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Burning butterflies
By imclod
Fairy-tale. Peppered with a bit of feelings.
paper: A3 190gsm smooth
tools: H,HB,B,3B,5B,8B pencils, blending stump, kneadable eraser, q-tips
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I tried a new technique for the hair, mostly based on negative space and sort of "searching" for loose strands of hair. I wanted a lot of bright fly-away hair (windy days are fun), so creating them by erasing was a no-go (like I often do, when I want just a few of them).
I also didn't held on to the reference much; it was more adventurous that way.
The freckles took a lot of touch-ups with blending stump and H/HB pencils. I actually remember getting hypnotized by them; now isn't that fun, is it.
Probably my best work so far, methinks.
paper: A3 190gsm smooth
tools: H,HB,B,3B,5B,8B pencils, blending stump, kneadable eraser, q-tips
references by


I tried a new technique for the hair, mostly based on negative space and sort of "searching" for loose strands of hair. I wanted a lot of bright fly-away hair (windy days are fun), so creating them by erasing was a no-go (like I often do, when I want just a few of them).
I also didn't held on to the reference much; it was more adventurous that way.
The freckles took a lot of touch-ups with blending stump and H/HB pencils. I actually remember getting hypnotized by them; now isn't that fun, is it.
Probably my best work so far, methinks.
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© 2013 - 2021 imclod
Comments30
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I like the work a lot. There is some good feeling to it. The hair certainly works in dimension and in flow. The strands though, on the left side are all white. In each strand, there is a minor shadow that is cast right beneath, that flows over within the dark parts of the single hair and back again. Erase the strand, guide it half with a mechanic and color with a very hard pencil to create flow and local play. Take note of how the light should fall; this way it is rather confusing. Now my next crits will be homed towards understanding.
As you've said you didn't work from the ref a lot. That means most comes down towards what you think is real, based on your remembered knowledge on how things look for real, hence the intellectual realism. The proportions are believable, but you miss a part of subtlety. For one you've contrasted the freckles quite a bit and very distinct. Remind that freckles are in the skin, not on top. It involves some subtle shadings around it; dissolve shading, match it with the surrounding shade taint. It is apparent that you use almost one tone for almost the entire face. There are more definitions and dare to exaggerate and buffer it at the same time. You also drew a hard texture that is flowed one direction too much (due southwest is predominant). It makes the womans skin texture rough. Chaos it out more. Just like the freckles are in reallife differ in size and shape. Here they are just dots with some a comma to the southwest. Dim them down and chaos it out by creating more play. You can loose a bit porosity-detail and make your portrait less "black-head pimple".
In summation a very good drawing and a good radiance of life and that remains the most important!

The ones over the background? Negative drawing mostly, I drew the background around the places I wanted the strands to be. It requires a bit of planning ahead. Also, you can use a kneaded eraser (they are cool) - draw a light grey background, form a sharp edge on the eraser and push it around the grey surface area lightly. Works pretty well, though you may want to refine the edges of the strand with a hard pencil.
You will find your way
It's fun. Good luck!
You will find your way


Nestraš, jak budem opadaný vyzerať!
Neviem, nevyzeráš, rastieš (plus mínus makeup a tak).
Jasně že hej. Je tak k neuvereniu, že nie vždy kecám?
Musíš? Teda! Sa musím viac snažiť.
Btw. náhodou mám Válka - tvorba pre deti. Čo už, niečím začať musím
a btw2: "Musím porozmýšľať" je citát môjho brata. Musel som sa smiať, keď mi to došlo.
Neviem, nevyzeráš, rastieš (plus mínus makeup a tak).
Jasně že hej. Je tak k neuvereniu, že nie vždy kecám?

Musíš? Teda! Sa musím viac snažiť.
Btw. náhodou mám Válka - tvorba pre deti. Čo už, niečím začať musím

a btw2: "Musím porozmýšľať" je citát môjho brata. Musel som sa smiať, keď mi to došlo.
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