As you decide where to place lost edges, consider these specific areas:

• Shadows merging into dark backgrounds: This is a natural place to lose an edge to create depth.
• Lights merging into light backgrounds: This can make highlights appear to glow.
• Core shadows: You can remove a core shadow if the dark stripe between light and shadow provides too much volume or information for a specific area.
• Distracting details: Remove information completely when small details, such as the sharp edges between teeth, distract from the main focal point.

For this project, you will be drawing a skull using the reference images provided.

Level 1

You will create a fully shaded drawing with a focus on deciding where to lose and find edges. Some reference photos have two light sources. This gives you opportunities to play with losing parts of the skull into a light background.

Don't be afraid to lose edges, find them again, and lose them again. This back-and-forth experimentation is how you discover what works.

Level 2

For a harder challenge, use the out-of-focus reference photos. Because the photos are blurry, you cannot simply copy the edges. You must interpret them to refocus attention on the center of the face. You are inventing the relationship between sharp, firm, and lost edges.

Recommended Materials

I recommend a pencil that allows you to utilize the side of the lead. You want to be able to quickly fill in areas and play with the edge freely. A sharp tip takes too long for this type of experimentation.

• Graphite Pencil: Sharpen it longer so more lead is exposed.
• Clutch Pencil: A 5mm lead works great.
• Charcoal Pencil: This is often the best option because it allows for easy smudging.

Deadline - submit by February 05, 2025 for a chance to be in the critique video!