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Pencil Portrait 2

Pencil Portrait - Step 4 - the tone of the eyes

Return to the eyes to begin the tonal development of the portrait. Tone used around the eyes should:

Help them to sit solidly in their sockets by creating a shadow beneath each eyelid where it rests on the eyeball.

Give them a sparkling look by placing the brightest highlight against the dark pupil.

Create the translucent effect of the iris by simulating its changing tone.

Create the curved planes of the eyelids and sockets with softly graduated tones.

 

Pencil Portrait - Step 5 - the tone of the nose

The difficulty with drawing a nose from the front is that there are so few outlines to help you define its shape. You have to rely on tone to mould its three dimensional form.

Begin by drawing any outlines you can see, namely the edges of the nostrils, the philtrum (the triangular dimple below your nose) and the creases that slope away from the sides of the nose.

Next, slowly shade in the main areas of tone as cast by the light.

Finally, with careful observation, you can fine-tune the intensity of dark and light tone to create a more realistic looking nose.

 

Pencil Portrait - Step 6 - the tone of the mouth

There is a symmetrical arrangement of muscles in the lips and around the mouth which move to form different expressions.

By using tone to highlight these muscles, you can add more realism to the shape of the lips and set a specific mood in the portrait. The distinctive cracks on the surface of the lips will help to convey their texture.

As a general rule, the upper lip is smaller and darker in tone as it is shaded from the light. The lower lip tends to be fuller and brighter in tone as it catches the light.

 

Pencil Portrait - Step 7 - the tone of the neck

The dark tone of the neck forms a strong contrast with the light edge of the chin and jaw. This has the visual effect of lifting and focusing attention on the head.

The thin line of reflected light on the left side of the neck highlights a tendon which both physically and visually strengthens the balance of the head.

The horizontal bands of tone which create the soft ripples of flesh on the neck help to emphasise its roundness and solidity.

 

Click here to view larger versions of the drawings above.

 

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