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SB SWA
Stephie Butler
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INSPIRE
Emmeline
Here is the finished painting of Emmeline, waiting to be framed ready to enter the Society of Women Artists Annual Selected Exhibiting,
Starting to build up the eyes which sometimes takes many layers allowing each layer to dry in between.
More colour layers to build tone and form around the eyes.
Wanting to keep the hair soft I'm using lots of very light washes on it.
Practice
Using charcoal to practice drawing skills has so many benefits. Just get yourself some newsprint, some vine charcoal and a kneadable eraser. Do this almost daily and you will be amazed how you will improve.
Don't be tempted to put in any detail until you are sure your placements are right. When you are happy, start to build on them.
Started by roughing in where i thought the features would sit. The beauty of charcoal is it's so movable.
Then start to refine and adjust. I found I had to adjust quite often and have noticed how more acturate I am getting each time.
Experimenting
Don't be afraid to experiment, add a different media, see if it enhanced it. It's never wasted, you learn just as much from those that don't work.
Charcoal powder, an old hog brush to get the basics done on the paper. stops you getting putting in detail too early.
Refine as you go adding a little detail, this gives yo a better idea if things are in place.
Add to this then start to bring out some lighter areas with the eraser.
Workshops
It's good to do workshops in something that's out of your comfort zone and in a different media to what you normally use. Then experiment to how you can use some of it and incoporate it in your own work.
I did some online workshops in various charcoal techniques. I've found this has also improved my drawings skills.
Starting to build up the eyes which sometimes takes many layers allowing each layer to dry in between.
Starting to build up the eyes which sometimes takes many layers allowing each layer to dry in between.
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