This time I started with a more fluid gesture, refined the structure, then tried to exaggerate or alter certain lines to make them more interesting. I’m not sure how successful I was, but I think I’m starting to understand this exercise a little better.

Here’s another one. I tried to be mindful of how the viewer’s eye moves through the form but I’m not sure whether it actually makes sense or I’ve just been staring at it for too long, LOL! I’m still having a hard time designing the shapes in a way that’s different from what I’m seeing in the reference.

I’m finding it challenging to sketch without cleaning up my lines! I’m going to try a few without allowing myself to erase anything.

Another attempt. This one was harder than my previous one, I think. It’s funny how obvious the mistakes become once you layer the sketch over the photo! I’m happy with the jaw line but her eyes are obviously too high. General observation: noses are strange and hard to draw!

Llamas and cows!

c3rmen’s original work on the left followed by my study. This was a lot harder than I expected, given how simple the piece is versus the Joshua Black studies that I did previously.

Another Joshua Black study. Original artwork on the left, followed by my study and then my initial lay-in. I need to do quite a bit of lay-in work to establish where everything should go before starting the actual line quality study. My lay-in lines and process are surely different from the artist who I’m studying, but I find it difficult to focus on their technique until I have a solid foundation.

Joshua Black’s original sketch, my study, and my drawing coach, Francine.

Here are my references, study sketches, and my final sketch from imagination.