This portrait sketch was done from a WetCanvas reference library photo of a Civil War reenactor.
The photo had very dark shadows, almost a graphic quality to them. Actually, as a photo, it was very reminiscent of Civil War era photographs - although it was in color. I went back and forth on whether or not to portray the shadows as great expanses of unvaried darkness. I couldn't quite bring myself to do it.
The man had a very interesting face - his eyes were quite different from each other and the expression in his lips was very intriguing. Didn't quite do justice to those things, but I continue to learn.
I'm definitely learning the necessity of slowing down, measuring twice and cutting once, and stopping to look away or take a short break. I really like working with the different colored pencils - I almost do an underpainting in one color, then add in the other two to darken values. Oh, and I learned you need to measure everything - not just the face - had to draw that hat twice!
