Wednesday, May 21, 2008

Lesson Learned: Use WHITE paper with graphite



I used a toned "charcoal" paper, and a 6B graphite pencil. And it was looking kinda good until I realized I couldn't add much in the way of highlights. I grabbed some pastel sticks, but that stuff doesn't stick to graphite! I knew that, too... Guess I just wasn't thinking. ...Or is there an alternative? ...Anyway, so I just quit.

8 comments:

Esly Carrero said...

Are you freakin' kiddin' me??? STOP THE MADNESS!!!! How on EARTH did you get so good at doing all this portrait stuff????!!!!

That's it! I'm gonna do some portraits too! If you can do it, I can do it!!!

well, I'll work on some as soon as I finish this website dilemma I'm having. lol!

Tim Gardner said...

Ha! You're crazy. But thanks for the positive reinforcement again, Esly. ...I think I HAVE INDEED improved over the last several weeks, for some reason. I'm simply SEEING more of the subtle aspects of shade and light on faces, and I've been going REALLY slowly with my caricatures, usually, really OBSERVING. I tell artists all the time: slow down and observe. You won't make as much money NOW, but you'll grow as an artist. If you draw what you see while caricaturing, and THINK about what you're seeing, you can't help but improve, and, BELIEVE ME, I've REALLY needed to improve. ...Yet, much to do...

JimmyPereira said...

This is very, very good, Tim! The likeness is awesome and the facial anatomy is dead on. Keep up the great work!!

Tim Gardner said...

Thanks, Jimmy! See ya tomorrow.

Mandy said...

Looks great Tim. You can use the page color for your highlighted areas and an eraser should pick up most of it. (I think it is called a rub out technique.)

Tim Gardner said...

...But the page color is medium gray...That's what I mean to say. With white paper, I could simply erase to highlight/lighten, but with a medium value I need to ADD a light value, and the white pastel won't stick to the graphite, but I tried anyway...lol ...

Mandy said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Mandy said...

Oh ok, There is a white charcoal pencil by General's.