Berty in Black and White
 

Here's the drawing and the original photo. Done mainly in pencil. Any thing you notice that will help the drawing is apppreciated.

Hi Julie,

This is a well chosen pose, I like it. You have done a great job.

The only critique I can offer would be to chek the shadow values. I think that you have made the values a little too contrasted in the nose(shadow) and the hair and hat in the right side. All and all you should dull down the shadows. There is so much life in the drawing overall so you will not loose anything by unifying the shadow sides a bit. That goes for the dress too.

Allan

Let me make sure I understand...
 

Hi Alan-

Thanks for the input. Let me make sure I understand what you are saying:

By "dulling down", do you mean to make the values, for instance in the right shadow side of the hat, darker? Looking at the picture, I can see that the shadow areas needs to be darkened, and as you said, unified.

Julie,

Dulling down, means (in my understanding) making the difference between the dark and the light parts, in the shadow area, less.
The problem is mostly that the light values are too light, they must be closer to the dark values.

Allan

A Bit Better?
 

Here it is again with some changes in values.

Julie,
What a great pose and what a beautiful drawing. What size is it and did you use graphite and charcoal? What kind of paper did you use? I really like the second image after you worked on the shadows. Less contrasty and now, very rich.

One thing I noticed is the brightness of the front of the neck and collar bone. I think it should be toned down.

Really a beautiful piece, Julie!

Pat

Knowing when to emulate the photo and when not
 

Hi Patricia -

This piece is approximately 12 x 14, done almost entirely in pencils. The face is done mainly in 2-4B pencils.

The background was done with 8B pencil, but still looked too blotchy when I finished with it, so I took some hard charcoal - the stick kind, sort of like conte but a bit softer, and really went over it hard, then wiped away the excess. It filled in the grain. The downside of using dark pencils is that it gets things very shiny, so the background has a sheen I don't particularly like. I'm toying with either using fixative to help even things out, a nonreflective glass when I frame it, or both.

The paper is Stonehenge Cream. It's tough, which I needed, with a nice tooth. I don't have the (organizational skills? patience? I'm not sure) to do a beautifully worked up pencil technique like Jimmy Arroyo. I rub the pencil in at times as well as draw with the pencil tip, use kneaded eraser to get highlights, etc. - treat it more like a charcoal drawing.

Your comment about the neck is well taken. I tend to want to take the photo too literally, and am trying to wean myself away from that (when it is warranted). I'll post later with additional changes.

Hi Julie,
Thank you for expanding on your techniques. I know you paint and this drawing feels like a painting to me, which is what I like about it. How long did this take? I used the Stonehange for some of my drawings as well and really like how tough the paper is.

Looking forward to seeing it completed. I think her eyes are very expressive and beautifully rendered, and your treatment of the hat is so good. It really has that light, see through-ishness about it!!!

Pat

Drawing like a Painting
 

Hi Patricia -

Thanks for your encouragement. It's funny you mentioned it feeling like a painting, because I almost wrote in the last post that I treated this piece like one.

I didn't keep track of the hours, but I would estimate between 10 to 13 hours.

That

Hopefully this is the final image
 

Thanks Bonfim.

Here is what I think is the final image. I softened the dress and darkened the neckline and neck.

Very nice!! Nicely finished piece all the way through Has Berty seen it yet??

Julie,

This is something more than a drawing, you really got under her skin.

Allan

Hi Julie,

You have a beautiful drawing here. Great edge work, excellent likeness. You mentioned that you drew it with mainly pencil, just curious what other medium was used. Charcoal, perhaps?

If it's not too late, I have a minor suggestion. Try bringing out a little reflected light under her cheek/jawline, to further define some form. I know your photo ref doesn't show it much, but you can employ some license. If you haven't sprayed it yet, you can dab a kneaded eraser on it to pull it out.

Sincerely,

You can erase through fixative....
 

Hi Richard -

I had applied fixative, but I was able to use kneaded eraser anyway. Thanks for the tip! I put a little reflected light where you suggested and it helps. The finished piece will be posted in the completed works area either today or tomorrow.