Portrait Drawing Step-by-Step

Here is a portrait drawing from a live model that was done at Patris Studio and Gallery. In the first photo below, you can see my drawing setup with the model. Below I show the steps I took to arrive at the final drawing.

First sitting: Initial Lay-in: The likeness and proportions are slightly off, so I will redraw before adding any tone. The key to accurate portraiture is to spend a lot of time on these initial stages of the drawing. Build a solid construction from the start. Keep checking proportions and angles.

Second sitting - Redrawing: I redraw and correct my proportions and construction. If I am not getting a likeness at this point in the drawing, I may start over. But today, I think I am getting closer to the likeness.

Third sitting - Redrawing/Block in shadows: I am taking all the way to the third sitting before I begin to block in shadows. I am finally satisfied with the proportions and construction. I know from experience that if the proportions or construction are not working now, I will only waste energy later.

Forth Sitting - Redrawing/Refinement: Now I begin to tighten down the drawing, making smaller adjustments to edges and shadow shapes, and refining the features.

5th and 6th sittings - Rendering: With solid under-drawing and shadows accurately blocked in, the rendering actually begins to move quickly. If you have done the early stages properly, the values will more or less fall into place, and it becomes a matter of comparing one value to another and adjusting edges (softer or sharper).

Final sitting - Refinement: Now the clock is running out and I must make whatever decisions I can to bring this to some kind of resolution. I look for edges that need to be softened or sharpened, and shapes that need adjustment. I also add highlights with white pastel. I feel I may have over-worked the highlights here, but this is just practice - I must make these mistakes in order to make progress. The point is to learn from the experience and take what you learn forward into the next drawing.