Holly Charcoal pencil on drawing paper 12 × 9 (30cm × 23cm) drawing portraits for the absolute beginner A Clear & Easy Guide to Successful Portrait Drawing Mark and Mary Willenbrink Contents Introduction Materials What You Need Pencils Paper Erasers Additional Tools Setup Chapter 1 Techniques and Principles Structure + Values = Drawing Pencil Grips and Strokes Different Approaches Combining Approaches Understanding Values Light Effects Lighting the Subject Chapter 2 Proportions Measuring Male Proportions, Front View Male Proportions, Side View Male Proportions, Three-Quarter View Female Proportions Elderly Proportions Child Proportions Facial Expressions Chapter 3 Features Eyes Noses Mouths Ears Hair Hands Costumes and Accessories Hats Eyeglasses Diversity Chapter 4 Let’s Draw Portraits! Woman Man With Beard Male Contour Drawing Woman on Toned Paper Baby Costumed Woman Man in Profile Mother and Baby Close-up Portrait Male Teen With Hat Little Girl in Pastel Self-Portrait in Profile Toddler With Toy Phone Finishing Your Portraits Conclusion Glossary About the Authors Introduction We hope this book will have the same effect on you that it had on us—we fell in love with people. Drawing portraits offers the artist a unique opportunity to observe people. Every person is unique with their own special features and personality. Portrait art captures the personality of the subject through the eyes of the artist. With simple tools and basic principles, this book will help you to develop your drawing skills. We will use some fun tricks and techniques to help you learn how to draw portraits, even if you are an absolute beginner. Everyone is an artist, including you, so get ready to have fun! B.P. Graphite on drawing paper 11 × 19 (28cm × 48cm) What You Need Paper 9 × 12 (23cm × 30cm) fine-tooth drawing paper 9 × 12 (23cm × 30cm) medium- tooth drawing paper 9 × 12 (23cm × 30cm) light gray and medium gray medium- tooth drawing paper 9 × 12 (23cm × 30cm) sketch paper Pencils 2B, 4B, 6B and 8B graphite pencils 2B charcoal pencil black pastel pencil light gray pastel pencil (Stabilo CarbOthello 1400/110 ) medium gray pastel pencil (Stabilo CarbOthello 1400/724) white pastel pencil Other Supplies blending stump drawing board facial tissue hole punch kneaded eraser mirror pencil sharpener ruler scissors slip sheet white vinyl eraser Optional Supplies divider or sewing gauge lightbox pencil extender spray fixative transfer paper Pencils There are many different types of pencils. Perhaps the most common drawing pencil has a core of graphite, carbon or charcoal encased in wood. Though pencils are not made from lead, the core is commonly referred to as lead. Graphite, Carbon and Charcoal Graphite goes down smooth, but never gets truly black. If you want a really black color, use a carbon or charcoal pencil, but they can smear easily. Woodless graphite pencils are made of a cylinder of graphite coated with lacquer. These pencils can make wide or thin strokes but can break in two if they are not handled with care. Graphite and charcoal sticks have no outer casing. Use the sides to make broad strokes, or use the ends for narrower strokes.