Seduced By Wilde

His portrait, that is. For the past eight days I had been working on my latest art project, a graphite portrait of Oscar Wilde. My writing was put on the back burner for the entire time I worked on this, the reason because I was just too caught up into drawing this picture, and I was anguishing over the current scene. Nothing was coming out like I wanted, so a little time away was in order, and what better way to take a break from writing than to draw something, especially if that something is Wilde. So, without further ado, I will take you on a photo by photo progression of my work. Also, the photo quality is pretty crappy, not professional in any way, just so you know.

Days 1-2:

Outline of Oscar complete. I started the outline by doing some minor tracing (yeah, I cheated a little) with my light box just to get the major lines down, then I drew in the finer details of which even those changed as I progressed with the drawing. I started that on Dec. 1st, but couldn't finish it until the following day since the boyfriend decided he wanted to go out for his birthday or something. The nerve! Anyway, on Dec. 2nd I finished the outline and took a picture of it, and enhanced the crappy photo so the light line work would show. After the photo was taken I shaded in the background.

Day 3:

The background shaded, I had the idea to add in Oscar's signature to all of the open space on the upper left hand side of the drawing. So I scoured the internet (in about two minutes) and printed off a copy of his signature with the printer. Then I took my softest pencil (8B) and rubbed it over the back of the paper beneath the signature, then I set it where I wanted the signature to be and traced over it with a pencil, transferring the signature onto the drawing. I then darkened the transferred image with a 2B pencil. I then worked on the arm of the chair, his arm, hand, gloves, cuff, and part of the coat. I start with the lightest shade first and darken as I go, shading in layers over layers because it is easier to erase a mistake when it's light than when it's dark. My principle pencils (Staedtler Mars Lumographs) are shades 2B and 4B, but I also used HB and 6B here. 2B and 4B are my workhorse pencils for this drawing. I also used tortillions and blending stumps and a kneaded eraser for the blending of shapes and shadows, and lifting of graphite for highlights.

Detail of hand.

Detail of signature.

Day 4:

He now has a leg, shoulder, part of the breast of his coat and collar, and the staff is shaded in. The blackest areas I used pencil 7B which must not be graphite (as well as 8B) because of the difference in the shininess and overall look of the blackness. I used it on his coat.

Days 5-6:

Day five proved to be a day where I didn't accomplish much. I drew the hair on the right (our left) side of his head and that was it. I was actually busy that day and had only enough time to work on that little. As you can see from the progression photos, I was working left to right. I'm right-handed, so to keep from smudging any areas I have worked, I just work in sections going left to right. Day six I finished his hair, face, hand, left shoulder, and part of the breast of his coat.

Detail of face.

Days 7-8

Day seven (Dec. 7) proved to be the day I accomplished the most with this drawing. By now I was reaching the 3/4 mark, and by then on any drawing I am getting tired of working on it and wanted it done. I spent most of that day working on this drawing and little else. I finished everything but his leg from about the crotch area on down. I finished the chair he is sitting on as well. Day eight (Dec. 8) I finished his leg, which didn't turn out as good as I would have liked, but by now I didn't care and wanted it done. I also added more shading to his cheek and drew in the dark border around the image.

Hope you enjoyed my day by day progression with the fabulous Oscar Finagal O'Flahertie Wills Wilde (what a name, makes me exhausted just reading it). Now to get back to torturing  Vlad and his friends.