A couple of drawings

[Chris Saper]

Hi Jeff,

Very nice work! I particularly like the sketch of Janice; you have a a very well-placed sense of planes and in massing the values that you have in place. You are also, no doubt, working with a better photo resource, as you have mentioned, with strong light and shadow patterns.

I think you are right, the reason you don't have dark darks is because you don't have range of pencil softness. With some really soft pencils, maybe 6B or softer, you wouldn't have to press hard at all, just move them across the surface in the already pleasing manner you have.

Best wishes,