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December 23, 2009
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Random TIPS:

* One of the last things I do is add fine, stray hairs, if applicable, to the edges of the hairline. I also take a sharp F or HB pencil, and make very small and short hairs along the forehead, where the hair meets the forehead (if required).

* Whenever I think I'm done, I sleep on it. Invariably I notice something I swore was not there before.

* Most every artist signs their work, in some form or another, but my dad gave me the idea to DATE each one as well, so that I could remember the order that I drew them.

* I also use a "workable spray Fixative" by Krylon, to seal the drawing when it's complete. It prevents smudging, keeps them from yellowing and also takes down the shine from the darkest areas of graphite.

* When I use clutch pencils, I no longer use a hand sharpener, which I used to string around my neck. I use a "Lead Pointer Tube" sharpener, which also holds the shaved graphite.

* I use an old paintbrush to remove graphite dust, etc from a drawing surface. It keeps me from rubbing it off, or spitting on the drawing when I blow it off. I didn't notice one time, and accidentally spit a minute amount on the surface, and when I rubbed over it with my blending stump, it smeared, and I could not remove it!!

* Taking Photos of your work. After a drawing is complete, I use a digital camera to take a photo of it. I first used scanners, but they lighten the drawing, and you cannot see as much details. I take the photo in the daytime, in natural lighting, on the floor in front of a window, careful NOT to put it directly in the sun. After I take several shots, I upload them; pick the best one, which is usually the one where my name and date are IN FOCUS. Then I crop out the borders, and I also REMOVE the SATURATION, which removes any color that the camera picked up, turning it back to pure black and white.

* The brain can be fooled to believing that what it THINKS it sees is real. One of the best illustrations of that is when I noticed that blurry, out of focus backgrounds, in some portraits, made it look like a photo.
  • Listening to: Andrew Belle
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:iconbrokenviolet:
~BrokenViolet Jan 26, 2010  Student Traditional Artist
some of the tips I already using them on my drawings and learned new ones too, so thanks my friend! ;)
on tip 3 my sister gave that idea to me too :giggle: adding the date near my name!
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:iconrick-kills-pencils:
*Rick-Kills-Pencils Jan 26, 2010  Hobbyist Traditional Artist
thanks much!!! Glad I could help :D
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:iconfacial-tic:
~Facial-Tic Dec 24, 2009  Professional Filmographer
god, i hate when i end up spitting on my drawing. you work so hard on it, its starting to look good and then you just SPIT ON IT. hahaha brutal. just brutal.
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:iconrick-kills-pencils:
*Rick-Kills-Pencils Dec 24, 2009  Hobbyist Traditional Artist
haha yeah that sucks!! :D:D
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:iconsyikin11:
You use an old paintbrush to remove dust from a drawing surface? Gosh why didn't I think of that?! Thanks mate! :XD:
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:iconrick-kills-pencils:
*Rick-Kills-Pencils Dec 24, 2009  Hobbyist Traditional Artist
hehe you're welcome! :D:D
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:iconsyikin11:
Merry Christmas by the way =D
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:iconrick-kills-pencils:
*Rick-Kills-Pencils Dec 26, 2009  Hobbyist Traditional Artist
Merry Christmas to you too! :D
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:icondustyknives:
!DustyKnives Dec 23, 2009  Hobbyist Traditional Artist
I do the hair thing, too. That's definitely one of the best portrait tips I'd ever discovered. Also, the "out of focus" background thing makes a drawing look AMAZING.

I only use the paintbrush to remove eraser shavings (when I'm not using a kneaded eraser), since those tend to stick to the paper a little more. I hate those annoying buggers!

I love reading these tips. :P It's amazing how two self-taught artists like us can have such a similar drawing technique!
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:iconrick-kills-pencils:
*Rick-Kills-Pencils Dec 23, 2009  Hobbyist Traditional Artist
Well, I'm no expert or anything, but when I first got interested in drawing again (October 08) I did a lot of technique searching on the web, and found a lot of tips too. When I taught a portrait class last September, I wrote them all out to help them. Some I read, but ALL I have experienced. Keep up the good work!! :D
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