KAREN CAMPBELL, ARTIST
  • HOME
    • About Me
    • Fan Artwork
    • Patreon
    • PORTFOLIO >
      • Mixed Media
      • Watercolors
      • Art Journals
      • Encaustic
      • Drawing
    • Press
    • Retreats
    • What Students Say...
  • Courses
    • How to Draw Fun Fab Faces
    • How to Draw MORE Fun Fab Faces
    • How to Draw Amazing Hands
    • Whimsical Women of the World
    • Mixed Media Magic
    • Fairy Tales Creative Course
    • Art of Play (6 Course Bundle)
  • Fun Fab Drawing Club
    • See ALL the Projects!!
  • MIXED MEDIA SOCIETY
    • See ALL the Projects!!
  • Books
  • Blog

blog

Let's Get Your Creative Juices Flowing!!!

Whimsical Women of the World Portrait Drawing Series: Week 2!

19/10/2020

0 Comments

 
I'm super excited to share week 2 of my 12-part portrait drawing series, "Whimsical Women of the World!"

I got so into this series, I've decided it's BOOK WORTHY!!! Even better - I'm inviting YOU to join me in this process!! 

Simply draw along with me in any video from the Whimsical Women of the World series, and submit a digital version of your artwork here. 

This week we are drawing a woman from India, and I've found another gorgeous art reference photo for us to use!

I've found drawing in a series is fun because it gets me out of my comfort zone! I think it's so easy to fall into a habit of drawing the same whimsical types of faces- but if we take a moment to look at all the different human facial features across our ethnicities around the world, it is just gorgeous! Not to mention all the variations of color in our skin tones... it's beautiful to work with as an artist! 
Picture

​I think you'll love our reference photo today as much as I do! 

There are a few things I found really unique about this image. I love the lighting on her face. It's rare to find a photo where a highlight goes exactly down the the center bridge of the nose! That calls for some dramatic shading - which I'm a huge fan of, so this photo really called to me.

I also love how huge her e
yelids are. They happen to be basically the same shape I love to draw for my Fun, Fab Faces, so I was thrilled to find this in a photo from real life ;) 

​As I started to draw, I did find this particular face to be a bit tricky because the top of her head actually extends off the page. This makes sketching in her eyeline a bit more difficult.  Watch how I do it in the video, and you'll be fine to do it on your own!! 
Picture

Don't beat yourself up if it doesn't look like mine, if it doesn't look like the reference photo - it's fine! We're working on learning to draw faces that are well proportioned. That is our main goal!!  

And, if you already know me, you know I find drawing realistic faces to be super stressful! I prefer to do whimsical drawings so I can just have fun!! I think whenever you add the word "WHIMSICAL" in front of what you're drawing - it gives you some grace if things don't come out exactly right!
Picture

As you'll see, I'm drawing with my blackwing pencils again today because I just LOVE how soft and smooth they are. They also have this great, rectangular eraser that makes it SO easy to erase in tiny areas. If you need an excellent eraser for bigger areas of your paper, the vanish eraser if phenomenal!! Links for both of these are in the description box of today's video if you need any new drawing supplies.
Picture
I traced a circle for my irises today. Sometimes this is just easier, so if drawing circles stress you out- use a stencil!! 

Our model has some simple earrings, but feel free to look around on Pinterest for more intricate jewelry or hairstyles for your drawing. There are so many gorgeous variations you can do for Indian women. I kept it simple because I didn't want to overwhelm anybody with too much detail. 

I tried to replicate the model's beautiful bone structure- which is super subtle, but I felt was a really important aspect of capturing her look. Because both the hair and background on my reference photo are so dark, I had to imagine a bit what her hair looks like, so drew in some little bumps to indicate a low bun.
Picture

You'll see I pulled my circle template out again to draw the bindi (this is the small dot on her forehead that indicates she's married in Hindu culture). I wanted that circle to be exact, because this is an actual sticker applied to the face and there is depth to it. 

I love how this model has other beautiful facial features that are different from what I typically draw. She has very large, dilated pupils (which I used my circle template for again!).  Her nose shape is subtly different as well. It dips down  dramatically and  even has a nose ring! Her lips are parted slightly as well -showing some teeth - which I normally avoid!! She definitely pushed me out of my comfort zone a bit, but I loved it!! It forced me to really study the image.

I believe 50% of being a good artist is having amazing observational skills! Working with the reference photos in this series will help you develop those skills even more! 
Picture

Skin tone swatching is KEY if you're shading your drawing in color. If you're doing this in colored pencils, copic markers, etc. - swatch them ahead of time so you're not surprised by anything, and know the colors blend into each other seamlessly. 

Whenever I'm shading a dark skinned face- I start with my darkest shade first, and work my way through shades until I reach the lightest color. I know it can be scary to START with the darkest shade - especially if you're working dark to light!! Just take your time and continually check in with your reference photo. I'm always asking myself, where are the darkest shadows? Where are the lightest highlights? Then I do my best to replicate this on my own drawing. 

Now onto the "ugly phase!!!" LOL... 

