CHARCOAL PORTRAIT of a SEDUCTIVE SIREN [Relaxing Time Lapse Drawing Video]

Today's charcoal portrait is inspired by my love of fantasy art and ALL things magical! If you've never worked with charcoal sticks or charcoal pencils before - it's something you HAVE to explore!
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I feel like a sculptor whenever I create a charcoal drawing. I think it has something to do with the fact that I use my fingers to blend and shade, so it's like I become one with the medium.

​If you've been looking for new charcoal drawing ideas, love female fantasy art, or just feel like watching a relaxing drawing video without any talking - THIS VIDEO is FOR YOU!

The angle of the face in today's drawing video is called 3/4 view. This is actually one of the hardest face drawing angles to do proportionally.  If  you're struggling with how to draw a three quarter portrait, be sure to download my FREE 3/4 view face drawing guidelines. Simply click on the button below and I'll send them straight over. ​

After you get your three quarter portrait drawing guidelines downloaded and are ready to practice, you might want to start with this playlist to practice sketching a 3/4 face. It's perfect for beginners and isn't time lapsed like today's video! ​

If you're new to charcoal drawing, you're might be wondering how to draw with charcoal or how to start a charcoal portrait. 

I like to start a charcoal drawing by blocking out a general outline of where I want things to go using a piece of charcoal in an old sock. I KNOW, It sounds totally crazy!! But when you watch today's video, watch how I get started. You can achieve the softest, dreamiest lines with this simple charcoal drawing technique (shown below). 

Before we continue, super quick announcement: All product links are Affiliate. I may earn a small commission if you choose to order through these links but by law there is never any additional cost to the consumer for doing so. I thank you for your support. 

When I'm happy with my general outline, I use one of my graphite pencils (blackwing drawing pencil) to sketch in more firm outlines, and later darken them using a charcoal stick (below).​

Next, I look at my reference image and let my eyes follow the values I see from lightest to darkest, and allow my hand to record them onto my paper. This is where drawing has so much to do with observational skills and in a way, we're like engineers or someone doing data entry.

If you really study your reference image for shades of black, gray and white - instead of focusing on the facial features you think your brain knows how to draw (or is intimated to draw), it makes the whole process of accurately recording what you see SO MUCH EASIER. 

After most of the face and hair shading is done, I add detail around the eyes, and some super dramatic eyelashes. 

Lots of my students struggle with how to draw eyelashes. If you feel like you need  some extra help with eyelash drawing, I've got ya covered with two great videos to help - one on my drawing channel, and one on my mixed media channel.  

CLICK HERE to download my FREE How to Draw Eyelashes Cheatsheet. 

Today's drawing was inspired by the reference image I found from darkodordevic @ DeviantArt.com.

Press play to watch today's time lapse drawing video!

LOVE FANTASY ART as much as I do?! You might just LOVE the Celtic Collective!! It's an art club I run with my Scottish bestie, Lucy Brydon. We teach drawing and watercolor lessons of all things fairy, fantasy & magic!!Learn more & get notified when enrollment opens again here.

Lucy and I also do a weekly podcast called 1 Scot 1 Not. We don't have an episode specifically on sirens, but this one on the Finfolk is close in case you're interested!

​Thanks for hanging out with me today!!

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