Like a portrait in pencil. How to learn to draw portraits with a pencil

Creativity is influenced not only by the inspiring world around, but also by the tools and technologies inherent in one time or another.

Photography is a tool that, in the shortest possible time since its invention, took the most important place in the art of painting, and had a huge influence on it. This is especially true for portrait painters.

When drawing from a photo, you do not need to make the model pose for hours, and in addition, the camera allows you to capture a fleeting facial expression and the position of strands that cannot be maintained for a long time by a model. Why, the model will not even be able to hold a pose for hours - no, no, and it will bend, turn, slouch. And if we are talking about a child's portrait, then a photo is often the only way to make a child freeze.

Of course, drawing from life cannot replace anything, and spears are still breaking around the topic of using photographs by artists, but nevertheless, even such recognized masters as Picasso, Degas and Kahlo used this technique.

The advantages of drawing from a photo are obvious to almost everyone, but there are pitfalls in this method that it is better not to fall into. We will analyze them.

Distance and trim

When shooting a portrait, you should always pay attention to distance to the subject and correct framing. If you shoot from a distance, there may be too much background in the photo, on which the face will simply be lost. In general, the photo can be cropped later, but when shooting from a distance, the photo of the face may turn out to be illegible, and details will be lost on it. You shouldn't shoot too close either, because this way you will lose the balance between the background and the foreground, and it is not always available to glue the background on a computer, and not everyone is easy. And facial features are distorted when the lens is too close. In general, be careful.

The importance of lighting

Good lighting is great for examining the shape of an object. It is best to use daylight, or a single electric light source. Really good lighting is one in which you see the maximum number of tonal transitions in the portrait, no details are overexposed and at the same time do not disappear into the shadows. It will be easier to assess this on a black and white version of the image. Ideally, in a black and white photo, you will see a lot of gradations - from white to black.

Shooting technique

Avoid using a flash as it will flatten the subject's face. But a simple plain background will help you see the face in all its details. Adjusting the white balance will help correct the overall color temperature.

Use your own photos whenever possible

This will not only help to avoid copyright problems: a work created from your own photo will be completely yours in every sense, because you take a photo in your own manner and exactly as you see it yourself. But self-portraits, of course, it is better to draw not from "selfies" full of various distortions, so for a self-portrait ask someone to photograph you.

Don't copy one-to-one

If you are not a hyperrealist, you can omit some details, highlight some, “fix” the hair of the model. Remember that the similarity in the portrait is achieved more due to the correctly rendered chiaroscuro than fine details.

Photo is not an exact copy of reality

Colors can be distorted, textures blurred, and shadows and dark areas can turn out to be much darker than in reality, due to which details in the shadows are lost. If you keep this in mind all the time, you can correct all the flaws in the photo in your work.

Good luck with your painting!

PHOTO SAMPLE

When I am asked to paint a picture from a portrait photograph, I choose a self-portrait. It is always best to draw from life, as and when you can, in photographs the picture can sometimes be distorted. However, it is not always possible or convenient to get people to pose, and photography definitely helps. I tried to choose the most interesting photo, I don't really look like myself here, but I really like bright sunlight here, so I choose this photo! (fig. 1)

SKETCH

I don't always start with a sketch, but when I have to draw from a photograph (and, in fact, a self-portrait), it helps to be a little more accurate. Sometimes I start out by just sketching general shapes and lines, but in this case, I just started with a very simple sketch.

It is needed in order to correctly measure the main features of the face: eyes, nose, mouth, etc. And another layer just with lines on top of all parts of the face, then duplicated. (fig. 2-3)

(Straight lines can be drawn by holding down the Shift key while drawing a line with a brush) After that, I roughly finish the rest by eye. You can use special grids if that's more convenient for you, but personally I try not to bother trying to achieve perfection on the basic sketch. At this stage, the drawing, of course, looks lousy, but the base is already ready, so you can move on to coloring!

BRUSHES

There are a huge number of different brushes on the Internet, and although some of them are very good in my opinion, there is nothing better than a regular round brush. This is what I'll be using, the basic hard round brush that comes with all versions of Photoshop. (fig. 4)

BASIC COLORS

When it comes to choosing colors when painting from a photo, I think it's best to leave the thought of using the Color picker. Photos can be very mosaic and colors can be distorted, random color selection will not give you a real idea of \u200b\u200btones, especially when it comes to skin, for example! Therefore, use only your abilities and experiment, trying to achieve the most approximate result, and here getting to the point is not the most important thing.

