Realistic Portrait Pencil drawing - A Step Towards Achieving My Goal

Having created this realistic pencil drawing, I believe it is a step towards achieving my long term goal of creating a human-face like work with pencil.

For a couple of years now, I have been using pen more frequently which is favourite medium. I used to spend much of my time working with that medium without putting much attention to pencil works. And my pencil works are not that good as I had wanted them though non-artists would appreciate it a lot.

However, I know fully well that I haven't reached that level I desired to and I haven't sacrificed much time to practice pencil works in order to get the job well done.

So I made up my mide to put more effort. I would have done this work with pen, instead I opted for pencil. No I don't regret the decision I took.

• Below are my development processes

Step 1

I skeched out my model with the help of grid lines using mechanical pencil. I took time to observe the work carefully before I proceeded to the main work

Step 2

I worked from the left side of the work to the right side by adding tones and values.

Here, I first shaded it with mechanical pencil, blended it and overlayed it with 4B pencil. Thereafter, I used 8B pencil to make it a little bit darker.

I used this process for other areas that have the same texture and tone.

Step 3

The above process was used here. However, for the eyes and eyelashes, I applied 12B to make it look very dark.

The introduction of eyes, nose and mouth made the work appear real.

Step 4

Initially I was considering using charcoal pencil for his suit though they stains and could destruct works when not properly applied.

But I used it and it came out perfectly as I had wanted.

Step 5

Finally I made a background for it. I faded the side close to my model and darkened the sides farther away from him.

Thank you for stopping by. I welcome anf appreciate all comments and suggestions.