This is where I experimented with Sofft Tools for blending and applying graphite powder for my base layer. Graphite powder has now become a must have material in my studio. There are many blending tools out these but I find the Sofft tools lay the powder down evenly and they’re nice to hold and work with. The various shapes and sizes you can buy make them well suited for many situations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/petportraitsandwildlifeart.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Mabel-Graphtite-drawing-vs-photo-872x1024.jpg\")
My biggest tip..<\/strong> My second biggest tip..<\/strong> Work in layers..<\/strong> Tomorrow post will be the same but how I tackle curly fur in colour pencil. When I was asked to draw my first curly coated dog I was keen for the challenge. Looking back after many Poodle, Cockerpoo type dogs I’ve had the privileged of drawing I didn’t realise how much it would improve my technique. It forced me to use new tools and approach the portrait in a slightly […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[7,8,1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1255","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-finished-portraits","category-hints-tips","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"\n
The biggest tip I can give when facing a curly coated subject like Mabel is to draw what you see. Work on small sections a couple of inch square at a time. This will make the portrait seem less daunting. For this, and with most of my portraits, I always start with the eyes. They are the soul of the portrait and if they are not right the portrait is flat and lifeless. I then work around the eyes, adding the fur above and below where I normally add the ear and bridge of the muzzle\/nose. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Always follow the direction of fur. This is so important because this can effect the end result and in some cases you will end up with a portrait that looks quite different from the reference photograph. How the fur sits and the direction will define the subjects bone structure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/petportraitsandwildlifeart.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/poodle-photo-vs-drawing-745x1024.jpg\")
I would say that graphite pencil is the easier medium to use when tackling a subject with curly fur. It was the very first medium I used when I was old enough to hold a pencil! Layering the graphite powder down first and then using your kneaded eraser to put in some of the curls is a nice way of getting to grips with the flow of the fur while ensuring you don’t damage the tooth of your paper. So should you make a mistake you don’t have any actual harsh pencil lines you have to fight to erase. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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