charcoal, 3 hour pose

Gabbie

Charcoal, 3 hour pose

I'm finding I have favored drawing tools - medium Nitram charcoal, conte crayon 2B, a soft charcoal pencil, a kneaded and hard eraser, a stump, and especially - my fingers. Thanks to all those who have teased me about using cheap paper - I've been using better quality paper the last few sessions and I can tell the difference. The Nitram charcoal goes on like butter and is less likely to lift off if slightly touched. Something is to be said about using quality materials.

soft edges

Charcoal, 3 hr pose

I've been trying to soften edges of what I draw and to say more with less detail. At one point, the cheek was undefined but still understood. I kept drawing what I saw and eventually the details filled in. Knowing when to stop is a challenge especially when capturing a likeness. I admire artists who know how to make each mark meaningful without overdoing the image with details. Areas may be gradated or completely lost, but our eyes fill in the details so the subject seem complete. Every week I hope to get closer to this goal.

Pencil drawing

Pencil