Self-Portrait Challenge

by Christie
(Lewiston, MN, USA)

I'm a graphic artist with a Commercial Art Associates Degree and 20+ years of experience working in the field.
This past year I decided to go for my Fine Arts Diploma as a self-improvement and to re-awaken my drawing skills.
My final exam for Portrait class was to do a portrait of someone I knew. I decided to take it a step further and do the "challenge" exam which was to do a self-portrait. So...here it is...and here I am.

Would love to know your take on it.



Note from Kerry:
Hi Christie
I think you've done a terrific job of your self portrait. Do you mind me asking if you did this from a mirror or from a photo?
I think it's hard to do a self portrait, to be brutally honest with our pencil and I admire any artist who shows their effort. I have done one and I hate it so no one gets to see it!
Your work is very neat, good job!

First try at faces

by Sue
(Tennessee)

Faces are very hard for me to capture. This should be my daughter, but don't tell her.

Lips are the hardest. What do you do with teeth when you are drawing with a pencil?

***Note from Kerry:
Hi Sue, I'd be the last person to give advice on portrait drawing. However, I'm game if you are!

The trick is to "suggest". Particularly with teeth. You can leave the paper white while you are practicing, and just put tiny marks to give the impression of each tooth. Once you conquer that, then you can use a "H" pencil to shade the teeth since they are really not white.

I hope I've helped you a little bit Sue. Good luck. Just keep persisting and bit by bit, you learn something new each time. Today you have asked about teeth. When you are pleased with your efforts with teeth, you'll move on to eyes, and so on. It's a gradual thing but it really is an adventure to learn it all. And fun.

I am so happy to see you are interested in portraits.

Self Portrait - Cindy

by Cindy Barnard
(Bloomington, Indiana USA)

I drew this from a picture that was taken 4yrs ago. It's my profile pic too! My man and I were at a concert in Indianapolis seeing John Fogerty and Willie Nelson (great concert by the way!)
I'm older now with a few more wrinkles and darker hair with some greys a showin!...ha ha!
Cindy


***Note from Kerry:
Hi Cindy
I am really amazed by your creations. Did I see in some comments around here that you only measure the eyes and that's it? My memory is pretty bad so please correct me if I'm wrong. It's just so wonderful that you can produce such a likeness without using a grid. That's a huge pat on the back.

Betsy - self portrait

by betsy
(nj)

I don't usually like to do a self portrait, but here I am.



Note from Kerry:

Hi Betsy,
I can clearly see the kindness in your face, just as I suspected it would show. I am very pleased you have decided to share your self portrait with us, thank you Betsy! You look hug-able!

Portrait Sketch of a Young Girl

by Mary Davis
(Corpus Christi Texas)

Hi,

I am Caedyn Provins great grandmother, Mary Davis, and I would like to share with allaboutdrawings website a sketch of a young girl that I drew some years ago.

I am so proud of my great grandson in the art work he is doing at such an early age. I didn't take up an interest in drawing until I was 10 years old, I went on to do portraits and landscapes.

I am looking forward to spending more time with my great grandson and enjoying this great love of the arts with him and spending family time at a local art studio where we will be doing some art projects together.

Mary (Dolly) Davis
Great Grandmother of 5 year old artist by Caedyn Provins (Corpus Christi Texas) Caedyn Provins



Note from Kerry:
Hello Mary
It is so lovely to see you sending in your own drawings - now it is easy to see where Caedyn gets his motivation and talent from!

I love your sketch, it is simply beautiful.

Mum and Dad - Work in Progress

by Neil Kitchen
(Ireland)

Hi Everyone...

I recently submitted a picture of my Dad. It is a work in progress to show the technique of using grid lines to help keep the proportions correct within the drawing.

In this picture my Mum has been added. I only have my eldest son to add in and some additional detail to the clothing.

This is only the second picture I've drawn in nearly 20 years and just by using some of the techniques suggested within this website, I think I am creating my best piece of work I can remember. Although, I'm a little biased because they're my parents I'm drawing...

I would love to hear your comments and any techniques you may use that I could use in future drawings. I'm open to give anything a try...

Neil



Note from Kerry:

Gee Neil, it is coming along beautifully. I can see the outline of your son and I think you will end up with a masterpiece! I'm thinking your family will be quite impressed with your talent.

I'm sure I could learn a thing or 2 from you but since you asked, I'd like to say that stippling is a technique that I really enjoy using. I wouldn't add it to this portrait though, you're doing just fine so don't change a thing!

Third Portait Drawing

by Karen Welter
(Joshua, Texas)

This one seemed to be a little bit harder for me. But they are starting to get easier for me. I saw this woman on a web site and thought I would give it a try.

The facial features are hard for me to do. But practice, practice, practice.


***Note from Kerry:
Hi Karen,
I hope you are remembering to date your work. Already there has been a marked improvement - pretty soon you will be looking back at these ones you did at the start and you will be amazed by your progress. I am so proud of you and the way you dedicate yourself to practice. I can see you're getting the hang of this, good job!

Portrait of Girl

by Josef Rocha
(San Jose,CA.USA.)

Here is a freehand drawing of mine.

I completed the drawing with a number 2 pencil on 8x10 paper.

***Note from Kerry:
Josef, this is spectacular!!

Portrait Drawing

by Josef
(San Jose,Ca USA)

01-03-2011

Graphite pencil on 8x11 paper.



Note from Kerry:

Hi Josef,
I can't be certain, but is this the completed version of the one you showed "in progress"? It is really beautiful anyway.

It would be great if you could write more than one line please Josef, just to keep within submission guidelines.

Portrait of a Girl

by Rachel
(England)

Sorry this hasn't copied very well.

This doesn't really have a story, I was just feeling down and drawings normally lets me feel a bit better.

I didn't like the way it turned out but I don't really know why, can I please have some criticism on it so I know how to improve it. Thanks guys


***Note from Kerry:
Hi Rachel
You really amuse me when you ask for ways to improve. I think the drawing is really good - you've captured the expression, almost like a fleeting glance, it's very well done!