Some of you have asked me about how to use the Face Map Stencils so I thought I’d give you a little demo on one of the ways you can use them.
Using a simple pencil you can trace through the stencil for the face guidelines. This is a great way to fearlessly practice your sketching, shading and drawing techniques.
Start with a light 4H lead and begin to add some cross hatching to the areas that need shading. This helps you to begin defining the planes of the face and determine where your highlights will be. It’s easy to change things when you start out light. NOTE: I went darker on the outlines so you would be able to see them in the photos, you would want to go much lighter.
Smudge out your shading with a blending stump. Stumps are great tools for drawing. They are cheap and will help you move the graphite around on the paper and soften the lines.
Add more cross hatching with softer leads, try a 2B
Blend this out with the stump as well, and continue on building tonal values in your work. Remove graphite as needed with a kneaded eraser.
You will want to have mostly mid tone values with a few very dark tones to emphasize the facial features.
Add hair and continue tweaking until you feel your drawing is finished. It’s amazing but even with starting from a stencil, each drawing will end up with different look and you can change up the features as you become more confident in your drawing skills. The guidelines can be erased when you are finished.
Here are some other examples of using the stencils for both sketching and in journal work.
December 6th, 2012 at 5:38 pm
Your work always is inspiring. Thank you for ALWAYS sharing.
December 6th, 2012 at 8:39 am
Pam, what a generous spirit you have! This is a great incentive to keep drawing regardless of the holiday swirl. Thanks so much for this wonderful lesson.
December 6th, 2012 at 5:54 am
Great post! Love these stencils and the AMAZING art you’ve created with them! Very inspiring!
December 5th, 2012 at 3:03 pm
Pam, thank you for taking the time to do that instruction. It was greatly beneficial! Now I’ll definitely order the stencils. Pat B
December 5th, 2012 at 9:07 am
Thanks Pam this was helpful
December 4th, 2012 at 9:46 pm
The stencils look terrific, where do we buy them?
December 5th, 2012 at 11:13 am
Hi Judy, just click on the stencil image and it will take you right to the site:-)
December 4th, 2012 at 6:57 pm
So cool Pam! Makes me want to try it too
December 4th, 2012 at 6:30 pm
Hi Pam,
I loved the way you used the stencils to do your faces. Maybe if I’d have had them while I was an art major, I would be a famous portrait artist!
great job and when I get the stencils (hopefully winning them), I will use your tutorial.
thanks bunches,
Lynne Sward
December 4th, 2012 at 4:20 pm
Yay, finally I will be able to draw a profile that won’t look like a misshapen monster LOL
Definitely will be purchasing these stencils, Thank you for designing them Pam.
December 4th, 2012 at 1:45 pm
love it! great help for those of us who have some “challenges” Thanks!!!
December 4th, 2012 at 12:53 pm
Hi Pam…even though I took your portrait workshop, I found this to be a very helpful refresher, and I especially LOVE the way you integrated the sketches into your journal work…very inspiring! Thanks, as always!
December 4th, 2012 at 12:45 pm
thank you so much Pam..this is so kind of you to show this great shading technique to us …I have to practice more… it is so easy to follow your instructions! Have to say a big thank you..
I enjoy each free tutorial ( Stampington, Facebook, here)
and have to say that you are an awesome guide and teacher!
December 4th, 2012 at 12:28 pm
Wow – really a lot of great ideas- thanks for you time and sharing with us! Sometimes it helps to have a starting point……
December 4th, 2012 at 11:50 am
Pam, last winter here in New Zealand I found you somehow. My winter was transformed into an engaging learning experience which opened so many door in my art practice. I wonder if you ever sleep? Lol. Many thanks to you.
December 4th, 2012 at 11:27 am
I love these stencils!! Thank you so much!
December 4th, 2012 at 11:21 am
Wow! After today’s email with the gift instruction on the face stencils, I am really hoping I am fortunate enough to win the faces stencil. Thank you again Pam for showing us even more of how to do better art. You are so generous and it is so nice to have an artist like you to show us how to do better art..
December 4th, 2012 at 11:04 am
Cool!! Thank you!
December 4th, 2012 at 10:22 am
Thank you!! Very, very helpful!
December 4th, 2012 at 10:18 am
Thank you!!!!!Thank you!!!!!
December 4th, 2012 at 10:09 am
wonderful Pam!! tremendously helpful, and I’m on my way to order the stencils. thanks!! xoxo