I will add so many different colors throughout the process that in the end it won't matter. The next step is to add some base tones on the normal layer below the sketch (the sketch layer itself is switched to Multiply, which makes it almost transparent). (fig. 5)

From now on, everything will be drawn on top of the sketch and the already applied base colors. In my work, I always merge layers as needed, so I don't have to mess around with a lot of layers. Most of the time, though, I will be adding new elements on separate layers. I'm not a purist! If something goes wrong, it won't be a disaster for me.

As for whether or not to use many layers in your work is entirely up to you, do what is convenient for you personally. At this point, I start to add basic light spots to better shape the lines of the face. (fig. 6)

Don't worry if at this stage your drawing doesn't yet look like the original; it's too early and things will look much better along the way. In the meantime, everything looks rather sloppy, the strokes are very noticeable and uneven, but it's all about finding the right colors and shapes. Try not to get hung up on softening the lines of the picture yet.

COLORS

One of the most common questions that I have to receive in my address is, how do I "know" what colors to pick. To be honest, I don't know, I just try to match them, and pay attention to the environment, and only then choose a certain color. Photography is a great help and is much easier to work with than relying on your intuition. However, in 90% of cases I am not completely satisfied with the result of the chosen colors and as a result I have to change them. The color palette chosen at the very beginning of the work and the one that turns out at the very end are two completely different things. So if you don't like your chosen color, don't worry. Photoshop is your friend, and it definitely has its upsides. (Figure 7-8)

One of the invaluable tools for me is Color balance. I usually duplicate the entire image and then adjust the colors if I don't like them, which is absolutely always the case. This tool is very useful when you want to slightly or significantly change the colors of a painting. It can also be very helpful in balancing colors if they don't quite blend in. (fig. 9)

You will surely notice how the tones in my drawing change throughout the work. Sometimes I change and undo changes in search of the desired effect. Yes, I'm so fickle!

PROCESSING

With the base colors and lights in place, I spend the rest of the time working on the details. In this process, I rarely get stuck in one area, I jump between different parts of the drawing so that I do not get bored of working on the same for too long. It also helps, when returning to previous sites, to notice small defects and correct them. It is also obvious that the picture has become softer. In the beginning, it was too rough, but we softened them up in the process. (fig. 10-12)

LAYER MODES

I used several different types of layers in my work. These are mainly the Normal and Overlay modes. I probably don't need to say anything about Normal mode, but Overlay is very useful. This is a very good way to enhance contrast. My sample photo has a very bright light source. Therefore, in the process of drawing, I put a couple of layers in the Overlay mode. I make the right side of the face a lot brighter by applying the same skin tone, but in Blend mode. This helps a lot to add contrast and glow caused by bright sunlight. This mode also helps to add to this a very bright red / orange, which is visible when the skin contrasts with light.

The Opacity of the layers is always variable, it all depends on which level suits best. Experiment constantly with layers and choose what works! (fig. 13-14)

The dark side of the face still looks flat compared to the lighted side. To fix this, I'll add a brighter tone to the layer in Overlay mode to emphasize the structure of the face, cheeks, eyebrow area, etc. I chose a light green because the Overlay colors are very saturated. If I had chosen a skin tone, the result would have been a bright orange. Green, on the other hand, will not have the same effect and will blend perfectly with the overall skin tone. (fig. 15)

TURN!

Another way to control some minor errors is to flip the image. Working with photography, I know what the result will be, but still it will not be superfluous to unfold the drawing about once an hour.

Errors are always detected, so it's much easier to fix them on the fly ... instead of finding out when you're done that it looks awful if you take and rotate the image! (Image - Image rotation - Flip canvas horizontally) (Fig. 16)

MIXING

I'm pretty sure the most frequently asked question is about how I mix paints, creating smooth transitions from one color to another. I always find it difficult to answer this question, because I never mix two colors "actively". My method is to overlay the color on top, stroke by stroke, in different tones, until they are almost invisible. (fig. 17) I would not recommend blurring the colors; in my opinion, this completely deprives the picture of life, in the end it looks "dirty", so do not be afraid if the image is a little rough, just keep working on it! Pick a tone that matches the two colors you want to combine, apply brush strokes and they will blend naturally. If you have difficulty, try using a brush with softer edges. While I don't recommend using Airbrushes (again, everyone's choice!), Soft-edged brushes can help in blending colors. They can also be useful when you need to slightly lower the opacity of your brush. Sometimes 100% opacity can be overkill. While I almost always change my opacity from 100%, it’s all about finding my method that produces the best results.

HAIR

Using the same standard round brush, create a basic hair shape. Then, in the same manner, begin to apply lighter tones. I do not paint hair as a group of hairs, instead I create curls and try to convey their natural position and the formation of strands as accurately as possible. Then I add individual hairs just to give the hair a lush effect. (fig. 18-20)

I added another layer in Blend mode and filled it with a light brown color, which will give the hair a beautiful shine from the side where the sunlight hits it. This is followed by the process of coloring and repetition. Just keep adding strands, highlights and a few individual hairs that are knocked out of the hair until you get the finished image.

