# Drawing portrait in progress **URL:** \ **Category:** Critique Corner\ **Created:** [December 30, 2020, 10:53pm UTC](https://www.smartermarx.com/t/drawing-portrait-in-progress/1243 "2020-12-30T22:53:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![tracy1400858](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/www.smartermarx.com/tracy1400858/32/2457_2.png) [@tracy1400858](https://www.smartermarx.com/u/tracy1400858)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2020, 10:53pm UTC](https://www.smartermarx.com/t/drawing-portrait-in-progress/1243/1 "2020-12-30T22:53:30Z")
![image](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/uploads/smartmarx/original/2X/0/0ccf928da67eeabd7407e88c452b8fb6e874fba7.jpeg) Practicing portraiture in charcoal and pastel. It’s taken me about 30 hours so far; having fun with it, building up the layers of pigments. I took a photo of some girl guides selling calendars while on vacation in Portugal a few years back. Any feedback or suggestions is welcome, thanks so much for looking! [image|666x500](https://www.smartermarx.com/uploads/short-url/2ivuV2CpW1ZE3g1XCUUim6dTfCK.jpeg) ![image](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/uploads/smartmarx/original/2X/2/2a8ce284f154ff69fa572d6c7aa57c11872bcf1c.jpeg) Here is the picture that I used, and my set up. I don’t grid, I just wing it and pray alot​:crazy\_face:😁 I’m really trying to build up the medium and fill in the drawing, working on the gradation and tonal values. ---
**Author:** ![martin](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/www.smartermarx.com/martin/32/1707_2.png) [@martin](https://www.smartermarx.com/u/martin)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2020, 3:25pm UTC](https://www.smartermarx.com/t/drawing-portrait-in-progress/1243/2 "2020-12-31T15:25:24Z")
Wow Tracy, looks super, I love the way you handle the wispiness of the hair. Also - I know it’s probably because you’re not finished; but I think the way the drawing fades out to the more unresolved pencil at the bottom looks very cool. If it were my drawing I would definitely be tempted to leave it like that for effect. ---
**Author:** ![tracy1400858](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/www.smartermarx.com/tracy1400858/32/2457_2.png) [@tracy1400858](https://www.smartermarx.com/u/tracy1400858)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2020, 5:13pm UTC](https://www.smartermarx.com/t/drawing-portrait-in-progress/1243/3 "2020-12-31T17:13:59Z")
Thanks so very much, Martin! Yes, I will try and leave some of the paper; hopefully it doesn’t look too stupid, but if it does I can always fill it in!! 🤪 Thanks again!! ---
**Author:** ![Pejmann](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/www.smartermarx.com/pejmann/32/1371_2.png) [@Pejmann](https://www.smartermarx.com/u/Pejmann)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2021, 9:56am UTC](https://www.smartermarx.com/t/drawing-portrait-in-progress/1243/4 "2021-01-01T09:56:00Z")
Hello Tracy. It’s a very beautiful and very inspiring drawing. Could you also publish the original photo because I find sometimes it’s difficult to give suggestions without comparing with the source. ---
**Author:** ![AWaichulis](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/www.smartermarx.com/awaichulis/32/2859_2.png) [@AWaichulis](https://www.smartermarx.com/u/AWaichulis)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2021, 6:35pm UTC](https://www.smartermarx.com/t/drawing-portrait-in-progress/1243/5 "2021-01-01T18:35:41Z")
Fantastic Tracy!!! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![alexandra1583942](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/www.smartermarx.com/alexandra1583942/32/2345_2.png) [@alexandra1583942](https://www.smartermarx.com/u/alexandra1583942)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2021, 1:27am UTC](https://www.smartermarx.com/t/drawing-portrait-in-progress/1243/6 "2021-01-02T01:27:11Z")
Gorgeous work. Love how you handled the braids and folds/creases in the shirt and the shadows across the face and head. Just a really lovely job. ---
**Author:** ![tracy1400858](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/www.smartermarx.com/tracy1400858/32/2457_2.png) [@tracy1400858](https://www.smartermarx.com/u/tracy1400858)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2021, 5:07am UTC](https://www.smartermarx.com/t/drawing-portrait-in-progress/1243/7 "2021-01-02T05:07:07Z")
Thank you so much for your feedback! I posted the drawing and my set up . ---
**Author:** ![tracy1400858](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/www.smartermarx.com/tracy1400858/32/2457_2.png) [@tracy1400858](https://www.smartermarx.com/u/tracy1400858)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2021, 5:07am UTC](https://www.smartermarx.com/t/drawing-portrait-in-progress/1243/8 "2021-01-02T05:07:50Z")
Thank you, Alexandra- I appreciate your comment!! ---
**Author:** ![tracy1400858](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/www.smartermarx.com/tracy1400858/32/2457_2.png) [@tracy1400858](https://www.smartermarx.com/u/tracy1400858)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2021, 5:08am UTC](https://www.smartermarx.com/t/drawing-portrait-in-progress/1243/9 "2021-01-02T05:08:15Z")
Thanks so much, Anthony!