About Black and White Portraits
Portraits
drawn with Graphite and Charcoal Pencils
I
draw realistic graphite and charcoal pencil portraits
from your favorite photos. My specialty is creating
detailed portraits of people, pets, vehicles and
more. Pencil portraits can be commissioned in a
variety of sizes. Special requests are welcome.
You have many options to choose from, including
having text (such as name or date) hand drawn on
your portrait. I
have been drawing graphite portraits for several
years, and will create a beautiful gift your family
will treasure. Your portrait can be created from
one photo, or subjects from 2 or more photos can
be combined to create a single pencil portrait.
You may choose a white background, a hand drawn
background (from the photo, or another source),
or have the background shaded to your specifications.
Many paper sizes are available for you to choose
from: 6x8, 9x12, 11x14, 14x17, 16x20,
and 18x24.
Quality
Materials
All
pencil portraits are drawn with artist's quality
graphite pencils (General's or Derwent) on Strathmore
smooth finish, 2-ply Bristol paper. This paper is
true white, and thick so it resists creasing. It
is also acid free so it resists yellowing.
Creative
Process
I
like to create a wide range of tones in my drawings.
I feel capturing the true tonal value of a subject
(the blackest blacks, the whitest whites, and all
the shades in between) enhances the realism of my
portraits. To achieve a good contrast of tones I use
many grades of artist quality graphite pencils including:
2H (lightest), HB, 2B, 4B, 6B, 8B (darkest). I also
use a dark powdered graphite for some drawings. I
incorporate charcoal in my drawings to add dimension
to the shadows and create textures.
It
takes several hours to complete these detailed drawings.
Usually I work on a portrait over several days, a
small section at a time. I normally begin by establishing
the darkest values.
I
find it helpful to step away from a portrait occasionally.
When I return to it, I see the drawing fresh, and
can make any needed adjustments. This process is time
consuming, but well worth it. Making these many small
changes over a few days allows me to create very realistic
pencil portraits. Please plan ahead and order early
for your next special event.
Will
my Pencil Portrait last?
Yes,
if treated with care, pencil portraits will stand
the test of time. Here are a few guidelines to follow:
- Always
handle them with care, touching only the edges
of the paper. The oils in your skin can effect
the paper, and touching a pencil portrait directly
may cause smudging.
- Keep
your portrait from direct sunlight, humidity and
water. Always keep your portrait in a climate
controlled environment. Humidity and moisture
can severely damage the paper, causing wrinkling
and discoloration.
- Store
flat, not rolled.
- Make
sure anything touching the paper in the frame,
such as the mat or cardboard backing, is made
from archival safe, acid free material.
It's
nice to note that pencil drawings from great artists
such as Leonardo Divnici have lasted many years
and are still enjoyed.
