Portrait Drawing
Pencil Portrait Drawing Tips on Facial Hair
A mustache or a beard usually has lots of fullness. Therefore, it must be built up in layers. As with all feature in a pencil portrait, you need to look at facial hair in terms of shapes and not just in terms of outlines. The values are also of critical importance especially in relation to the values of the neighboring skin.
Here are a few clues that will help you become an expert in drawing decent mustache, beards, sideburns, and other varieties of facial hair:
* Values - Squint your eyes and take careful note of the overall value of the facial hair as compared to the surrounding skin. Is it lighter or darker or something in between? You should keep this overall average value in mind throughout the drawing process.
Also, check the extent of the mustache or beard. Is the entire upper lip covered by the mustache or is there a line of skin visible between the mustache and the mouth? In other words, get a good idea of the extent of the shapes involved. A drawing grid can be of great help with this.
* Growth - It is imperative that you render the growth lines of the facial hair correctly. Take a minute and look for the overall directions of the hair growth. Get a feel for the flow of the hair. Where are the breaks in the flow? How does a local direction of hair growth fit into the overall pattern?
While you concentrate on drawing a local shape, always be aware of the overall shape you are drawing. All this is critically important to obtain a good likeness.
* Layering - It is best to draw facial hair in layers, just like it grows in reality. This keeps your mustache or beard from looking flat or thin.
If necessary, you can put down one layer and use workable fixative before laying down the next layer.
Also, be aware of the underlying facial structure, otherwise the hair may look like it is pasted on. In other words, be aware of the peaks and valleys underneath the facial hair and note the how these structures are mirrored in the facial hair.
* Kneaded Eraser - The kneaded eraser is ideal to render the lighter values in facial hair. Shape the kneaded eraser into a point and lightly “draw” lighter lines into the darker valued areas of the facial hair. Very realistic renditions can be obtained with this technique.
* Close-up - Have a good look at a close-up of a mustache or some other facial hair. Notice how the hairs are ordered. Particularly, notice that some of the hairs are interwoven with others. It is important to reflect this in your drawing.
Note that generic-looking facial hair will make your drawing look artificial. Each individual has his or her own unique hair growth patterns. It becomes necessary to study these patterns, i.e., shape, fullness or thinness, values, growth patterns, underlying structure, etc. As always, practice makes perfect. Also remember, drawing hair must be done with a light, flowing touch, maybe using an F or HB pencil.
About the Author
Remi Engels, Ph.D., is a pencil portrait artist and oil painter. He is also the author of a popular Pencil Portrait Drawing Course. Get Your Free copy here: Remi's Pencil Portrait Drawing Course while supplies last.
Richard Morris Portrait Drawing Demo
 |
 drawing charcoal pastels woman Portrait Signed BILL HUNTER ANTIQUE 11 x 16 $50.00 Time Remaining: 1h 32m |
 Portrait Drawing A Step By Step Art Instruction Book N $11.71 Time Remaining: 2d 6h 47m Buy It Now for only: $11.71 Buy It Now |
 Original Portrait of Lost character Alexandra Rousseau Drawing on paper $9.00 Time Remaining: 2h 12m |
 Original Portrait of Lost characters Jin Sun Drawing on paper $9.00 Time Remaining: 2h 14m |
 Original Portrait of Lost character Rose Henderson Nadler Drawing on paper $9.00 Time Remaining: 2h 18m |
 Original Portrait of Lost character Sayid Jarrah Drawing on paper $9.00 Time Remaining: 2h 21m |
 Original Portrait of Lost character Penny Widmore Drawing on paper $9.00 Time Remaining: 2h 23m |
 Original Portrait of Lost character Christian Shephard Drawing on paper $9.00 Time Remaining: 2h 26m |
 Original Portrait of Miley Cirus Drawing on paper $9.00 Time Remaining: 2h 29m |
 Original Portrait of Taylor Lautner Drawing on paper $9.00 Time Remaining: 2h 30m |
 Original Portrait of Dexter character Trinity Drawing on paper $9.00 (1 Bid) Time Remaining: 2h 34m |
 AMERICAN QUARTER Horse Art western bosal pencil portrait GORGEOUS artist signed $29.00 Time Remaining: 29d 5h 50m Buy It Now for only: $29.00 Buy It Now |
 Original Portrait of Dexter character Debra Morgan Drawing on paper $9.00 Time Remaining: 2h 35m |
 Original Portrait of Dexter character Ice Truck Killer Drawing on paper $9.00 Time Remaining: 2h 37m |
 Original Portrait of Dexter character Rita Bennet Drawing on paper $9.00 Time Remaining: 2h 38m |
 Original Portrait of Dexter character Harry Morgan Drawing on paper $9.00 (1 Bid) Time Remaining: 2h 40m |
 Original Portrait of Dexter character Lumen Pierce Drawing on paper $9.00 Time Remaining: 2h 41m |
