Help with pencil drawings

[Encore]

Hi, I've been trying to practice my drawing and I think I suck at it so I'd love to hear some tips and criticism if you have any... Unfortunately deviantART is completely useless for this purpose. :(
This is my latest, it's suposed to be Chris Evans. What do you think??

http://shadowzone.com.sapo.pt/myworks/Chris.jpg

[TR93]

Why would you need help.
I think that is awesome!!!!!!!!

[Encore]

Thanks :o I think I don't manage very well with the darker parts of the drawing... I was wondering if there's any special technique for making black parts with pencils..

[tampi]

I think that those strokes make the drawing with your personality. ;):)
I can guess that you would like to draw a picture of those with no guessed the pencil lines. Something very soft and blurred.
Such drawings seem perfect to me and made with a great technique, but I think they are a bit "impersonal".
I suppose that the technique is to be absolutely meticulous and gentle with the stroke. Having a great and nice pulse. Be very careful.
These are not my main features, btw :o
I think, Encore, you can try to draw something with this technique for your personal satisfaction, but then you'll "kill" the freshness of your own style.
I'm speaking several ( a lot of them) rungs below you. :o:wve:

[NightWish]

I think it looks great! just a bit unfinished. Try softening the flow of the shadows :) need a bit mor etime on it and it would be perfect

[Dark Lugia 2]

It looks like you got your own style there :D typical pencil drawings have the shaded parts blended in so it looks smooth, with tissues or something like that. And about the black parts,m I think theyre fine but if you really want black, I dunno if its a sensible thing to do with pecil drawings, but you could use charcoal sticks

Thats all I can possibly think that you'd like to hear about improving (which I think you dont even need! :p ), I myself find that drawing like, amazing. :D

[Encore]

Thanks for all your opinions guys :hug:

I'd never thought of it that way (that this adds a more personal touch)

I think I'll try making it smoother between shades in my next drawing like you suggest. We'll see how it comes out and if this is more "unique".

[domina]

Whoa, whoa, whoa. No no. You do not suck at all. I would kill to be able to draw like that - I've always loved seeing the pencil strokes in a drawing or sketch, and I've never been able to replicate that.

Don't start blending things if you've got such a rich style. Honestly, even though I think blended pictures can be beautiful and still retain personality, they do lack something that your drawing has. I can't tell you how many art teachers I've had that would love you because they believe that blending is a cop-out.

You've got talent. Build on what you've got rather than what you think you should have. This look is perfect for transcending media and subject matters.

[dream raider]

This is really beautiful! I have never seen such style in art ever before! Very original! I love his expression as well. Well done!!

[Sweets]

I think your doing great, how long have you been drawing? You should check out wetcanvas, it's the worlds biggest art forum and everyone there is very nice and helpful.

[TRLegendLuver]

I really find nothing wrong with the picture at all what-so-ever. Its great. If you want to make your shading pop, do this.
http://i29.tinypic.com/oh8m7d.jpg
Make the dark really really noticable. and then usde the tip of your eraser and gently brush it against the graphite on your paper, then take your finger and kinda smudge it where you want a light shadowing.
Really, is amazing. The advice on the shadowing wasn't a critique just advice. Because you don't need any critique on this picture. It's really good. :)

[Bumio]

u dont suck ;)

and those dark parts are fine :)
ill try to give u some criticism.. :o
well firstly, there are too much details. when drawing, dont just blindly copy every detail u see. not all details are important. if, for example, u want to point out only the face, there is no need to make clothes, hair and ear that detailed. or point them with such dark lines..
also i've noticed that the light isnt smoothly blending to a shadow. u just finish the blending with a line
http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd187/velvetolio/Chrisll.jpg
its not bad, and it might become a part of ur own drawing style in the future. but for now, as u are still learning, i suggest to get rid of it.
next thing, when drawing always think which parts of the face are closer to u. in ur drawing, nose, eyebrows and chin are closer. meaning they should be more detailed and pointed with a bit darker lines under them.
and finally, ur sketch lines. it is not always needed to draw extremely realistic, or to blend all lines. but as my lecturer says "every portrait, even if its drawn only with a pencil, has a skin tone" :p some parts should be blended, like the cheek and chin. in order to add more "life" to ur drawing.
well there is much more i could add, but its just too much to write. i suggest u to draw not only from photos, but more a real people, ur family maybe? because in photos.. well the lighting, shadowing, everything is already prepared, all u do is "blindly" copy everything. that isnt bad of course, but u will gain more practice when u will gonna have to solve the shadowing and lighting problem urself :)
u have a talent, all u need now is more practice. hope i was helpful :pi:

[Ilves]

