Berty in Black and White

[Julie Deane]

Here's the drawing and the original photo. Done mainly in pencil. Any thing you notice that will help the drawing is apppreciated.

[Allan Rahbek]

Hi Julie,

This is a well chosen pose, I like it. You have done a great job.

The only critique I can offer would be to chek the shadow values. I think that you have made the values a little too contrasted in the nose(shadow) and the hair and hat in the right side. All and all you should dull down the shadows. There is so much life in the drawing overall so you will not loose anything by unifying the shadow sides a bit. That goes for the dress too.

Allan

[Julie Deane]

Hi Alan-

Thanks for the input. Let me make sure I understand what you are saying:

By "dulling down", do you mean to make the values, for instance in the right shadow side of the hat, darker? Looking at the picture, I can see that the shadow areas needs to be darkened, and as you said, unified.

[Allan Rahbek]

Julie,

Dulling down, means (in my understanding) making the difference between the dark and the light parts, in the shadow area, less.
The problem is mostly that the light values are too light, they must be closer to the dark values.

Allan

[Julie Deane]

Here it is again with some changes in values.

[Patricia Joyce]

Julie,
What a great pose and what a beautiful drawing. What size is it and did you use graphite and charcoal? What kind of paper did you use? I really like the second image after you worked on the shadows. Less contrasty and now, very rich.

One thing I noticed is the brightness of the front of the neck and collar bone. I think it should be toned down.

Really a beautiful piece, Julie!

Pat