Hello everyone! Today I want to share with you a pencil drawing that I made recently. It’s a portrait of a cute French bulldog in a field of flowers. I’m really proud of how it turned out, but it was also a challenging and rewarding process. Let me tell you more about it!
How I Started Drawing
I’ve always loved drawing since I was a kid, but I never took it seriously until a few years ago. I learned a lot of techniques and tips that helped me improve my skills and confidence from watching YouTube videos and practicing drawing everyday. One of the techniques that I learned was the envelope method, which is a way of drawing the outline of your subject using simple shapes. This helps you capture the proportions and angles of your subject accurately. Another technique that I learned was the Reilly method, which is a way of drawing the rhythms of your subject using curved lines. This helps you create a sense of movement and life in your drawing.
I practiced these techniques on different subjects, such as animals, people, and landscapes. I also experimented with different styles and effects, such as realism, expressionism, and impressionism. I had a lot of fun and learned something new every time.
Why I Chose to Draw a French Bulldog
One day, I came across a photo of a French bulldog on the internet. It was so adorable and expressive that I immediately fell in love with it. I decided to draw it as my next project.
I wanted to challenge myself and create a realistic and detailed portrait of the dog. I also wanted to add some interest to the background, so I chose to draw a field of flowers surrounding the dog. I thought it would create a nice contrast and harmony between the dog and the environment.
I gathered my materials and started working on my drawing.
How I Drew the Dog and the Flowers
The first step was to draw the outline of the dog using the envelope method. I used a light pencil (HB) to sketch the main shapes that contained the dog’s head, ears, and body.
The next step was to draw the rhythms of the dog’s face using the Reilly method. I used the same pencil (HB) to draw curved lines that followed the direction and flow of the dog’s features. These lines helped me define the eyes, eyebrows, mouth, wrinkles, and fur of the dog. They also added some expression and personality to the dog.
The third step was to create depth for the dog and add the field of flowers using a 5 value system. This is a technique where you use five different shades of gray to represent the light and shadow in your drawing. The values are:
White: The lightest value, used for highlights and areas that receive direct light.
Light gray: The second lightest value, used for midtones and areas that receive indirect light.
Medium gray: The middle value, used for halftones and areas that receive less light.
Dark gray: The second darkest value, used for shadows and areas that receive very little light.
Black: The darkest value, used for core shadows and areas that receive no light.
I used different pencils (HB, B, 2B, 4B) to shade the dog and create a sense of volume and form. I also used them to draw the field of flowers surrounding the dog.
The final step was to smooth out the transitions of the values and add all the details to the dog. This is where I refined my drawing and made it look more realistic and polished. I used a blending stump to blend the values together and create smooth gradients. I also used an eraser to lift out some highlights. Finally, I added some finishing touches, such as whiskers and reflections. What I Learned from This Project This project was one of the most rewarding ones that I’ve ever done. It taught me a lot about drawing with graphite and creating realistic portraits. It also challenged me to push myself beyond my comfort zone and try new things. One thing that I learned was how to balance detail and simplicity in my drawing. I wanted to make the dog look as realistic as possible, but I also wanted to avoid making it look too busy or cluttered. I had to be careful not to overwork or underwork any part of my drawing. Another thing that I learned was how to create contrast and harmony in my drawing. I wanted to make the dog stand out from the background, but I also wanted to make them look like they belonged together. I had to use different values, shapes, and textures to create a sense of unity and diversity in my drawing. One thing that I struggled with was the background. I wasn’t happy with how it turned out at first. I tried to leave out any detail in the field of flowers. I wanted all the focus to be on the dog but I think the background became to busy and distracted from the dog. Next time, I will choose to use more subtle backgrounds for my drawings.
What’s Next for Me I’m really happy with how this drawing turned out, but I know that I still have a lot to learn and improve. I want to keep practicing and experimenting with different subjects, techniques, and styles. I also want to share my work with others and get feedback and inspiration. That’s why I decided to start this blog and share my art journey with you. I hope that you enjoyed this post and learned something new. If you have any questions or comments, feel free to leave them below.
Also, I want to express my sincere gratitude to each and every one of you for taking the time to explore my blog post. Your engagement and support means the world to me. If you've been captivated by the featured drawing or any other pieces showcased on my website, they are available for purchase. Additionally, I welcome the opportunity to create a custom piece just for you. If you have a specific vision or if there's someone special you'd like me to draw, feel free to reach out. You can contact me via email at artbymikelsean@gmail.com. Your interest and enthusiasm fuels my passion for art, and I look forward to the possibility of turning your creative ideas into beautiful, personalized works. Thank you once again for being a part of my artistic journey.
Warm regards,
Mikel Sean
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