Portrait of a Despondent Man with a Beard

This is a portrait of a man with a beard looking despondent. The portrait was initially drawn with pen using a loose style to create the shape of the face, beard and head. Time was taken to identify placement and proportions of the eyes, nose and mouth and their relation to the overall size of the face. Grey markers and water were used to add subtle shadows throughout the man’s face and beard. A white gel pen was used to add a few subtle highlights over previously dark areas, notably in the eyes. Most gel pen highlights are camouflaged by the stark white of the acrylic gesso paper. The open white spaces contrast a raw unsettling sharpness with emotional eyes, calm expression and soft shadows. The man gazes forward, slightly down, signaling a subtle sadness in thought and quiet determination in combination with the straight closed mouth.