Hey guys,

how are things ?
Another journal after a looong time ...

I wonder how many of you have Myspace?
I have my own lately, come and check me out
link
Feel free to add me! ^^

I've promised some people to make a tutorial about shading and griding, the way I do it.
It might take me some time, but it's already under construction, so pleease be patient
So see this journal as a foreword to the upcoming tutorial(s),
addressing all my fellow pencil artists out there.

I'Ve been doing graphite portraits for 3 years now, so my first portrait drawing is actually the one I submitted first on DA.
link
However drawing was a passion of mine since I was a little kid, and it always was a part of my life.

My first submissions on DA were still drawn freehand on A3 sized paper, using reference-pics directly from my PC screen...
And if some of you have ever tried, drawing free-hand from the screen is hardcore, really difficult.
I must've been crazy ...
After my first 4 portraits I discovered the griding technique.
The most helpful technique for portrait artists I would say, especially for bigger drawing sizes like A3 or A2.

I've noticed that there are many new pencil portrait artists out there, which is a great thing.
So here some advice:

-Print out the reference photo

-Draw a grid for your portrait drawings, it might be the greatest help, mostly to get the proportions right.

-Proportions are the most important things for portrait drawings, don't forget that!
You can get the smoothest shadings, or the smallest details, but the first thing you should get right are the proportions.
First things first!

Portrait drawings done with graphite pencils can be very one-dimensional.
That's why at an advanced level you should start to develope your own style, experiment with different drawing techniques and styles.
Try to add some colors, you'd be surprised how much impact a small touch of color could give the drawing.
Never let the reference picture define your drawing, as an artist you're always the one who's able to turn some random photograph into
your own piece of artwork.
And NEVER try to imitate styles of other deviants, that's a 100% No-Go!

You should also know that after a long period of time drawing from reference photos and mostly portrait photos your mind and your drawing hand get so used to it
that you're no longer able to draw anything without using a reference photo.
Your DA gallery can be full of hyperrealistic drawings, but imagine a situation at a random occasion where friends
(who've actually seen your gallery on DA) ask you to draw sth. out of your mind.
Then you have to do justice to your friends' expectations 'cause you don't wanna make a fool of yourself, right?
So it's always important to be versatile, to be able to draw different things other than portraits, and especially to draw freehand.
Believe it or not, even tutorials only help you when you have a certain control over your pencils,
and there's no way around but practice, practice and practice freehand !


DA is probably the nicest community when it comes to comments and crits.
A great thing, on the other hand unhelpful for beginners.
I know that many of the beginners struggle through the process of improving, 'cause they have no clue where to beginn or how to do it right.
But how to change it?

That's it for now! Anything in mind? Just comment!


greetz
/truyen