FINAL STUPS / DETAILS

Adding the final touches always takes up most of the whole drawing process for me. It is also a process that should not be left to the "last" stages. I work on the details throughout the work on the picture, this is a very smooth process for me and very pleasant, I really love the details! This is where everything superfluous is cut off.

For me, the detailing process is the process of bringing order to lines, such as the jawline against a dark hair background. At this stage, I can also pay more attention to the details of the eyes, eyebrows, nose and lips, etc. I use the same brush, only smaller. And I usually scale up a lot when working on such details. After these procedures, the image becomes noticeably cleaner and it is much easier to work with it further. (fig. 21-22)

CHANGES

You may have noticed that there are some differences in my work from the original. The first change concerns the hair. In fact, they looked just awful! I wasn't really into drawing hair like this, so use your artist rights. If you think something needs to be changed, change it! At the end of the day, this is just a sample, not an instruction to follow immediately. You will see other changes made here as well. (fig. 23-24)

Below are the cuttings on a larger scale. (Fig. 25-26) At this stage, the work is almost complete. I cropped the image a little and tried to add some brighter colors, pinks and blues, to bring out the blue eyes and a subtle pink on the skin. Probably, it is not necessary to say that this is not on the sample photo, but I just do it the way I like.

Drawing a portrait - This is one of the most difficult types of fine art. To learn how to draw a portrait of a person correctly, it will take you a lot of time and effort. The complexity of such a drawing is that you will need to convey the emotional state of a person, his depth of gaze, facial expressions, smile, thoughtfulness, etc. To do this, you need to very accurately and correctly draw the shape of the lips, eyes, nose and other features of his face.

How to draw a portrait of a person with a regular pencil?

Learn simple and ordinary painting technique face is possible independently. You just need to draw the face in stages with a simple pencil. Don't be discouraged if you fail to paint a portrait the first time.

1. Construction of the face, general contour

For the portrait to come out correct, you need to very accurately draw the contour of the face, the construction of the face. Try to repeat this oval of the person's face on your paper. If you do not succeed, then try again and again until you have a contour of the correct shape.

2. The main parts of the face and their markings

Draw a flat horizontal line in the center that divides the portrait in two. Draw a parallel line just below. From the center of the bottom line, you will need to draw a perpendicular line, and also mark where the tip of the nose will be on the person's face.
When you draw these lines don't press too hard on the pencil and don't forget to draw the ears.

3. The main part of the portrait is the eyes

Drawing eyes is a very discreet and neat job. Sharpen the pencil sharper and draw with smooth, oval lines for the eyes. Next, draw the line of the mouth, pupils and the initial outlines of the hair.

4. Drawing the outlines of the mouth, eyebrows and lips

First, try to draw the lightest - the eyebrows and hair outline. Now let's draw the element a little more complicated - lips. Let's draw the lower lip, since it is easier to draw it, you shouldn't draw too thick lips. The upper lip should be a mirror image of the lower one.

Draw a check mark on the tip of the nose and two small arcs around the edges. Further from the right eyebrow, see a line that easily deviates to the right.

Now take an eraser and remove from your portrait extra contour lines. Here's what you should get:

5. Final stage

At this stage, you will need to make the drawing three-dimensional, that is add shadows and contrasts. On the hair and face, most of the areas need to be shaded with a thick and dark color to give the face depth and more realism.

Now you know how easy and in several steps you can draw a portrait of a man. I wish you success!

Many people find an outlet in drawing. Some people want to become professional artists, but for others it is just a favorite hobby. This article will talk about how to draw a portrait with a pencil step by step for beginners. Why do people paint portraits at all? Someone just really likes the person they want to draw. Another is interested in trying himself. The third wants to impress. But this all concerns adults.

But many children want to congratulate their mother on the holiday or just to please her. They come up with the idea to draw her portrait in pencil. After all, such a gift will be pleasant, will be remembered for a long time and will take its place in the house. Not all guys go to art school, but I want the drawing was done correctly and pleased with its beauty... Therefore, a lesson will be told here on how to gradually depict a person's face on paper. And since you can draw anyone, let it be even a mother, even a beloved actress, this lesson will come in handy for a variety of people.

Even beginners should do well and quickly learn the portrait technique. And all because the chosen object for drawing is very pleasant and the children want to please someone. This is the best motivation.

Where to start painting a portrait? The first steps

To learn how to paint a portrait, you need to move from simple to complex. The human head in the picture has everything three angles: full face, profile and half turn... First, you should try to learn how to correctly depict a person's face from the side. After that, it will become much easier to write it in full face.

