Portrait Sketch of a Person Staring

This is a portrait sketch of a person staring off into the distance. The drawing started as a colored pencil sketch in a redish, purplish maroon color. Placement and proportion of facial features were established for deliberate and expressive black marker strokes to be layered over the top. The kinetic style of the marker lines adds a dynamic and lively energy to contrast the somber facial expression. A white gel pen was used to add highlights and fill in the whites of the eyes, creating a stark contrast that pops against the neutral toned tan paper background and surrounding black marker. A thin red pen enhances shadows and helps blend the edges of the dark black marker with the light colored pencil. The person’s face sits slightly below the viewer’s eyeline as the person stares with a slightly furrowed brow off to the right of the viewer.