Graphite Portraits with Digital Design
A course by Patricia EscalanteVisual Artist and Designer
A course by Patricia Escalante, Visual Artist and Designer
Create a graphite portrait from a photograph and color it with digital mixed media
Graphite is a material that allows you to capture deep, powerful expressions in portraits thanks to its textures and strong contrasts. Designer and visual artist Patricia Escalante teaches you how to combine traditional and modern drawing techniques to fill your work with life and color.
In this course, learn how to create a portrait from a photograph and add color by experimenting with techniques in Photoshop. Discover the unique qualities of graphite and put a personal touch on your portraits by exploring the possibilities of digital media.
What will you learn in this online course?
22 lessons & 9 downloads
What will we do in the course?
53 seconds
Presentation of Materials
9 minutes, 37 seconds
Proportions of a face
15 minutes, 51 seconds
Light and Shadow Basics
16 minutes, 42 seconds
Graphite Shading Techniques
19 minutes, 30 seconds
Selection of Images for Inspiration and Support Material
9 minutes, 28 seconds
What's included in this course?
Start the course by getting to know your teacher, Patricia Escalante. She tells you about her experience in the world of visual arts and shows you some of the artists that have influenced her work. She then explains the course project and goes over the materials you need for it.
In the next unit, learn the basic principles of drawing a graphite portrait step by step. Patricia shows you how to draw a face with realistic proportions and explains key concepts about gradients, light, and shadows. She also gives you some tips on how to shade your drawing using a wide range of grey tones.
Now it's time to get to work on your project. First, search through different visual materials to find inspiration and then choose the photograph you want to draw. Retouch light and shadows using Photoshop to find the perfect contrast for your photo before printing it and transferring an outline to card stock. Then, grab your pencil and start filling in the facial features, including eyes, eyebrows, a nose, lips, and hair, and finish by adding a neck and clothing.
Once you've completed your portrait, scan it and retouch it in Photoshop. Patricia teaches you how to use different drawing tools to add color and textures. Experiment with these tools and insert digital elements into the background of your portrait to give it a more fun, fresh, and energetic style. Wrap up the course by preparing your portrait for printing or to share on social media.
What is this course's project?
Create a graphite portrait of an artist or person you admire and explore digital techniques to add color and give it a unique style.
Who is this online course for?
Illustration or design professionals and anyone interested in drawing with graphite portrait techniques.
Requirements and materials
You need basic notions of drawing and a working knowledge of Adobe Photoshop.
The materials for this course include graphite pencils, an eraser, a pencil sharpener, a cutter, a ruler, drawing paper, a scanner, and a computer with Photoshop.
Reviews
- 5 months ago
Che meraviglia!!! Bella la parte delle grafite ma sicuramente la lavorazione con photoshop rende tutto ancora più magico ed originale!!!!! Devo trovare uno scanner valido e poi si comincia!!!
- 9 months ago
genial
- 2 years ago
Muy buen curso, dinámico y bien explicado, la profesora te da la libertad de experimentar en función a sus consejos.
- faby_bbbPLUS4 years ago
Very interesting course and full of ideas!
- 4 years ago
Entretenido e interesante.
Now she is fully devoted to art and experiments with graphite drawing and other digital techniques. Much of her work focuses on portraits of artists and people she admires. Inspired by classic magazine graphics and black and white photography, Patricia explores the depth of portraits as an art form and depicts her figures in timeless spaces.
Content
- U1
Introduction
- Presentation
- Influences
- What will we do in the course?
- U2
Materials and Basic Concepts
- Presentation of Materials
- Proportions of a face
- Light and Shadow Basics
- Graphite Shading Techniques
- U3
Selection of Visual References and Portrait Modeling
- Selection of Images for Inspiration and Support Material
- Retouching the Photograph and Printing to Scale
- Transfer of the Portrait to Cardboard
- U4
Let's Do It!
- Shading 1: Base and First Layers
- Shading 2: Eyes and Eyebrows
- Shading 3: Hair
- Shading 4: Neck and Ear
- Shading 5: Cheek, Nose and Lips
- Shading 6: Finishing Touches
- U5
Splashes of Color with Digital Painting
- Drawing scan and retouch
- Concepts and Ideas for Digital Intervention
- Basic Texture Tools in Photoshop 1
- Basic Texture Tools in Photoshop 2
- Digital Intervention
- Getting the Drawing Ready to Print or to Publish on Social Media
- FP
Final project
- Graphite Portraits with Digital Design
What to expect from a Domestika course
Learn at your own pace
Enjoy learning from home without a set schedule and with an easy-to-follow method. You set your own pace.
Learn from the best professionals
Learn valuable methods and techniques explained by top experts in the creative sector.
Meet expert teachers
Each expert teaches what they do best, with clear guidelines, true passion, and professional insight in every lesson.
Certificates
PLUSIf you're a Plus member, get a custom certificate signed by your teacher for every course. Share it on your portfolio, social media, or wherever you like.
Get front-row seats
Videos of the highest quality, so you don't miss a single detail. With unlimited access, you can watch them as many times as you need to perfect your technique.
Share knowledge and ideas
Ask questions, request feedback, or offer solutions. Share your learning experience with other students in the community who are as passionate about creativity as you are.
Connect with a global creative community
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FAQs
You’ll learn how to create realistic graphite portraits from photos, shape volume with chiaroscuro and shading techniques, and digitally enhance your work to develop your own conceptual ideas.
Yes, this course is designed for those with basic drawing skills who want to deepen their knowledge of realistic and digital portrait techniques, including self-portraits.
It’s recommended to have basic drawing skills, especially with graphite and proportions, to get the most out of the techniques and content taught.
You’ll need graphite pencils of varying hardness, textured paper or cardstock, a hard eraser, a craft knife, a brush, fixative spray, access to a camera or photos, and a computer with Photoshop.
The course teaches you how to create realistic graphite portraits and then digitize them for Photoshop editing, integrating visual elements, color, and conceptual composition.
Yes, you’ll learn how to scan, edit, retouch, and add digital elements to your portraits using digital painting tools and techniques in Photoshop.
Techniques covered include chiaroscuro, gradients, graphite shading, cross-hatching, and stippling to create volume and realism in portraits.