 Original Portrait of Dexter character James Doakes Drawing on paper $9.00 Time Remaining: 2h 42m |
 Original Portrait of Dexter character Vince Masuka Drawing on paper $9.00 Time Remaining: 2h 44m |
 Original Charcoal Drawing Black Cat Katze Zeichnung Portrait Bild kitten chat $56.95 (1 Bid) Time Remaining: 2h 58m |
 unique handmade drawing Keith Haring portrait $15.00 Time Remaining: 3h 2m |
 Taylor Swift 2 portrait Pencil Drawing Art Print by Michael Gaffney 16 x 24 $19.99 Time Remaining: 29d 6h 36m Buy It Now for only: $19.99 Buy It Now |
 small handmade Drawing Signed MODIGLIANI Portrait $102.50 (17 Bids) Time Remaining: 3h 18m |
 small handmade drawing signed MODIGLIANI Portrait $26.00 (10 Bids) Time Remaining: 3h 22m |
 Orig De La Cruz w Sig Pastel Full Length Female Portrait Ballerina in Studio $590.00 Time Remaining: 3h 48m Buy It Now for only: $650.00 Buy It Now |
 PENCIL DRAWING OF Self Portrait OF REMBRANDT AFTER REMBRANDT MOUNTED $15.80 Time Remaining: 3h 50m |
 Unique handmade drawing signed Adam Bach Brigitte Bardot portrait $15.00 Time Remaining: 4h 16m |
 Unique handmade drawing signed Adam Bach Brigitte Bardot portrait $19.00 Time Remaining: 4h 28m |
 PHOTOREALISM CUSTOM RETRATO PORTRAIT B W 9x12 free text free FAST SHIPPI $80.00 Time Remaining: 7h 5m |
 2 Antique Charcoal Drawings Portraits of Man Girl 99 No Reserve $0.99 Time Remaining: 8h 24m |
 ACEO size print silence pencil portrait drawing $1.51 Time Remaining: 11h 31m |
 A custom Hand Drawn charcoal portrait of your loved one or pet 12 x 18 $75.00 Time Remaining: 22d 13h 40m Buy It Now for only: $75.00 Buy It Now |
 ACEO size print Papillon butterfly flower beauty portrait $1.51 Time Remaining: 11h 37m |
 Original drawing Anne Hathaway celebrity portrait beauty $276.27 Time Remaining: 11h 38m |
 Lindsay Lohan Portrait Drawing Reproduction $8.99 Time Remaining: 11h 45m Buy It Now for only: $9.99 Buy It Now |
 Ingres Sketch Old Fashion Attire Portrait Graphite on paper NOT a Print $49.90 Time Remaining: 11h 49m |
 Lindsay Lohan Portrait Drawing Signed Original $19.99 Time Remaining: 12h 34m |
 Original Portrait of John Turturro as Jesus in The Big Lebowski $60.00 Time Remaining: 14h 44m |
 Man Behind Hat Bat Posing Portrait Pencil 1830 Antique Drawing $0.99 Time Remaining: 14h 50m |
 Sketch Man Beard Hat Posing Portrait Pencil 1830 Antique Drawing $0.99 Time Remaining: 14h 50m |
 Natural History Horse Sleeps Scene Portrait Pencil 1830 Antique Drawing $0.99 Time Remaining: 14h 50m |
 Custom Photo Pencil Sketch Realistic Portrait Drawing Art Child Pet Xmas Gift S $19.99 Time Remaining: 24d 11h 36m Buy It Now for only: $19.99 Buy It Now |
 Soldier Profile Face Posing Portrait Pencil 1830 Antique Drawing $0.99 (1 Bid) Time Remaining: 14h 50m |
 Elegant Old Lady Child Boat Scene Portrait Pencil 1830 Antique Drawing $0.99 (1 Bid) Time Remaining: 14h 50m |
 Elegant Beautiful Profile Face Portrait Pencil 1830 Antique Drawing $0.99 (1 Bid) Time Remaining: 14h 51m |
 Elegant Old Lady Profile Face Portrait Pencil 1830 Antique Drawing $0.99 Time Remaining: 14h 51m |
 Noble Man Profile Figure Portrait Pencil 1830 Antique Drawing $0.99 Time Remaining: 14h 57m |
 Gentleman Profile Portrait Pencil 1830 Antique Drawing $0.99 Time Remaining: 14h 57m |
 Pair of Signed Portraits of Richard Burton Cary Grant $75.00 Time Remaining: 15h 8m |
 Custom Charcoal Portrait Art Commission 12X8 2 Subjects Perfect Valentine Gift $0.99 Time Remaining: 16h 16m |
 Custom Pet Charcoal Pencil Portrait Drawing 16X 12 Cat Dog Horse House $49.00 Time Remaining: 16h 16m Buy It Now for only: $55.00 Buy It Now |
 The Artist's Complete Guide to Drawing the Head List Price: Sale Price: $16.47 You save: $8.48 (34%)  Eligible for free shipping!Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours See Reviews For This Product DescriptionIn this innovative guide, master art instructor William Maughan demonstrates how to create a realistic human likeness by using the classic and highly accurate modeling technique of chiaroscuro (Italian for "light and dark") developed by Leonardo da Vinci during the High Renaissance...  |
 Sargent Portrait Drawings: 42 Works by John Singer Sargent (Dover Art Library) Sale Price: $6.95 Eligible for free shipping!Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours See Reviews For This Product DescriptionCollection of portraits, selected from public and private holdings by art historian Trevor J. Fairbrother, reveal the technical skill and intuitive eye for which American portrait painter John Singer Sargent is renowned... |
 How to Draw Lifelike Portraits from Photographs List Price: Sale Price: $21.36 You save: $3.63 (15%) Eligible for free shipping!Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours See Reviews For This Product DescriptionA manual on drawing portraits from photographs, using the author's blended-pencil drawing technique, and offering advice on how to suggest three dimensions on simple shapes. |
