Charcoal portrait

Published on 14 February, 2025
#art #not-writing

assets/IMG_3782-5c80235a.jpeg|Charcoal portrait of a woman

I'm always amazed about how quickly a charcoal sketch can come together... and how quickly it can be smudged if you touch it wrong! I thought I was finished with this one after just a few sessions, but came back to it after a break to deepen the shadows and get the nose just right. Reference photo and direction from Stephanie Sheppard.

assets/IMG_3347.jpeg|Charcoal portrait work in progress
Beginnings, at Steph's studio - crazy eyes and eyebrows!

assets/IMG_3459-6befe1d7.jpeg|Charcoal portrait work in progress
At home, I tape the paper to my courtyard door in place of a vertical easel. Blocking in shadows roughly here.

assets/IMG_3674.jpeg|Charcoal portrait work in progress
After I thought I was finished, I did a study focusing on just the nose and realised I could push my full portrait further

assets/IMG_3781.jpeg|Charcoal portrait work in progress
Deeper shadows and smoother transitions after some more work