[Karin Wells]

I had another thought about your drawing (or any drawing)...not necessarily an improvement...just something different to try sometime...

Drawing on white paper with a pencil or charcoal is difficult and sometimes produces a "harsh" result because there is no middle tone to work with.

I fiddled with your drawing to show you what it might look like drawn with a sepia pencil on a toned paper. It is much "softer" and the value of the paper creates a midtone that can work for you. Although it doesn't show here, white chalk accents would easily establish the highlighted areas if you choose to do that.

I love the drawings of the Italian Masters of the renaissance who drew with red chalk on toned paper...