Western Pencil Art

Drawing generally involves four distinct elements: line, value, texture and shape. In the special case of pencil portrait drawing, we can refine the list of six elements: form, proportion, anatomy, texture, value, and airplanes.

In this article we will give a detailed description of each of these elements drawing pencil portrait.

(1) Shape Shape or Form - The illusion of three dimensions in the drawing and art in general has been the center of Western art since long. The sculpture of the line shape, structure and value was vital for almost all Renaissance art.

In contrast, East and much emphasis on contemporary art flatness of form even though this time contemporary art draws to an end.

All forms of drawing can be reduced to four basic 3-dimensional solid bricks, cones, cylinders and spheres. Proper use of these forms with the perspective and value leads to the illusion of 3-dimension, even if the design is actually located on a piece of paper two-dimensional drawing.

In developing portrait, arabesque skull, square shape of the skull, and all components in the head (nose, eyes, etc.) are all two and three dimensional shapes that add to the illusion entire three-dimensional

(2) Proportion - includes all sizes and locations of form. Proportion refers to the idea of the length and angle relative size.

Proportion provides answers to these questions:

1. Given a unit of length defined, the number of units is a given length?

2. What is the size of the angle given?

The answer to these two questions correctly will each time a drawing with the right proportions and placements of all forms.

(3) Anatomy - refers in fact to the underlying structures of bones and muscles of the skull.

It is important to learn as much as you can about the anatomy. There are many books on the anatomy of the artist. For a portrait, it is very important to study the anatomy of the skull, neck and shoulders.

studies of anatomy, unfortunately include a lot of Latin terms, which makes it somewhat difficult to grasp. The idea is to learn slowly and a few at a time because it can be very frustrating.

(4) Texture - developing portrait expresses the degree of roughness or smoothness of forms. The texture of the skin of a rhinoceros, for example, is very different from that of glass.

There are a few methods and tricks to help you create good textures. The creation of textures gives you the opportunity to be very creative and use all possible types of brand that you can do with a pencil. In textures drawing portraits appear in places such as hair, clothing and skin.

(5) Value - refers to degrees in light or dark pencil marks and hatching. Commander portrait drawings using the full range of contrasting light and shadow. Beginning artists often fail to achieve the full "stretch" value, resulting in retiring, drawings faded.

(6) Airplanes - create the sensitivity of a sculptural portrait. The skull has many each had a single direction, and therefore with a different value.

The idea is to think of the surface of the skull as a collection of separate plans with a particular direction relative to the source of light. You should try to identify each of the plans and sketches of his good form and value.

Correct handling of plans adds much to the image of your subject and the illusion of three-dimensionality.