A Sketch Blog Recording my Attempts to Render Pretty Feminine Faces in Pencil with Occasional Use of Charcoal, Crayon, and other Artistic Media

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• [October, 2006]
• September, 2006
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Short on time for sketch viewing? See the first 272 (or so) sketches I've posted in a 34 second music video!

Sketch #165

I drew this sketch immediately after the one in the preceding post. As usual, I prefer the second sketch, as I seem to to draw better when I've had a chance to warm up. I do think the nose in yesterday's sketch was better proportioned though, that in today's being a bit on the long side.

Ted

Sketch #164

Well, it seems I have definitely gravitated towards the "closed lip" smile as this is the first sketch I've posted this month where the subject shows any teeth. Anyway, I think she looks quite happy this way :)

Ted

Sketch #163

I think the woman in this sketch ended up looking a lot like the one posted yesterday. Perhaps they are sisters.

Ted

Sketch #162

I tried drawing the hair parted towards the subject's left (our right) this time for a change.

Ted

Sketch #161: "In Color!"

I thought this sketch showed some promise, but I just wasn't quite happy with the raw result, so I applied a fair amount of digital enhancement, including adding some color to the hair and eyes.

Ted

Sketch #160

The subject of this sketch ended up with a rather serious expression.

Ted

Sketch #159

I think the nose came out better in this sketch than in the recent ones preceding it, but I do think it could have used a bit more definition.

Ted

Sketch #158

Here's a smiling face to start the week. I usually try to draw a reasonably happy expression. Sometimes I even succeed at it :)

Ted

Sketch #157

If I have not drawn for a couple of days or so, I often find the first sketch (at least) just isn't fit to post. Today was no exception. This is the second sketch of the day. Whatever positive or negative regard you may have towards it, rest assured, it's a lot better than the first :)

Ted

Sketch #156: "Contentment"

I thought the woman in this drawing had a particularly contented expression. Hence the title.

Ted

Sketch #155

I've generally drawn relatively straight hair, but in the sketches of this post and the one before, I thought I would try a curlier (some would even say frizzier) look.

Ted

Sketch #154

I purchased the book The Artist's Complete Guide to Drawing the Head by William L. Maughan last week and used some of the ideas therein during the creation of this sketch and the one in the previous post. The author champions the chiaroscuro method, which is quite different from the "draw lines and apply shading approach". The book contains excellent illustrations and lots of detailed advice on creating realistic likenesses. I look forward to exploring it further.

Ted

Sketch #153

I've usually tried quite hard to clean up the part of the page that does not contain the actual subject of the sketch (with a kneaded eraser), but this time I just let it be. I actually think it looks better this way, as it creates a more interesting background.

Ted

Sketch #152

The woman in this sketch turned out looking a bit bulkier than I had intended. I think the face is a bit too broad, and I should have drawn the neck slightly narrower. Oh well, other than that I don't think she turned out too badly.

Ted

Sketch #151

I went with a somewhat serious expression for the woman in this sketch. I think she looks a bit distracted, perhaps deep in thought.

Ted

Sketch #150

This is the first sketch to which I have added freckles in quite a while. I've been trying to concentrate on little details that add realism.

Ted

Sketch #149

The expression on the woman in this sketch strikes me as "patiently indulgent", as in that of a person listening politely to someone tell a long story on a subject in which she is not especially interested.

Ted

Sketch #148

I went with a rather reserved look for the subject of this sketch, envisioning her attending a formal occasion of some sort.

Ted

Sketch #147: Closeup

I thought I'd try another closeup since. I haven't posted any of those for a while. It gave me a chance to practice my detail work on the eyes (and other features too, but I especially concentrated on the eyes).

Ted

Sketch #146

Whew! I've had mixed feelings about the sketches in my last few posts, but finally I've drawn one I really like. Hopefully the trend will continue :)

Ted

Sketch #145

The woman in this sketch looks a bit sleepy to me. My original idea was that she was winking, but I think she ended up looking more like she was just too tired to open both eyes :)

Ted

Sketch #144

I think I slipped back into my unfortunate habit of drawing the nose too long in this sketch. It's not just a problem of the nose itself - When one draws the nose too long there is a tendency to draw the whole face too long (otherwise the mouth area would get really scrunched).

On a positive note, I think her neck turned out quite well.

Ted