Using a grid program to replicate a photo using pencils

I say to my students and basically anyone else that will listen to me that drawing a person's face is one of the most difficult things to do in art. The complexities of the human face is an extremely difficult thing to master and I believe that this is at least part of the reason why the extremely accurate ones before computer tech existed are some of the most highly regarded paintings of all time.

Even some of the greats when replicating a famous person would get things wrong because this is just such a difficult thing to do. It can be frustrating for students and this is why I recommend that at least at the start of their learning that they use a grid program combined with a tablet or computer to assist them in accomplishing this task.

Here is one of these efforts by a student of mine.

This was the beginning stages and the student wisely erased the grid marks as she went along. Attempting to do so after the fact can prove to be extremely difficult without destroying the work that you have done so I encourage everyone to do this. Once you have the basic outline it is easier to go back and fine tune the work in question.

This is the original picture in question and I think the student did an absolutely magnificent job of it. There was a lot of fine tuning and according to the student who is around 12 years old, it took her 3 days to get to a completed product. It always makes me feel a little bit warm inside when a student completes this work not because it was assigned as I never assign homework, but because they wanted to do it using the methods that I have provide them with.

Here is the completed piece and I have to say that I am quite impressed with her work, especially considering her age and the fact that, according to her, she has never been at all seriously involved with art outside of school classes and her elective attendance to my classes.

If I were to grade this, and there are no grades in my classes - only encouragement and feedback - I would give her an A+.

What do you think?