It is back to drawing with my beloved graphite pencils for this portrait, Hide and Seek. Drawn on Stonehenge fine art paper, which is a 100% cotton paper, and my favourite for all of my pencil drawings.
How to choose the right medium for a portrait
I saw a photograph by Réhahn Photography some time ago which inspired this artwork. I long wondered whether I might draw it in the original colour, or in monochrome. Eventually I decided upon black and white as I find it can bring a different focus to the image. Colour can both compliment and distract, so I decided upon a pencil portrait to keep the image simpler, and the viewer’s focus on the child’s expression.
Drawing details in pencil
Hide and Seek is an A4 sized portrait (29 x 21cm) which is a scale I am very familiar with drawing at. I always draw my pencil portraits with mechanical pencils with 0.5mm leads. These are very slender so allow for a fine tip and a sharp point to be readily available. It does mean that shading any larger area is a slow process, though all of my drawing is slow as I prefer precision over speed.
I drew Hide and Seek with a B, 2B, 3B and 4B pencil, swapping between them depending on how dark and soft I wanted the marks to be.
The stages of drawing Hide and Seek
You can see the stages that this drawing went through, which gives some insight into my process. There is something wonderful about the earlier stages with negative space where the hanging fabric will be. Sometimes an absence of imagery can be every bit as effective as it’s inclusion. I did toy with the idea of leaving the fabric out. Though eventually decided I preferred the detailed patterns against the blurred background, and the range of textures this gave across the whole artwork.
Inspired by Réhahn Photography
Rehahn’s photography is a constant source of inspiration to me. Not only are his portraits exceptionally beautiful, but the quality of his relationships with his subjects shines through.
These pencil portraits have also been inspired by his wonderful work: A Thirst for life, A Lifetime of Laughter, and Blessed.
Hide and Seek in your home
The original Hide and Seek artwork is available to purchase directly from me. There will be no prints or greetings cards of this drawing.
And commissions are always welcomed from both UK based and international clients. On my Commissions page there is an overview of the process, and for a more in depth guide to commissioning a fine art portrait, please read this guide.
For any questions you may have, or advice you may need, you can contact me here or call or WhatsApp on 07967 416072
