Pencil drawing tutorial // my pencil portrait drawing of laughter

emmaboy23 (68)in Steem For Bangladesh • 3 days ago (edited)

Greetings, and you are all welcome to my blog. I am @emmaboy23, and I am excited to be here to share my creativity with you all. Art has a special way of freezing emotions in time, and nothing speaks louder than a genuine, uncontrollable laugh. When I chose the reference for this drawing, I wasn’t just attracted to the facial features—I was pulled in by the emotion. I didn’t just want to draw a face; I wanted to capture that emotion, that moment where joy overflows and becomes unforgettable. For my post today, I decided to challenge myself by recreating that energy using only my pencil and my creativity. Below are the steps.

Drawing materials

• A4 paper

• mechanical pencil

• graphite pencil

• charcoal pencil

• 6B and 4B pencils

• eraser

• sharpener

• black pen

Step 1

I began by defining the eyes and nose. The eyes were slightly wide, full of excitement and energy. I carefully outlined the upper and lower lids, then added small strokes to suggest the lashes. I kept the eyebrows light and natural, making sure they followed the emotion of the face.

Step 2

Next was the mouth. Since it was wide open in laughter, it required careful attention to detail. I sketched the outline of the lips and then lightly placed the teeth inside the space. Instead of drawing each tooth with harsh lines, I suggested them with subtle divisions to keep the smile natural.

Step 3

Next I worked on the shading of the face; using my 2B pencil, I carefully and gently added shadows under the cheekbones, around the jawline, and beneath the chin.

Step 4

Next came the hair—wild, free, and full of motion. I didn’t want it to look flat or stiff, so I avoided outlining it heavily. Instead, I used quick, flowing strokes to suggest strands and movement. I layered darker tones where the hair was more concentrated and left lighter areas where the light might hit. I added a few loose strands crossing the face to make the drawing feel more realistic and spontaneous.

Step 5

Here I worked on the shading and structure of the neck; using my 4B and 2B pencils, I lightly shaded the neck and added subtle shading around the shoulder too.

Step 6

Finally, I refined the details. I erased unnecessary guidelines, sharpened certain lines, and darkened the areas that needed more definition. My drawing was now complete.

My selfie with my drawing

Sharing my work here in this community is not only about participation but also about growth, creativity, and inspiring others to express themselves freely. I believe art is meant to be shared, and I am proud to present this as proof of my growth, passion, and love for creative expression. I look forward to learning from others and continuing my journey, one portrait at a time. Thank you for sticking with me till the end.

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