 Secrets to Drawing Realistic Faces List Price: Sale Price: $16.31 You save: $7.68 (32%) Eligible for free shipping!Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours See Reviews For This Product DescriptionThis book will have beginning artists of all ages drawing faces that are strikingly realistic and detailed. Artist Carrie Stuart Parks honed her fast and effective drawing skills as a professional forensic artist... |
 How to Draw Lifelike Portraits from Photographs List Price: See Reviews For This Product DescriptionA manual on drawing portraits from photographs, using the author's blended-pencil drawing technique, and offering advice on how to suggest three dimensions on simple shapes. |
 Drawing the Line - Portrait of Keith Haring List Price: Sale Price: $17.99 You save: $2.00 (10%) Eligible for free shipping!Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours See Reviews For This Product DescriptionWhen artist Keith Haring died in February 1980 of AIDS, he left behind an astonishing artistic legacy. In his 31 years, Haring went from being an anonymous graffiti artist who drew chalk figures on New York City subway posters, to being called the successor to Andy Warhol and Roy Lichtenstein... |
 The Art of Portrait Drawing by Joy Thomas Sale Price: $29.99 Eligible for free shipping!Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days See Reviews For This Product DescriptionEvery artist dreams of drawing people with the skill of an Old Master.... In this DVD professional artist Joy Thomas reveals classical drawing secrets while teaching foolproof composition skills for a structured beginning... |
![Drawing the Line: Keith Haring [VHS]](http://www.rcbgallery.com/media/images/i/5146NQGCRCL._SL75_.jpg) Drawing the Line: Keith Haring [VHS] List Price: Sale Price: $8.94 See Reviews For This Product |
 Drawing Portraits: Faces and Figures (The Art of Drawing) List Price: Sale Price: $12.21 You save: $5.74 (32%) Eligible for free shipping!Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours See Reviews For This Product DescriptionThe artist covers all the important techniques including anatomy, proportions of the face, creating realistic features, using tone, formal and informal portraits, and more. Step-by-step demonstrations accompany simple exercise and a gallery of original pictures. |
 Faces & Portraits Made Easy List Price: Sale Price: $15.95 You save: $0.04 (%) Eligible for free shipping!Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours See Reviews For This Product DescriptionAn easy, fun way to paint portraits without making a mess. This crafty kit lets kids experiment using textured papers as they trace and carbon copy photos of friends and family. Pencils have a soft-grip and triangular shape for precise control... |
|
|
Drawing Lifelike Portraits With Lee Hammond (DVD) $22.27 Description not available. |
|
|
F+W Media 'Art of Portrait Drawing' DVD $29.98 This F+W Media DVD features instructions on drawing a portrait from life, and creating a realistic likeness. The DVD instructor reveals classical drawing secrets and compositional skills. |
|
|
Portrait Drawing $9.85 Explains the art of drawing expressive portraits in pencil, chalk, and charcoal on a variety of drawing papers with step-by-step demonstrations on how to draw the eye, mouth, nose, and ear -- as well as the total head -- from a variety of views. |
|
|
How to Draw Lifelike Portraits from Phot (Paperback) $17.63 Offers step-by-step instructions on how to create realistic looking pencil portraits from photographs, demonstrating how to draw individual facial features and how to properly shade and blend tones and highlights. |
|
|
Drawing Expressive Portraits $18 Presents step-by-step techniques for drawing a variety of portraits. |
|
|
Drawing With Coloured Pencils (Paperback) $10.69 Colored pencils offer artists a unique combination of creative versatility and precise control. This introductory course encompasses everything budding and intermediate-level artists need to get started: basic materi... |
|
|
How to Draw Pets $4.94 Easy-to-follow directions make it a snap to draw portraits of favorite animals. Step-by-step diagrams show how to join circles, ovals, and other shapes to create likenesses of 30 adorable creatures — from a mouse, parakeet, and potbelly pig ... |
|
|
How to Draw and Paint Portraits (Paperback) $9.51 Description not available. |
|
|
Ed Wade 'Portrait Paint 2' Instructional DVD $25.49 This video simplifies the art of portrait painting. You will see how the skin tones, highlights, and shadows are controlled and the details easily brought in to enhance and finish the face. |
|
|
Ed Wade 'Portrait Painting 1' Instructional DVD $25.49 This video simplifies the art of portrait painting. You will see how the skin tones, highlights, and shadows are controlled and the details easily brought in to enhance and finish the face. |
