To continue our journey towards a beautiful painting, we begin where we left off, while still rendering a drawing and getting the values correct.  Again, remember that with every finished drawing, painting in the correct value scale becomes easier.  Before we dive in again, I wanted to share with you some of the most inspiring drawings in a classical manner that I’ve seen.  Let these motivate you to continue!  Skill comes through correct instruction, desire, and a little bit of natural inclination.

Serena, by Jacob Collins, 2004

Inbal, by Joshua LaRock, 12"x14", 2007

As you are looking back and forth from the model to your paper, don’t worry about the midtones right now, they will figure themselves out.  Look at the shapes that the dark and light create.  Remember that you can’t create form by COPYING values, because our value range as artists is more limited than in real life.  You must compress the values to create something with sculptural integrity–like a block of marble.  Think about making it an experience of volume on the page.  Take big swaths with the chisel of your pencil.  When you do start to think about midtones, tread lightly!  The dark light is turning with the form until it kisses the shadow.  Every form goes through the same gradation of lights and darks.  It’s just how fast it goes through all the gradations.  In the light, the value changes are less than you think they should be.  Hairlines are a soft transition from skin tones.  If by the end of this drawing session, the form isn’t round enough, then the shadows need to be darker and the form light lighter.

Drawing by Steven Assael