Drawing Tutorial: How to Set up the Pose and Begin the Straight Line Block-in

Learn How to Use Light, Space, and Technique to Create Stunning Self-Portraits with Graphite and Pastel

Creating a self-portrait can be a deeply personal and challenging experience, allowing artists to explore both light and space while honing their drawing techniques. Using a mirror as a tool can greatly enhance your understanding of light, spatial relationships, and facial structure, enabling you to bring your portrait to life with depth and accuracy.

In this tutorial, visual artist Gustavo Ramos guides you through each step, from setting up a pose to blocking in your portrait’s basic structure. By using a mirror for reference, you gain control over angles, shadows, and expressions, ultimately producing a more realistic representation. Ramos begins with a straight-line block-in technique, which involves holding the pencil in an overhand grip to achieve clean, straight lines—a foundational step for accurate proportions.

Ramos also shares valuable tips on positioning your head, adjusting for axis lines, and ensuring the features are proportionate. As the tutorial progresses, you'll learn how to adjust shapes and refine eye socket placement for better accuracy. Precision is key, so tools like an eraser become indispensable for removing unnecessary lines, while a sharpened pencil provides sharper and more defined details.

Ready to deepen your skills? Gustavo Ramos’s Domestika course on self-portraiture offers a complete guide to transforming a mirror image into a rich, dynamic artwork. From graphite and pastel techniques to understanding light and shadow, this course is a must for any artist aiming to capture realism and depth in portrait drawing.