Topic Two (1.2): More portrait work
Objective
In this topic you will learn how to research and collect personal portraits. You will also learn:
- How to collect interesting photographs and images of portraits
- How to improve your skills in adding shading and tone to a portrait
Equipment Required
- A range of pencils: HB, 2B and 4B
- A small A5 sketchpad
- A larger A3 sketchpad
- Artist’s fixative or hairspray
Topic 1.2a - Researching portraits
Watch the video carefully and practise the techniques that are demonstrated.
- Look for family portraits of friends and family. You could also collect portraits of people from newspapers or magazines.
- Create a collage with these portraits.
- Make a series of quick sketches of these photographs.
Topic 1.2b - Extended Portrait: Pencil study
Watch the video carefully and practise the techniques that are demonstrated.
- Select one of your photographs to use as a study. You are going to do an extended drawing study, using this photograph as a starting point.
- Spend a long time on this drawing. Start with light lines and gradually add darker tones and lines.
- Try to blend your shading together.
Reflecting
Let’s review your learning. How confident are you now with the following?
- Understanding facial proportions
- Using a range of tone and shading in your drawings
- Using these skills in an extended drawing
Consolidating your learning
- Go back through your sketchpad.
- Have you filled up all the spaces in your pages?
- Could you add some more drawings to the pages?
- Have you photographed and recorded your work?
- You can also add comments or thoughts in your sketchpad.
- Take time to make your sketchpad look great, but remember to show your mistakes as well.
- If you have worked on paper, stick them into your sketchpad.