I believe there is ALWAYS an ugly phase. That's what stage my drawing is in right here...
Picture

If I stop working on my drawing right here and come back to it  later- it could make me want to cry because she is unfinished- looks like a weird puzzle of colors, nothing is defined, etc. THIS is the ugly phase!! It's guaranteed. We all have it in our work. PUSH THROUGH IT!!!! It happens in every medium, and if you STOP working at this stage because you think your piece is ugly- you're letting the ugly phase win. KEEP GOING. 

​TRUST ME on this!!!! 
Picture

You'll notice as I'm working color into the shading of the eyes, there is barely any white left by the time I'm done, because this is what I see in the reference photo. When you're doing a portrait - If you're shading in color, make sure you've got your GRAYS out because nothing is usually stark white, even the teeth! Look for the shadows here to make your coloring realistic by knocking back that white.
Picture

When I'm done with my markers, I layer in colored pencil to help ease the transitions between shades. Sometimes I like seeing the marker lines, and sometimes I don't. If I don't want that look showing up - I take my colored pencil and shade in the opposite direction to try and wipe out those lines. 

So if my marker lines were horizontal, I do vertical lines for my colored pencil.

I know a lot of people get discouraged if they outline a face FIRST, and then shade with copics. It can be easy to run into your outlines and end up having the outline bleed. You'll notice today I outlined LAST with my microliner to prevent the bleed from happening. You might want to try the same if you're working with alcohol markers!
Picture
When it was time to add in eyelashes, I used my pentel pocket brush, or my "secret weapon!" If you struggle with drawing eyelashes, make sure to check out the recent video from my Mixed Media channel, I give you ALL my secrets for how to draw eyelashes !!

I added twinkle in the eyes with my white paint pen. I typically do a different look with those, but love how this one turned out and will totally do it again! See what happens when you step outside your comfort zone?! 
Picture
 
For the nose ring, I just used my pencil because the reference photo showed it as being shiny metal. 
Picture

I added white colored pencil on top of the markers wherever I noticed highlights occurring in my reference photo. To punch those highlights up a bit more - I used my white gel pen or bright white posca pen. This adds more drama and dimension for me!

If you're nervous to add in highlights -start with your white colored pencil to make sure you like where the highlight is going. The colored pencil is soft, and creates a gentle first layer. 
Picture
Remember, acrylic paint pen markers are awesome to add on top of anything. So if you're using watercolor or another medium- feel free to STILL use the posca on top of your work for additional  highlights drama! 

I was excited to discover the eyelashes in this photo have "undersided" highlights, and they look SO cool!! Those marks aren't me just being "creative," that's me reading the reference and adding the detail I see in the photo to my drawing. If you feel like you want or need the reference photo for this drawing project, or the entire series - just go to AwesomeArtSchool.com. You can get all 12 of the reference photos (+ all my cheatsheets!!!!) in the YouTube Library Collection.  
Picture
Remember to enter a photo of your beautiful drawing when you're done by clicking on this link to GET PUBLISHED! 

Come join me in the studio for the 40 minute tutorial! See ya there!!! 
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Karen Campbell

    Founder of Awesome Art School.  Mixed Media Artist.  Author of 15 Instructional Art Books!

    Posting on YouTube every single Monday AND Friday of the year!  

