Realistic Self Portrait

Purpose:

To use the correct facial proportions to draw yourself as accurately as you can;

To draw the individual features, eyes, nose, mouth in a convincing 3D way;

To use graphite and a stomp to show value changes and dimension.

My pre-instructional portrait is small, poorly shaded, and overall does not resemble me at all. The difference between the two is clear and I definitely learned a lot between the first drawing and the second. I learned how to shade and add value more naturally instead of blocky lines like in the first one. To do this, I used 2H, 4B and 6B pencils and applied different pressures and angles when using them.  Another thing I learned during the unit is how to draw from a reference. When drawing the pre-instructional portrait, I did have a reference because I was looking in the mirror, but I struggled to capture what I saw in the mirror and translate it onto the page.  By taking my time and using the grid method, I was able to capture a stronger likeness than the first portrait. Finally, I learned to draw more accurate proportions. In the initial drawing, the shoulders are too small compared to the head, the nose is too small compared to the eyes, and the drawing doesn't take up the whole page. In my final portrait, the proportions of the face are improved. The nose is bigger, and the lips are wider. The entire page is used as well.