Portrait sketch

[PaintBoss]

Going through my sketchbook i found this drawing from 2011 of the actress Deborah Ann Woll, from the series TrueBlood.
I don’t have a lot of sketchbooks of work. Sometimes I had just scribbled in them or tried a few ideas, or try to figure out something. Or in this case, practise working from sight only to build up skill. Seeing how well i could see and render a subject. Does it work? Is it in proportion, use of line etc.

 

[snoball]

Excellent! Well done.

 

[Enyaw]

Works for me. Beautiful.

 

[PaintBoss]

Thank you friends.

 

[joe1It]

it's a beautiful portrait, I recognize the actress, you captured her, I recognize her as one of the protagonists of Daredevil, I didn't happen to follow Trublood but I had followed every episode of Daredevil and Jessica Jons.

out of curiosity, the size of the paper was a4, a5? years ago I bought some notebooks but then I have a couple of a5 ones that I started using and a4 ones that I have yet to start,
I had bought these notebooks years ago perhaps when I had a low price or offer but then I hadn't used them anyway and I started drawing when I took sheets from reams of printer paper. they are comfortable, now I have started using them more in the last 3 years, especially at 5

 

[PaintBoss]

Hi and thank you Joe. I’m glad you recognized her. I haven’t followed her afterwards, but she seems to be doing well in her career.
The size is A4 or 8.5x 11 inches. She only takes up part of the page. It is not a large portrait.

 

[Donna T]

Very nice! I especially like how you did her hair because it’s so believable.

 

[PaintBoss]

Thank you very much Donna. I had an art school instructor tell us first thing do not draw every strand of hair. When we first learn to draw, we all do that. Unless you want to be photo realistic, some people do amazing work like that. You want to imply hair. So it’s drawing and blending and leaving a little bit for highlight. And then going in over some of the blocked in areas with an eraser as well imply hair. And of course, there is a bit of variation in most hair or lighting so you don’t want just to do a monotone. If you take a pencil and heavily go in with details with every strand, it can really pull focus away from the face. Another interesting thing to do which I did not do here, but I have done another pieces, a suggestion from art instructors, is to go more high focus in the centre of the face. The eyes and nose and the mouth. less focus and less detail as you go further out. This way, the hair is not competing and has the same strength as the eyes. And it’s a marvellous tip. Besides that is how our eyes see!

 

[joe1It]

PaintBoss,thanks very much.
Yes ,wonderful job and yes,Deborah Ann Woll,
yes, in the Daredevil series she had a main role, it's nice, I forgot another series, the Punisher. spin off of daredevil, perhaps even nicer spin off where she takes on the same character.

 

[Artyczar]

Great job! I loved that show and you captured her perfectly, and it looks right on!

 

[PaintBoss]

Thanks Arty!