Portraiture – Wrinkles – The Creative Life

I have been learning how to create wrinkles using cross hatching techniques. It’s through a Sktchy course called, Faces with France: Wrinkles.

I am absolutely loving this class. Here’s what I’ve done so far…

This one was done with a Bic pen on cream acid free paper. I loved seeing it come together and took some progress shots to show you.

It’s a little scary putting ink down on paper cause you have to be happy with whatever marks are made and move on. For me, crosshatching in ink is a lot like using watercolour. If you make a mistake, you need to embrace it as a happy one.

Here are another couple of pieces I’ve done in 2B and 8B graphite pencil.

This one was focusing on capturing wrinkles, light and shade and creating volume but not going into the whole face. This was my first attempt at capturing wrinkles.

Here’s the second one.

I didn’t focus on the beard cause this class was all about the wrinkles. I’m so happy with this piece and in time I might spend more hours developing the hair or better still, I might have another go at drawing this guy with the beard in full.

Here’s some progress shots of the above piece coming together from initial sketch with one eye done through to developing the second eye.

I’m very much looking forward to seeing how this technique develops over time as I get more practice hours ‘under my belt’ and make it my own.

I’m also loving how I have finally been able to get the whole person on the page. I used to struggle with keeping the person inside the page and no matter what I did I couldn’t seem to draw within the boundaries. But lately something has clicked and now I can do it. I think it’s got a lot to do with learning how to measure and use anchor points to place each part on the page. Anyway I am celebrating.

I’ve also been focusing on my Redbubble shop and added some of my art to the products available to buy. It’s a bit of a challenge for me as I am not (yet) a digital artist and not very familiar with out to erase the backgrounds and enhance my artwork, but I will get there. I’ve got plans to keep learning and playing.

Yesterday, I figured out how to turn this cute little blue teddy bear into art for my Redbubble shop. Check it out if you’re interested or go to my shop to see the other items.

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