Artist's Drawing & Inspiration
Behind Closed Doors
From selecting a photograph until the artwork is finalised, this artist takes meticulous care through every step along the way.
STEP ONE
My first step is to always seek the reference photo or photos/images from which I will work. There are a few different sites on the internet that offer reference images for use, either for a fee or free. I also find it easier to have a plan for the whole work, otherwise I tend to find
I get halfway through a drawing/ artwork and either do not know what to do, or the artwork doesn’t work.
STEP TWO
Preparation of the paper and reference photos. I use a grid to draw the outline to get the proper proportions, especially when enlarging images.
I do a one centimetre grid on the reference photo – which I usually do on a transparency sheet so I can reuse it to make it easier, and then draw a grid on the paper matching the number of squares between the two. In this drawing I am enlarging by 3, so on the paper the squares are 3x3cm.
STEP THREE
Draw an outline of the image onto the paper using the grid.
STEP FOUR
This is where I start to shade, generally starting towards the left hand side because I am right handed. I always have a piece of tracing paper to lean on, over the paper to help stop smudging and dirty marks. Because the background is black I will also leave it until last to help stop smudging.
STEP FIVE
Now after shading in the girl, I will now do the background. With this I used a 6b pencil and a blending stump, doing one section at a time, and cleaning with the white door frame as I go with a rubber. I also sprayed the piece with fixative to help stop smudging.
FINAL STEP
After completing the background, I sprayed it all with the fixative, and then ruled the lines on for the screen on the door. After completing the screen, I went once more over the white door frame with a rubber to clean it up then sprayed one last time with fixative. Now it’s finished.