Pencil portraits of animals and collages 905 403-0545 Dog and cat

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(Free-Press-Release.com) April 17, 2009 -- Sketching in always entails 4 distinct elements: line, value, texture, and shape. In the special case of pencil portrait drawing we can refine the list of elements to six: shape, proportion, anatomy, texture, value, and planes.
In this article we will give a detailed description of each of those pencil portrait drawing elements. (1) Form Shape or Shape - The illusion of 3-dimensionality in sketching and art in general has been fundamental to Western art for centuries. The carving out of shape using line, structure, and value was essential to almost all Renaissance art.

In contrast, eastern and much contemporary art stress flatness of shape although this period in contemporary art is drawing to an end.

All shape in sketching can be reduced to 4 fundamental three-dimensional solids: cones, cylinders, spheres, and bricks. The correct use of these forms together with perspective and value leads to the illusion of three-dimensionality even though the drawing is, in actuality, located on a 2-dimensional sheet of sketching paper.

In portrait sketching, the arabesque of the head, the square structure of the head, and all elements within the head (nose, eyes, etc.) are all 2- and three-dimensional forms that contribute to the overall illusion of three-dimensionality

(2) Proportion - includes all sizing and placements of shape. Proportion refers to the idea of relative length and angle size.

Proportion gives answers to these 2 questions:

1. Knowing a defined unit of length, how many units is a particular length?

2. How big is this particular angle?

Answering these 2 questions consistently correctly will give a drawing with the correct proportions and placements of all forms.

(3) Anatomy - refers in effect to the underlying structures of bone and muscle of the head.

It is essential to learn as much as you can about anatomy. There are many books available on anatomy for the artist. For a portrait artist it is particularly significant to study the anatomy of the head, neck, and shoulders.

Anatomy studies regrettably contain a lot of Latin terms which makes it a bit complicated to grasp. The idea is to learn slowly and a little bit at a time because it can be quite frustrating.

(4) Texture - in portrait sketching expresses the degree of roughness or smoothness of the forms. The texture of a rhino skin, for instance, is quite different from that of a window pane.

There exist several techniques and tricks to assist you with the creation of the proper textures. Creating textures presents you with the chance to be very creative and to use every possible type of mark you can make with a pencil. In portrait sketching textures occur in spots such as hair, clothing, and skin.

(5) Value - refers to the degrees in light or dark of the pencil marks and hatchings. Commanding portrait drawings use the full range of contrasting lights and darks. Beginning artists often fail to reach this full "stretch" of value, resulting in timid, washed-out drawings.

(6) Planes - create the sculptural sensibility of a portrait. The head has many planes each with a unique direction and therefore with a different value.

The idea is to think of the surface of the head as a collection of distinct planes with a particular direction relative to the light source. You should try to recognize each of the planes and sketch its accurate shape and value.

The accurate handling of planes adds very much to the likeness of your subject as well as the illusion of three-dimensionality.Do you want to learn the secrets of pencil portrait drawing? Download my brand new free pencil portrait drawing course here: Remi's Pencil Portrait Drawing Course. Remi Engels is a pencil portrait artist and oil painter and expert drawing teacher. See his work at Pencil Portraits by Remi: http://www.remipencilportraits.com Visit Tips on Pencil Portrait Drawing - The 6 Steps of Portrait Drawing.

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Assume that we have a pose where the head, arm, and fingers are visible and are in contact. Very often, the beginning artist will endeavor to sketch each of these entities individually. The approach will always lead to frustration and ultimately often to failure.

Instead of sketching each item individually, the first step in your sketching should be to strike the "inclusive" arabesque, i.e., the inclusive outline of the figure. The inclusive arabesque which encompasses parts other than the skull (in this case the skull, fingers, and arms) is called the "construct".

For the novice it is best to reduce the complete arabesque to its simplest shape thereby ignoring all the details such as the irregularities in the fingers and the hair. With practice, you will be able to add all these bumps without much trouble as you go along.

Sketching hair is dictated by several aspects: the type of hair, its color, texture, quantity, the arrangement and styling of the hair, the individuality and mood of the sitter or the photo, and the light effect upon the hair.

The arabesque of the hair is part of the overall construct. A correct construct is significant to the likeness of the hair. Many novice artists start with the face and grow outward from there. This is however a poor procedure and instills bad practices that will prove hard to break.

In fact, the arabesque is especially significant when render a coiffure. Attempting to render the hair working from the inside out, piece by piece, is a recipe for failure. The hair will result in being either too small for the head or too large.


Using photos I work to accurately depict your pets image and personality into a beautiful one of a kind portrait.

Any animal lover would cherish and enjoy an original portrait of their family pet; this could be a very personal and unique gift. For those who have lost a loving companion this type of art work would be the ultimate memorial...



Over the years I have developed my art to render both the physical as well as the character of domestic pets as well as wildlife. My effort produces a likeness that is more than an image; it is the essence of the individual. Working primarily in colored pencil, watercolor and graphite media I work to create a custom portrait just for you.



Every pet portrait is a hand painted original piece of art that meets my own exacting standard. It will provide you a piece of art that can be displayed and enjoyed for many years.

Portraits in Mississauga Oakville burlington Milton Etobicoke
2425 Truscott dr.
Mississauga l5j 2b4
ontario Canada

More information can be found online at http://www.goodportraits.ca/

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