Peaceful Reflection (Graphite Portrait)

[pearlwater]

Hello! I'm a new member here. Just wanted to share my latest drawing with you. It was drawn with pencils on plain printer paper for about a month. If you'd like you could see all the process on my DA page here (http://ellekazan.deviantart.com/)

[oDaYWaLKeRo]

Stunning! You did a great job here.

[digital_zombie]

Very nice pencil rendering. I love the detail in the eye area.

One crit here, her collar bone looks a bit like a large vein. The thickness and the way it kinda wriggles over and down looks a little odd.

Overall good job!

[danielh13]

I love it!!! it looks like it is raining and the area above her forehead is a break in the clouds. I am not certain if that is what you intendid but I like to perceive it that way. It has a lot of emotion, good job.

[LORD M]

Nicely nice nice. A++++ work.

Looks very photo-realistic.

[Presence]

I have to agree with everyone so far, simply gorgeous.

[FlameDragon]

Outstanding!!

[stalsby]

That's a really nice portrait! I like how you handled the graphite, it looks like you didn't completely press down your darkest darks and managed to avoid the annoying reflective qualities of graphite. Good job!

[al_rio_art]

Amazing job.
Who is the model?

[pearlwater]

Thank you for your warm comments!:^^:

danielh13 - Raining? Yeah, one person already mentioned this to me but clouds? That is really such beautiful interpretation. I did not expect that. When I sort of went with vertical strokes and the texture of paper took over, I thought of it as more of a fine wood texture.
stalsby - Well, it is glowing but I’m glad the scanner did not picked up that flaw (though it looks kind of good in real life) in my previous drawing "Classical Beauty" (http://ellekazan.deviantart.com/art/Classical-Beauty-59853276) it was a little more problematic.
al_rio_art - And the model is a beautiful russian singer Alsou [alsoo like soon] She is my favorite singer and my inspiration. (youtube video "Always on my mind" (mind for those who dont know her) for those who don't know her)

[Randis]

dont try to copy a photography, try to understand the shapes, lighting and shadows.
you have a very clean work here and it one can see there is much effort but the use of strikes and values is rather stiff. the bright aria on her shoulder where the skin is not covered in shadow pops out like a snake.
Do not limit yourself, this clearly looks like some student approach, it is detailed but lacks any form of dynamic and artistic beauty. Reproductions should not be the only goal, skill is to draw more with less strokes and not to mimic what a printer does.

Try to find a harmony of your stroke directions and the forms you draw. learn how to draw materials, how to draw a piece of wood or silk, cotton and so on.
Also aim for cleaner work, use cotton gloves. there is nothing more terrible than dirty white arias where you smeared your pencil work.

cheers
Randis

[AztcFireFlower]

I like this drawing alot. I think this is a great study of tonal work and being able to see and differentiate values is a skill all artists need to do well. You present that skill nicely. Keep developing your skills. Eventually your strokes may change, especially if you study master artists and your experience expands.
In any case, nice work.

[BlondieUK]

Wow!

This is the first thread I've opened since joining and I'm blown away,

Not to detract from the comments of others (besides I'm no-one to criticise, being a musician rather than a traditional artist) but I love the details, especially the eye area and the skin at the hairline, it's beautiful!

The only thing that strikes me as slightly off is the background.. I find it hard to identify with.. wall? rain?.. it's a great background but I'm not sure exactly what it is you're going for there.. but again, what do I know =)

Thankyou for uploading this

B.

[JesArt]

VERY VERY VERY GOOD, KEEP IT UP, are you a student ?

[Vinnieart]

Very Nice pencil work!

[Madfishmonger]

That is amazing! Great job.

[Eev]

The face is beautiful :)
I like the realism in it, but I think it would be better without the strokes.
They make it a bit flat because the same pattern is everywhere.
Also the chest looks weird to me, there are no shadows on it.

[Ailime]

That is absolutely STUNNING work !! :yayca: