Portrait of Henry Cavill in graphite pencil

Portrait of Henry Cavill in graphite pencil

Final project of the course Artistic Portrait Drawing: Capture Authentic Expressions using the same photo of Henry Cavill as the course.

I used Faber Castell 9000 Jumbo graphite pencil, I like them because they are easy to hold and use compared to thinner pencil. I really like to use the monozero eraser to do the highlight. For blending, I used simple blending stumps.

I first added main shapes of the face with a light pencil. I didn't use the loomis method as per the course but freehand drawing starting with the mouth. I found it easier to start with the mouth in this portrait to give me a landmark to work around. Following by the nose and eyes, and finally the rest of the head.

I then added the darkest shadows to the lightest shadows and midtones. I blended all with a blending stumps.

I added the highlight using an eraser. At this point most of the face was done in term of values but details needed to be adjusted.

I reworked the eye and ears to readjust them and reworking the values alternating between pencil, blending stump and eraser.

I then added the facial hairs, and re-darkened all the hairs.

I used the light blue and silver Posca pen to do the eye color. I first put the blue then the silver on top of it to try to do a blue-grey color. It worked on a piece of paper test, but in the final portrait it ended up too blue. I also used a black Posca to do the center of the pupil.

I finally adjusted some mistakes. The neck was to thick and straight, so I reduced it. I used my blending stumps with leftover graphite on it to adjusted couple of shadows in the neck and face.

After some adjustments I stopped to this final version I am happy with it overall. I can always correct more and more, I think for instance working the neck properly as I was in rush when I finished my portrait, but at some point I just have to stop and accept mistakes and details that could be tweaked.

I am moving on to my next portrait project. I might still go back to this neck at some point as I am not happy with, but for now I need to select another photographique reference and have fun drawing a portrait.