The next time someone asks you to draw a portrait from a small, poor quality photo, instead of turning down the job, try doing a study first.
What is a study? The Oxford English Dictionary describes it as "An artistic production executed for the sake of acquiring skill or knowledge, or to serve as a preparation for future work; a careful preliminary sketch for a work of art, or (more usually) for some detail or portion of it...
aiming to bring out the characteristics of the object represented, as they are revealed by especially careful observation.
" (definition 10a) I have found that the times when I needed to resort to a study, it was due to a low-resolution photo.
Of course it's always ideal to get a beautiful studio photo, but many times the person requesting to have a portrait drawn will only have a poor-quality photo of their loved one to work from.
First get the portrait laid out on the drawing paper, then begin adding details.
This will help you to know what specifically you need to study and gather more details on.
When you can go no further as far as detail work, then begin on the study.
I.
Blow up the size of the features that are giving you trouble.
Once you have an outline of the features, begin your study.
Keep going until you feel confident that you can proceed with the actual portrait.
IV.
As you complete the portrait, keep the study handy as a reference.
Hopefully this will help.
I wish you luck in all of your endeavors.
What is a study? The Oxford English Dictionary describes it as "An artistic production executed for the sake of acquiring skill or knowledge, or to serve as a preparation for future work; a careful preliminary sketch for a work of art, or (more usually) for some detail or portion of it...
aiming to bring out the characteristics of the object represented, as they are revealed by especially careful observation.
" (definition 10a) I have found that the times when I needed to resort to a study, it was due to a low-resolution photo.
Of course it's always ideal to get a beautiful studio photo, but many times the person requesting to have a portrait drawn will only have a poor-quality photo of their loved one to work from.
First get the portrait laid out on the drawing paper, then begin adding details.
This will help you to know what specifically you need to study and gather more details on.
When you can go no further as far as detail work, then begin on the study.
I.
Blow up the size of the features that are giving you trouble.
- How big? On an 8-1/2 x 11 page, I fill it up with whatever features I'm studying.
- The most accurate way to blow up an image is with a grid.
For examples of how to use a grid, search for "draw with a grid" using your favorite search engine. - If you have the talent and skill, simply eyeball it and sketch an over-sized version.
Once you have an outline of the features, begin your study.
- Look for similar examples of the image, only in high resolution.
- Go to a good mirror and look at your own eyes, or whatever feature you are studying.
- Take a close-up picture of a friend who will allow it, then study it and take whatever is helpful from it and add it to the study you are drawing.
Keep going until you feel confident that you can proceed with the actual portrait.
IV.
As you complete the portrait, keep the study handy as a reference.
Hopefully this will help.
I wish you luck in all of your endeavors.
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