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Charcoal portrait

#art #not-writing
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.

Charcoal portrait work in progress *Beginnings, at Steph's studio - crazy eyes and eyebrows!* 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.* 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* Charcoal portrait work in progress *Deeper shadows and smoother transitions after some more work*