It's a great piece, Encore! Your touch is bold and expressive, a quality that I think scores point over polished, photorealistic renderings. Can't wait to see more of your work! :tmb:

[tampi]

:o I dont think he is still learning. He is a fantastic painter:confused:
This is a bit like Apofiss thread. All of us want to do better the best. That it's the only reason for say something on this drawing :o
I don't say this only for you, Bumio. ( you don't think it) you are one best too ;)
Possibly he made this drawing in 20 minutes....... :whi::cool:

[matrix54]

looks fine to me, in fact, great!! my art teacher would love you!! (and my art teacer is a actual artist, not just a teacher:jmp:)

[Bumio]

:o I dont think he is still learning. He is a fantastic painter:confused:
This is a bit like Apofiss thread. All of us want to do better the best. That it's the only reason for say something on this drawing :o
I don't say this only for you, Bumio. ( you don't think it) you are one best too ;)
Possibly he made this drawing in 20 minutes....... :whi::cool:
well if she isnt learning, she wouldnt make a thread asking for some help :p

thank u though, but im not the best ;)

[Encore]

I think your doing great, how long have you been drawing? You should check out wetcanvas, it's the worlds biggest art forum and everyone there is very nice and helpful.

Never heard of it!! Gonna check it out, thanks :tmb:

I really find nothing wrong with the picture at all what-so-ever. Its great. If you want to make your shading pop, do this.
http://i29.tinypic.com/oh8m7d.jpg
Make the dark really really noticable. and then usde the tip of your eraser and gently brush it against the graphite on your paper, then take your finger and kinda smudge it where you want a light shadowing.

Thanks for the tip :)

u dont suck ;)

and those dark parts are fine :)
ill try to give u some criticism.. :o
well firstly, there are too much details. when drawing, dont just blindly copy every detail u see. not all details are important. if, for example, u want to point out only the face, there is no need to make clothes, hair and ear that detailed. or point them with such dark lines..
also i've noticed that the light isnt smoothly blending to a shadow. u just finish the blending with a line
http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd187/velvetolio/Chrisll.jpg
its not bad, and it might become a part of ur own drawing style in the future. but for now, as u are still learning, i suggest to get rid of it.
next thing, when drawing always think which parts of the face are closer to u. in ur drawing, nose, eyebrows and chin are closer. meaning they should be more detailed and pointed with a bit darker lines under them.
and finally, ur sketch lines. it is not always needed to draw extremely realistic, or to blend all lines. but as my lecturer says "every portrait, even if its drawn only with a pencil, has a skin tone" :p some parts should be blended, like the cheek and chin. in order to add more "life" to ur drawing.
well there is much more i could add, but its just too much to write. i suggest u to draw not only from photos, but more a real people, ur family maybe? because in photos.. well the lighting, shadowing, everything is already prepared, all u do is "blindly" copy everything. that isnt bad of course, but u will gain more practice when u will gonna have to solve the shadowing and lighting problem urself :)
u have a talent, all u need now is more practice. hope i was helpful :pi:

Thank you so much for all the advice :hug: The lines seperating the lighter parts are a consequence of me doing a lot more acrylic paintings in expressive style, than realistic drawings. I'll take your tips on blending into account. However I must say I don't like the perfect smooth blending very much it can give a uniform look and discard the little curves of the skin. :)

I seriously doubt drawing from a photo is considered a blind copy, when the subject is portrait. ;) Many beautiful works of art can be found in the drawing section of deviantART, that were drawn from photos, and the fact that I'm here asking for advice just shows it's not an easy task.
If the subject is human figure in itself and not necessarily a portrait, you're right, drawing from life is more useful, but right now I'm aiming at portraits mostly.

:o I dont think he is still learning. He is a fantastic painter:confused:
This is a bit like Apofiss thread. All of us want to do better the best. That it's the only reason for say something on this drawing :o
I don't say this only for you, Bumio. ( you don't think it) you are one best too ;)
Possibly he made this drawing in 20 minutes....... :whi::cool:

Thanks.. :o But the truth is I'm much better at painting than at drawing. I've been painting for YEARS, but in those years I hardly ever did a serious pencil drawing. :( I'm not exactly a complete amateur but I do need practice.

[xXhayleyroxXx]

I really find nothing wrong with the picture at all what-so-ever. Its great. If you want to make your shading pop, do this.
http://i29.tinypic.com/oh8m7d.jpg
Make the dark really really noticable. and then usde the tip of your eraser and gently brush it against the graphite on your paper, then take your finger and kinda smudge it where you want a light shadowing.
Really, is amazing. The advice on the shadowing wasn't a critique just advice. Because you don't need any critique on this picture. It's really good. :)

i do that :) and i always leave a little tiny white line where i am putting two dark shades together so you can still see the drawing clearly