Piglet in graphite and charcoal C&C and help

[Mettaphorica]

Ok, I'll dive in. This is the first time I've done a graphite drawing. It started off as drawing practice in my sketchbook, but then seem to want to be developed.
I've been doing mostly cartoon characters for the last year, one or two CP pieces, but never realised how lovely graphite/charcoal can be. I probably need to dabble in it a bit more, since I struggled so much with values in CP, probably too new.

I started off using the smudging method, but really, I seem to think that he looks better without it, although still it's there. Once I did the blending/smudging,it's impossible to take away completely, and I'm just not sure which way to go with it. So some is blended/smudged, some is free strokes. He's got some minute crazy-silly cute little kinked furs on his chin, and the blending took away from that, so I left them as strokes. What do you think?

As I was progressing, I came across JD Hillberry (as you do) and his demos on getting really dark values by combining charcoal and carbon with graphite. Up to that point, I'd only been using 2b a la Lee Hammond. So then I started incorporating some charcoal, but at this stage it was hard to get blended in. I don't think I've done too badly for a first go.

With the grass/hay or whatever it is I've produced, I tried Mike Sibley's negative drawing for grass, intending to get straw like in the source pic, but I didn't succeed. I don't' care now if it isn't exact, but just want it look ok, if you have any suggestions there. I've done the shadows under the belly between the legs, but am unsure how to finish it. I though of possibly doing a vignette to balance that out, but I've read some artist's don't recommend them. You can see I've also made his eye a little more animated than in the picture. I think it's better, but I have to be careful, I lean toward a cartoony style, I think, because that's all I've practiced the last year. His ear doesn't look finished to me, either.

Finally, the pic was taken slightly on an angle and I didn't realise the effect it might have, so if it looks slightly wonky, he wasn't photographed head-on. Also seem to have come out bluish, despite my trying to adjust them, so there's 2 versions. All help appreciated to help finish him, (and I don't mean a bacon sandwich!!!) and please be gentle!
thanks
cheers
Donna




Source pic also below:

[kevinwueste]

Hi Donna - I'm sure much smarter folks will comment but I was reading and looking and.. well I will give you some thoughts.

1. Next time - do your absolute best to photograph head-on with as little distortion as possible -or - know one will know what you really accomplished and it will all look wonky -ish!
2. The split highlight on his ( her?) left eye - it is a no go - and does not serve the volume of a dark eye. I would not draw things you cannot see - not yet.
3. Generally the features on the head could be a bit bigger ( just like a human baby, the features tend to appear larger given the smaller head size..
3a. Check the angle/tilt of his nasal bone and nasolabial elevator (above/behind his snout/nose).. it is very different from the ref and is affecting the correctness of the shapes ( I might be tempted to say - the likeness!).
4. Compare and carefully measure the snout to size of head and the relative positions and sizes of the ear, eye and snout.. the snout seems about the right size - just needs location adjustment
4a - check the ear tilts - very different and the right ear needs to fall back even more ( and compare it to the eye location as well.
5. His jaw bone needs more "there" there.. you have retreated it more than it appears..

10. Value - can you really see that mouth shape - like a line ? I know you're in the midst of the drawing - but we can't see that so let's perhaps not draw that! Instead, draw the forms - in the correct relative value on your drawing ( everything under the snout is in some quality of shadow. With that level of shadow, your edge-quality will soften and begin to lose clarity - that's good - that's how it works IRL.

There's more but that's probably enough in one gulp!
* skipped a few numbers as this is what came across as important to me

-Kevin

ps no blending is needed..

[michaeleric]

Donna, Kevin has given you a lot to chew on on the piglet itself so I'll just say, you're doing great for a first time drawing. Enjoying the process is half the battle won because out of your passion you will learn the technical stuff that comes over time and practice.
The background is a bit tricky. The shadow in the pic was caused by the piglet behind the one you've drawn. Without him/her more light would have come through. I would try to lighten it with a putty rubber, by dabbing it, and try to get some straw in there. You could extend the straw more into the background. The photo was taken from above so without that other little piglet, again, you would see the straw extending into the background more.
No bacon sandwich . How about the little one that's in the way of your drawing?

[SparrowHawk7]

I was looking at your drawing and all set to comment when I saw Kevin's evaluation ... I was too late, sigh. BUT ... I DO have one thing to add ... ... be careful about making animals smile unless that is your intention. Cats are notoriously tricky with this because their normal mouth shape stops just shy of a smile ... this little guy has a straighter mouth - it's crooked but straighter.

But in spite of all the suggestions, this is a very nice drawing so far. I'm generally not a fan of blending - especially when there is any fur involved but that's a personal preference. The fur on the top of his snout and up is done well. Once you finish it over his body it will come out very nicely.

[luicre]

Donna, all the comments from Kevin, Michale and Ken are of good help!


I just wanted to say that I looove that piggie...is so sweet....


Have a nice time drawing, Donna...

Saludos
Luicre

[Hoofnpaw]

Great suggestions you have gotten. I want to say I think this is an excellent drawing for a first time!

Sean

[ArtsyBren]

Donna, I really think you have done a great job for a first graphite drawing!It looks like a pig and since that is what you were after, well done girl!

The guys have given you great advice so I won't add anything. A little tweaking here and there and this will be marvelous!

[Mettaphorica]

Hi all
sorry it's taken me so long to get back to you. All your feedback has been really helpful.
Kevin, at this stage of the game, I won't be changing the pig's head; I'm afraid of erasing thru the paperthough I see what you mean, Kevin and take your suggestions on board, and it's helped me with my next pic, so although there was indeed a lot of things wrong, I may be better with next pic, so I'm not scared away, yet!

thank you all for your feedback and comments.
Michael: the comments about light and straw was really observant, and I shall go that route, I think, and create more straw. Thank you, the comments have helped me be more observant with my next outline, which I will post for comment some time soon.
cheers
Donna