be printed out in the back of the room and found online

for your viewing.• NOW: JOURNAL BREAK! Sketch out thumbnails OR paint out/glue pages OR

create a quick drawing expressing your favorite song.

NOW: JOURNAL BREAK

• Sketch out thumbnails (in your journal!)• OR paint out/glue pages • OR create a quick drawing expressing your

favorite song.• If you still need help cutting or gridding your

photograph, we can do that.