I just recently finished up a new portrait drawing course. I wanted to share with you a technique for drawing soft hair.
You want to work in layers. Your first layer in terms of drawing hair is to block in tone. Don’t try to put in your darkest dark all at one time. You’ll want to gradually lay in tone.
With the technique shown in the video, I put down tone, then pushed the tone into the paper with a stiff bristle brush. What this does in push the pencil into the texture of the illustration board.
You will want to do this process a few times. Blocking in tone, using the brush to push it into the board. In the final layers that is where you will refine the details with both an eraser and your pencil.
When working on the final layers you should use a more pliable brush. One that is more forgiving. You can then proceed to pull out the light with a thin eraser. With this drawing, I used a mono-zero cylindrical eraser.
When you use the bristle brush, not a blending stump, you can easily pull out lights with your eraser. Try it it’s a ton of fun.
Let me know what you thought about this technique. Leave a comment below.
I Would like to continue receiving information
I wish you would have a written list of your tools. I enjoyed the video and got a great deal out of it. Thank you.
Hi Mary Beth,
Thank you for taking the time to visit the blog. I used a prismacolor col-erase black pencil, illustration board, various bristle brushes for canvas, and a mono zero eraser tool. Hope that helps.
Matt, this was terrific. What weight or type of Strathmore illustration board did you use. They have different series and weight at dick block..
Matt, this was terrific. What weight or type of Strathmore illustration board did you use. They have different series and weight at Dick Blick.
How do you paint soft curls on a two year old?
Thank you for sharing your amazing talent
Thank you Char for taking the time to check out the video. Much appreciated.
I am excited to try this technique, thank you so much. Catherine
Catherine, Let me know how it goes. It’s pretty simple, just think less is best.
thanks Matt, you ALWAYS amaze me. I have been on your free list for lotsa years and am thankful for your excellent teaching.