Contest alert- All in one contest W20: Food challenge and Writing expedition

Warmest greetings to you all and compliments of the season. It's me again, @emmaboy23, and today I would like to share one of my latest pencil drawings with you all. For the "Contest alert—All in one contest W20: Food challenge and Writing expedition contest update," organized by @steemkidss, I decided to create a portrait of a young lady, focusing on expression, balance, and smooth shading. This artwork was approached not just as a finished piece but as a learning process, and in this post I will walk you through how I created the portrait step by step, just as I experienced it on paper. Stay tuned.

Drawing items

• A4 paper

• mechanical pencil

• HB pencil

• charcoal pencil

• 4B and 6B pencils

• black pen

• eraser

• sharpener

Step 1

I first began with the eyes. The eyes were my main priority, as they often decide whether a portrait feels alive or lifeless. I carefully shaded the pupils and irises, leaving small highlights untouched to reflect light. The eyebrows were drawn with controlled strokes, following the natural growth pattern of hair.

Step 2

After the eyes, I moved on to the nose and lips. Instead of outlining them heavily, I used shading to define their form. The nose was shaped using soft shadows along the sides, while the lips were shaded gradually to show volume without harsh lines. This technique helps maintain a realistic and gentle look.

Step 3

Next I shaded the face using my pencils. Shading the face was done slowly and carefully. I identified the light source and shaded accordingly, adding darker tones under the cheekbones, around the nose, and beneath the chin. I blended the pencil strokes smoothly to avoid rough patches, allowing the face to look soft and natural.

Step 4

After doing that, I worked on the hair. The hair was drawn in sections, following its natural flow. I avoided drawing individual strands randomly and instead focused on larger shapes first. The tied-up bun was built using curved strokes and layered shading to create volume.

Step 5

After completing that part, I then worked on drawing the hands and neck and shoulder, and then using my 4B and charcoal pencil, I shaded them accordingly.

Step 6

For the final step, I quickly went through the entire drawing and then added more contrast with my 6B and charcoal pencil to make it captivating to see, and finally, below is my final result.

My selfie with me and my drawing

In conclusion, this portrait taught me once again that realism is achieved through observation, patience, and control. Each step, from sketching to final shading, played an important role in the final outcome, and I am happy to see the result. Thanks for sticking with me till the end.

Inviting

@sadaf02

@arjinarahman

@us-andrew

@dequeen

Cc @steemkidss

THANK YOU ALL