Step two of Sgt. Weaver 0
I usually shade the forehead first, and this portrait is no exception. By covering a large area with washes of graphite I can begin shaping the head and more importantly, set a value range from which to build. No matter how many portraits I draw, I usually begin too light in my values. Right now I am fairly happy with how dark I have begun, but I may need to come back to this area and deepen the shadows. I am limited to how light I can make my whitest whites by the tone of the paper. Stonehenge is a pretty neutral white with just a touch of cream so to make the badge shine and the teeth appear white, I need to have a deep value range. This is harder than it may seem because the white of the paper against the tones I am building seems too stark. However I have learned to go bold. In addition to the forehead I am also beginning to develop the eyebrow and eye itself. Currently I am just blocking in the eye. Once the other eye is to this stage I’ll refine them to a completed point. The paper laying across the bottom right of the portrait is common copy paper. I am right handed so I use it to shield the portrait from the oils and smudging of my drawing hand.