Drawing Children

Children are among my favorite subjects to draw.  I have found that the secret to drawing a child is to not do much drawing at all.  Except for the eyes, hair and other darker areas,  this portrait consists mostly of shading.  Values are built up in layers using tortillons and facial tissues.  

 I apply the graphite (pencil) almost like painting, brushing it 

 on and rubbing it into the paper with the tissues.  I've
drawn in the eyebrow with a sharp pencil, using loose, light strokes, following the direction of the hair.  There are three distinct areas beginning to take shape:  the curve of the inner arm, the dark area between the arm and the face, and the shine of light next to the dark area.  

I've added his left eyebrow and the faint outline of his bottom lip.  Using tissues, I've shaded in the bottom of his left cheek and more of his arm. 

You can see the faint background, and how it's made the arm sort of pop out and become more 3-dimensional.  The addition of his ear is pulling the whole face together and the portrait changes from disembodied features to a recognizable face.







I saw where other pencil artists recommended the Kimberly
brand 9xxb drawing pencil for the blackest value in a 
graphite pencil.  It really is the darkest pencil I've ever
drawn with.  I've used it in this portrait to drawn the hair
and the space between his fingers.

Adding more hair helps to define the other arm above his head.  I found it very difficult to "control" the dark Kimberly pencil.  It isn't smooth like graphite and doesn't blend well. It takes a lot of practice and I can't say I'm comfortable using it yet.






So I'm still working on this one here and there.  I'm enjoying drawing it so much that I'm purposely taking my time.