    The Alliance of Independent Authors - Author Member

    Archives

    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018

    Categories

    All
    5 Minute Drawing Practice
    Acrylic Brushes
    Acrylic Painting Basics
    Acrylic Painting For Beginners
    Acrylic Painting On Canvas
    Acrylic Painting Supplies
    Acrylic Painting Tutorial
    Acrylic Paint Types
    Alcohol Marker Art
    Alcohol Marker Brands
    Altered Book
    Altered Book Art Journal
    Art Deco
    Art For Beginners
    Art Heals
    Artist Collaboration
    Art Journal
    Art Journal For Beginners
    Art Journal Ideas
    Art Journal Inspiration
    Art Journal Page
    Art Journal Techniques
    Art Supplies
    Art Supply Demos
    Art Supply Reviews
    Art Supply Storage
    Asian Eye Drawing
    Beginners
    Canvas Painting
    Cat Art
    Christmas Watercolor Ideas
    Collage
    Collage Ideas
    Collage Techniques
    Colored Pencils
    Copic Marker Alternative
    Copic Marker Art
    Copic Marker Drawing
    Copic Marker Tutorial
    Copic Skin Tones
    Copic Vs Ohuhu Alcohol Markers
    Craft Gem Projects
    Daniel Smith
    Daniel Smith Watercolor Palette
    Daniel Smith Watercolors
    Drawing
    Drawing A Baby Face
    Drawing Challenge
    Drawing Eyes In Pencil
    Drawing Faces
    Drawing Faces For Beginners
    Drawing Facial Features
    Drawing Female Hairstyles
    Drawing For Beginners
    Drawing Hairstyles
    Drawing Tutorial
    Ear Drawing Practice
    Easy Acrylic Painting
    Easy Drawings For Beginners
    Easy Mixed Media Projects
    Easy Owl Painting
    EASY Watercolor Tutorial
    Faber Castell Gelatos
    Face Drawing
    Face Drawing Practice
    Face Drawing Tutorial
    Face Sketch
    Fountain Pen Ink
    Free Art Lesson
    Free Lesson
    FREE Watercolor Lesson
    Full Length Drawing Tutorial
    Full Length Face Drawing Tutorial
    Full Length Mixed Media Projects
    Fun Fab Drawing Club
    Gesso Brush
    Hamburger
    How To Art Journal
    How To Color A Baby Face In Copic Markers
    How To Create A Watercolor Palette
    How To Draw
    How To Draw A 3/4 View Face
    How To Draw A Baby's Face
    How To Draw A Face
    How To Draw A Fairy
    How To Draw A Male Face
    How To Draw And Shade A Face In Copic Markers
    How To Draw And Shade A Whimsical African American Face
    How To Draw Asian Eyes
    How To Draw A Smile With Teeth
    How To Draw Bangs
    How To Draw Dreadlocks
    How To Draw Ears
    How To Draw Expressions
    How To Draw Eyebrows
    How To Draw Eyelashes
    How To Draw Eyes Realistically
    How To Draw Fairy Ears
    How To Draw Figures
    How To Draw Freckles
    How To Draw Hair
    How To Draw Lips
    How To Draw Lips Realistically
    How To Draw Noses Realistically
    How To Draw Realistic Ears
    How To Draw Teeth
    How To Draw Wrinkles
    How To Paint Eyelashes
    How To Sketch A 3 Quarter Portrait
    How To Sketch A Face
    Magical Mashup
    Mermaid
    Mixed Media
    Mixed Media Art
    Mixed Media Art Journal
    Mixed Media Art Journaling
    Mixed Media Art Supplies
    Mixed Media Art Tutorials
    Mixed Media Backgrounds
    Mixed Media Brushes
    Mixed Media Canvas
    Mixed Media Challenge
    Mixed Media Collage
    Mixed Media Collage Background
    Mixed Media Drawing
    Mixed Media Eyes
    Mixed Media Faces
    Mixed Media Girls
    Mixed Media Hamburger
    Mixed Media Paintbrushes
    Mixed Media Painting
    Mixed Media Portraits
    Mixed Media Project
    Mixed Media Society
    Mixed Media Tutorial
    Mixed Media Tutorials
    Mixed Media YouTube
    Monochromatic Drawing
    My Favorite Art Supplies
    My Favorite Watercolors
    New Book!
    No Draw Mixed Media Art Project
    Nose Drawing Practice
    Old Book Crafts
    Owl Painting
    Paint Brush Types
    Painting On Canvas
    Painting With Ink
    Paper Napkin Art Journal Background
    Pencil Drawing Tutorial
    Portrait Drawing
    Portrait Drawing Tutorial
    Profile Drawing
    Quadrant Method
    Shading Faces
    Sheet Music Art
    Side Profile Drawing
    Side View Drawing
    Sketching Tutorial
    Stabilo All Pencil Projects
    Three Quarter View Face
    Tissue Paper Art Journal Background
    Upcycled Art
    Upcycle Old Books
    Value Scale Drawing
    Vintage Book Pages
    Watercolor Brushes
    Watercolor Markers
    Watercolors
    Watercolor Supplies
    Watercolor Tutorial
    Whimsical-christmas-tree
    Whimsical-face-drawing-tutorial
    Whimsical-face-drawing-tutorial
    Whimsical Women Of The World World Portrait Drawing Series
    YouTube Drawing Channel
    Youtube-giveaway
    Youtube-video

    RSS Feed

Picture

What Fans Are Saying

Karen, you are absolutely fabulous! You make me feel like I can draw anything. I have recently retired and finally have the time to do some of the art that I have loved since I was in school. I am really at the beginning of my art journey and I hope to learn as much as I can. Thank you for all you do.

​-Jill Y.

I ordered your Fun Fab Faces book and loved it! I was having a little trouble getting the noses I wanted and now it's easy! Also, I love how you stressed how important having the three tones in your drawing is. Thanks a bunch!

-Donna L.

Thank you Karen! I never though I could do faces. You broke it down so it was understandable! And I love your book! I got it yesterday! Can't wait to start practicing! It's so much fun!!!!!

​-Debbie M.

Thank you for the encouragement to get back into my drawing and painting. After being away for 35 years.  THANK YOU.

- Teresa S.

Contact Us

  • HOME
    • About Me
    • Fan Artwork
    • Patreon
    • PORTFOLIO >
      • Mixed Media
      • Watercolors
      • Art Journals
      • Encaustic
      • Drawing
    • Press
    • Retreats
    • What Students Say...
  • Courses
    • How to Draw Fun Fab Faces
    • How to Draw MORE Fun Fab Faces
    • How to Draw Amazing Hands
    • Whimsical Women of the World
    • Mixed Media Magic
    • Fairy Tales Creative Course
    • Art of Play (6 Course Bundle)
  • Fun Fab Drawing Club
    • See ALL the Projects!!
  • MIXED MEDIA SOCIETY
    • See ALL the Projects!!
  • Books
  • Blog