Charcoal Drawing--Selft Portrait

Goat Whisperer

Well-Known Member
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I spent 6 hours on this today. It's really not that good, the reason it took so long, was that hair is impossible to draw with charcoal, I probably spent 3 hours drawing the hair alone--and I am happy that it looks semi-ok rather then shit, because that's what hair has looked like in the past!

DSC_00022.jpg
 
Nice! Good texturing on the hair and the hands.

Just a hint from someone who's been drawing with charcoal, chalk and conte since he was your age -- use a heavy tooth paper, and get a can of fixative (Aqua Net will do too) to "fix" areas, where the charcoal won't smudge so bad. Aqua Net or a "workable" fixative can be drawn over, too. Perhaps that will frustrate you less? I don't know why you would be, you seem to do quite well with the medium.

tim :eek
 
Nice! Good texturing on the hair and the hands.

Just a hint from someone who's been drawing with charcoal, chalk and conte since he was your age -- use a heavy tooth paper, and get a can of fixative (Aqua Net will do too) to "fix" areas, where the charcoal won't smudge so bad. Aqua Net or a "workable" fixative can be drawn over, too. Perhaps that will frustrate you less? I don't know why you would be, you seem to do quite well with the medium.

tim :eek

Thanks! I need the fixative, my school ordered some I was going to use, and thanks so much for the tip on the paper, I'll definitely pick up some when I go to replace my dark colored charcoal, which is quickly dwindling, to overuse :D
 
Aqua Net's cheaper for a workable fixative, and when you're done you can go over it with a clear lacquer (make sure it's non-yellowing) to seal it. Just be sure you're done before you do that, though.

The tooth on the paper should be something like a paper grocery sack in feel.

Again, nice work!

tim :eek
 
That reminds me of a project I'd planned on trying but hadn't gotten to yet -- stretching a stretchy fabric on a canvas frame, soaking it in plaster and pressing face and hands through, so it looked like a figure trying to escape the canvas.

tim :eek
 
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