How to Sketch Portraits
Contrary to popular belief, you do not need to take years of university classes in order to be a sketch artist. The only things that you really need in order to learn how to draw are a sketch pad, a pencil and a willingness to learn from your mistakes. While professional portrait artists usually possess a little innate skill, there should be no reason why you can't pick up a sketch book and produce a portrait that will please you, your family and friends.
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Things You'll Need
- Photograph of your subject
- Sketch pad
- Pencil (preferably a range of art pencils)
- Access to a copy machine
Instructions
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Be aware of your subject's expectations. If you are drawing the leathery skin of a rodeo cowboy, you will probably want to accurately represent his every last flaw in your sketch. However, if you are drawing a beauty queen, you will probably not want to include her acne scars in the portrait. Essentially, work to uncover your subject's inner value, and express it in your artwork.
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Refer to a photograph rather than to a live subject. Traditionally, subjects posed in front of an artist as their portraits were sketched. However, today we can use cameras as tools to facilitate this artistic process. For portrait artists, the advantage of using photographs is that many can be taken, and both the artist and the subject can choose from the best of these photos. Furthermore, an artist does not need to have the subject present in order to continue work on the sketch.
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Establish scale. When you are using a copy machine, you can easily manipulate scale by pressing a button or two. Therefore, one simple way to handle scale before you even open your sketchbook is to use a copy machine to make an enlargement or reduction of the photograph of your subject. Afterward, place this copy above your sketch pad and use a pencil to pierce the paper of the copy at key points of the photo so that the pencil's marking will appear on your sketch pad. For example, mark where the pupils of the subject's eyes are situated, as well as his nostrils, ears, lips and chin.
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Focus your attention on a particular feature of the face. Rather than worry about making your work presentable right away, just focus on achieving a good result with one small part of your work. If you learn how to draw with patience as your guide, your finished work will radiate with confidence.
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Notice and duplicate small details in the image. Many people think that too much time is required to produce a good result. As a portrait artist, you don't need to reinvent the wheel; duplicate fine details as you discover each of them in order to save time.
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Apply shading effects. Shadows can sometimes seem like optical illusions. Occasionally, a sketch artist must examine a shadow to see what makes it tick. However, shading is not as difficult as it may seem, especially if you are a woman who applies makeup to her face every morning. Shading is just like applying eye shadow or blush. You must be sure to blend it in so that it does not look alarming.
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Present your work with a humble attitude. While the steps listed above are important to follow if you want to learn how to draw, only time and experience will teach you how to be humble about the work you create. Being humble means not being too proud, as well as not being too ashamed. When you let your audience see your work, you should always do so with a sense of friendliness and integrity.
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Tips & Warnings
While a standard No. 2 pencil can be used to accomplish almost anything you will need in a sketch, you can really broaden the possibilities if you invest in a range of art pencils. Art supplies stores will carry such pencils, each with a different weight of lead, and if you make use of 5 or 6 in your drawing you can easily emphasize certain features as you subdue others.
When sketching, it is easy to get lost in the details. Be sure to stand back from time to time to take a look at the progress of your work. While certain aspects of your sketch may look terrific close up, they may still not agree with the total plan of your sketch. So be ready to constantly modify your work so that it is always heading in the right direction.
Resources
- Photo Credit From the collection of the Author, James Withers