It is worth remembering that the faces of men and women are slightly different. When drawing a portrait of a man, you should use more hard, clear lines. In the portrait of a woman, one should abandon them, preferring softer, smoother and more feminine ones.

First, you should draw the frame of the future portrait with a pencil. Show the shape of the head, the approximate distance between the chin and the back of the head, the distance between the eyes. At the same time, do not forget and about scale, proportions and other measurements of the face. The strokes of the pencil must be made thin and light so that they can be corrected at any time.

After it turned out to draw the basis of the future portrait, you should start depicting facial features. In order not to get a distorted image, you need to constantly check the drawing and the model.

As soon as the different parts of the face are marked in stages, those parts that protrude should be highlighted, namely forehead, cheekbones, chin... In general, you should pay attention to the features of a person's face and try to convey them. Whether it's the thickness of the lips, the height of the forehead or the location of the eyes.

The hairstyle should be given special attention, because it is a component of the image, style and perception of a person. You need to draw it with long strokes, darkening the hair at the roots, thereby giving it volume.

To complete the drawing, you need to erase the extra wireframe lines and start working on the details. Skin, hair, shadows and light... All this should be conveyed in the drawing with a pencil. This will help pencil strokes, which when pressed become lighter or darker. The background must be painted. with dark strokes, pressing on a pencil... This must be done so that the person stands out and is in the foreground. You should pay attention to the individual characteristics, the zest of a person and convey them on paper.

Portrait painters have golden rules for face painting, called the benchmark:

• the line of the eyes is a segment in the middle between the top of the head and the chin;
• the line of the nose runs between the eyebrows and to the chin;
• the segment between the nose and the lips is divided into three parts: on the lower line of the upper part there will be the beginning of the lips;
• the head should also be divided into three equal parts, the uppermost will indicate the hairline, the middle - the eyebrows, and the lower - the nose.

How to draw eyes?

Drawing eyes should be given special attention, since they are a mirror of the soul and are very important when depicting a person. Where to start:

• draw two ovals;
• inside them there are two more - the iris and the pupil;
• draw eyelashes, not with straight sticks, but arched from the eyelid to the eyebrows, thicker at the corners and short at the beginning;
• hatch so that the edges of the iris are darkened, and highlights are indicated on the pupil.

Pencil portrait

Drawing lessons on the Internet

In the modern world, even if a person has not studied drawing in an art studio and is a very beginning artist, all is not lost for him. Indeed, in the age of the Internet, many artists are completely free of charge. post drawing lessons on the net... Step-by-step photos showing each step, training videos. All this will help you master the skill and learn how to paint beautiful portraits. One has only to find an appropriate video or blog and then even beginners will start to get beautiful pictures.

No matter how interesting and useful the article is, not everyone is able to perceive what is written with ease, for many it will be easier to see than to read and try to understand on their own. Drawing from the tutorial will be quite simple and fun.

It is worth remembering that a real artist is one who cannot imagine his life without drawing and holds a pencil in his hands every day!

The sheet of material is fixed with buttons to the tablet, which is a sheet of plywood nailed to a wooden frame. The tablet attaches to the stretcher at a 45 degree angle. You've probably seen how artists hold a pencil. This is exactly how it should be held (not at all like when writing). In this case, it will be very convenient to apply strokes on the paper fixed in this position.

Step 1. Exploring the proportions

First you need to learn a little about the proportions of the human head. At first glance at the face, the eyes appear to be at the top of the human skull. However, it is not. The eyes are located approximately in the middle of the skull. And the feeling that they are in the upper part of the face is created by an overload of small details of the lower part.

Step 2. Constructing a person's face

Here is a blank sheet of paper in front of you. Two lines are drawn on it with a pencil - vertical and horizontal. It turns out a cross ... The eyes will be drawn along the horizontal line, and the nose along the vertical line.
Thus, the face is divided by lines into 3 equal parts, starting from hair growth and ending with the chin. When thinking about how to draw a portrait of a person, it should be borne in mind that the face is rarely drawn from the front.
Although, if you are drawing for the first time, then better to draw and full face in order to learn how to mark distances correctly. And already the next stage of training will be drawing a human face in half a turn. To do this, you only need to make the straight lines slightly convex.

Step 3. Elaboration of details, specification of the drawing

Starting from the indicated lines, the contours of the eyes, nose, lips and ears are outlined. Here, special attention is paid to the shape of these parts of the face of the person you are drawing. After all the eyes can be round or elongated. The nose is wide or narrow.The lips are full or thin and the ears are flattened or protruding. All this must be taken into account when working out the details. After all, the portrait should look like a person.