9
votes
Accepted
How to draw human body in chest/collarbone area?
I think the main reasons the curviness seems lacking is because the contrast is too high or uneven, and your hatching doesn't follow the curves of the body.
The quite abrupt ending of the shading on ...
- 10.4k
8
votes
How to draw human body in chest/collarbone area?
This is meant as an addition to Joachims answer, so I won't repeat what he already pointed out.
I'm sorry if this sounds nitpicky, but it seems to me like you start the process of drawing with the ...
Elmy♦
- 12.6k
7
votes
Accepted
Is it possible to combine charcoal and graphite in one image?
Yes, you can mix media. But you need to preserve some of the tooth of your paper's surface to successfully transition from working with graphite to charcoal.
The tooth of your paper determines how ...
- 2,956
6
votes
What Faber-Castell Polychromos color codes do I need to paint this?
There are a couple of ways that you can go about matching...
The first is trial and error testing on scrap paper. It's tried and true, really, because all you do is look at the color options in your ...
- 3,443
5
votes
On what factors does choosing pencil shading technique depend?
In it's basic form you are looking to choose your shading technique based on what you want your end result to look like. I only draw in pencil and usually that is a mechanical pencil or a basic HB2.
...
- 11k
4
votes
How to find the contours of a 3D object?
This ultimately comes down to the skills of observation that you acquire through practice.
One of the fundamental purposes of life drawing as an exercise is to train yourself to closely observe what ...
- 1,979
4
votes
Accepted
How to find the contours of a 3D object?
Don't think of it as "shade according to contour" but think instead as "shade defines contour". It's the sudtle changes in colour values across the surface of a form which allows the artist to see the ...
- 2,956
4
votes
How to start a pencil portrait without using an outline of features?
Creating detailed outlines of features and then fleshing them out can often lead you to draw yourself into a corner - you'll put a lot of detail into a particular spot and find that it's off (I've ...
- 1,223
4
votes
Shading dark scenes
Remember that white only looks white when there is 'white' light (light containing a wide range of wavelengths, I won't go into details here) that it can reflect. Even snow can look dark.
For ...
- 1,999
4
votes
Accepted
How can I do the hatching shading technique properly?
What are hatching and cross-hatching?
This article from the Drawing Magazine explains the basic idea of hatching and cross-hatching:
At its most basic, hatching, also called hachure, refers to ...
- 1,996
4
votes
What are the (dis)advantages of both sides of chart paper for drawing or painting?
The rough texture side is good at "grabbing" and creating friction. So it is better for things like pencils/graphite and for allowing it to deposit into the texture of the paper. The smooth side is ...
- 43
4
votes
Accepted
Can I draw dog fur with pencil and then go over it with colored pencils?
You can certainly add color into a monotone image (like you would have with a graphite pencil drawing). You are correct that there is the risk making the drawing messy or muddy though, so use (...
- 3,159
4
votes
Are there any downsides to using black water-soluble pencils as regular pencils?
For the biggest part the answer to the related question is still valid. Water soluble graphite pencils are intended to be used both as pencils and as paint, and they will hold up just as well.
The ...
- 10.4k
3
votes
The differences between masculine and feminine features to improve my portraits
I am no professional artist and don't draw any portraits, but I hope to offer you some insights free of prejudice and textbook mantras.
The woman on top doesn't look weird, masculine or ugly, she is ...
Elmy♦
- 12.6k
3
votes
How does shading & blending with carbon pencils differ from graphite pencils?
I find that Carbon Pencils tend to dry out and break easily while I work. If I use carbon, I try buy one which is oil based; they tend to have strong tonal values without the shininess of graphite. ...
- 61
3
votes
How do I get a blur (blended) effect in pencil drawings?
You can also use different grades of pencils to change the tone of the work - also known as blending (an introduction to art techniques, glossary).
To accomplish this sort of blending you use ...
3
votes
Do I need to hold the pencil in different ways for different kinds of shading methods?
Shading Techniques
First of all, the shading techniques you mentioned are primarily used for pen-and-ink projects and are not commonly used when shading with a pencil. Special techniques like the ...
- 1,082
3
votes
Accepted
On what factors does choosing pencil shading technique depend?
The shading techniques you mentioned are generally used in pen and ink artwork. This is commonly visible in comic strips (printed in newspapers).
There is no need for these techniques in pencil, ...
- 1,082
3
votes
How to draw human body in chest/collarbone area?
You may need to practice working from photographs that are less 'lingerie catalogue'.
To my eye, this photo looks as though the model's chest has been digitally enlarged. Notice how the skin just ...
- 31
2
votes
How to find the contours of a 3D object?
Picture the line that would be created by the intersection of a plane with the shape you are trying to get a contour of. This resulting edge is a (literal) contour line.
For example a contour or ...
- 3,159
2
votes
Planes of the head (Loomis Method)
The "planes of the head" are the simplification of the constant curving of the head into areas that share a similar orientation. Meaning, take the curved surfaces of the head and flatten those ...
- 3,159
2
votes
What artistic elements to add to a car to diminish a difference in color shade?
Add high contrast polka-dots all over the car. This will totally upstage the hand painted areas and make the fact that they don't match moot. It could be any other pattern, like zig-zagging lines, but ...
- 3,159
2
votes
The differences between masculine and feminine features to improve my portraits
Stereotypical masculine features include an overall more rigid structure, larger bones (especially jawbone), more distinct jaw and neck muscles.
Stereotypical feminine features include an overall ...
- 21
2
votes
Inexpensive method for highlighting a sketch
I wonder what you mean by highlighting a sketch? If you work on a white (or almost white) paper then the only thing you gonna need is a soft (6b) pencil or even cheaper a regular HB penci to start. ...
- 266
1
vote
Inexpensive method for highlighting a sketch
I would recommend using a white wax crayon or even better a white artists pastel. They are pretty cheap...
Now that I think about it, you should do well to also get a quite soft pencil like a 6b ...
- 2,812
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