HOTSHOT 28- A Portrait Sketch Process and a Workshop date in London

STAGE 1– Here I begin to locate basic features with angles. I am constantly thinking of the angle at which each feature or contour tilts. This does not involve rigorous measurements, it’s all about visual comparison. I am asking myself, how far is this from this? What angle does this area tilt? What connection do they make.

STAGE 2- This is where I complete the whole sketch of his head. I forgot to mention that I am using a ‘ZIG number 075 Art & Graphic Twin Pen’ to do this initial sketch. It is not accurate at this stage but I’m still comparing one area to another, making sure that I’m constantly thinking of how each angle tilts? What lines up horizontally with another part? What lines up verticaly with another part.? It is like a game, if you make it fun, it will be more adventurous and this will help in tricking your brain. It will make your brain feel a boring exercise is interesting!

STAGE 3- Here is where I begin to block-in with the same ZIG 075 pen. I use the broad side to make broad strokes to block-in areas that are in the shade.

STAGE 4- This is a contiuation of Stage 3. I am adding more broad-strokes in the most sketchy manner. It helps to follow the direction of the form, while doing this. Because the pen is transparent, it becomes darker as one builds up layers in succession.

STAGE 5– This is the first time in the whole sketch that I am introducing a new pen. I bring in- ‘number 65, TOMBOW Dual Wash pen’ and some ‘light Brown in a Water Brush” to add richer darks to the sketch and because it is also transparent, it helps in building up layers. The strokes are placed in a very sketchy manner to animate the piece.

STAGE 6– Here I use  more of the water brush. (I mixed up a light brown flesh colour with gouache and water and poured it into the Pentel water brush.) This is what I used to add a little bit of mid tones to the face, to create a slightly richer flesh tone. I also added touches of white gouache to heighten and lighten the areas that were most lit. These touches where done with care and precision, in order not to make it look overworked and still retain the sketchy feel.

STAGE 7 (FINAL STAGE)– Here I add a little bit of a darker brown to the dark areas, this is done with the water brush which contains a darker mixture of brown gouache and water. I also use this to soften a few edges and add more darks to all areas that need to be darker.

Materials-these are the materials I have used for this sketch. I hope the labelling is clear enough.
From the Top.
1. White Gouache.
2. Daler Rowney, Graduate 100 Liner Brush.
3. Daler Rowney, Graduate Rigger Brush.
4. Pentel Water Brush with Light Brown Gouache.
5. Pentel water Brush with Dark Brown Gouache.
6. Zig Art & Graphic Twin Pen number 075
7. TOMBOW ABT Dual Brush Pen number 065

SKETCHBOOK- I used Stillman & Birn Premium Sketchbook. (Gamma Series) It is good for Dry Media, Light wash and Ink. the paper is 150gsm.

Adebanji Alade’s One day Workshop on Sketching The Human face in London