BRIDAL PORTRAIT

BRIDAL PORTRAIT 
Special occasion photos, such as a bridal portrait, provide great references for drawing people. When drawing a bride, focus on capturing the key elements that symbolize the event, such as the veil, bouquet, and gown. The details of these objects are always unique to the particular subject, making it easy to achieve a likeness. Pay special attention to the way the gown and veil drape, the small details on the gown, the way the veil fits on the bride's head, and how her hair is styled. Finally, be sure to capture the glowing expression on her face!

Step One With an HB pencil, sketch in the shape of the figure. (Notice that this particular subject is only 6-1/2 heads tall.) Start with an oval for the head, and then block in the basic shapes of the veil, dress, and bouquet. Check the proportions before continuing. Make sure that the skirt of the gown is long enough in relation to the bodice and that you haven't made the head too small or too big in relation to the body. (You may find it easier to get the proportions right if you block in the subject's entire body first, then draw the clothing over it.) Once you're happy with the basic outlines, add guidelines for the facial features, curving them as necessary for the three-quarter view. 

Step Two Using the facial guidelines, place the eyes, eye­ brows, nose, mouth, and ear. The ear sits high on the head because the face is tilted down. Begin finding the location of the folds in the dress and veil, and sketch in placement lines. Remember that the way a fabric drapes depends on the thickness of the fabric as well as the form underneath it. Then block in the flower shapes inside the oval bouquet shape, and indicate the necklace with one line where it lays on her neck. 

Step Three Switch to a B pencil. Then shade the pullback hair, working from the hairline toward the crown and curving the strokes around the head. Be sure to leave the white highlight near the front of the head, as shown. Next lightly shade the dress and the veil to indicate the folds, always thinking about where the light is coming from. Be sure to leave strong highlights along the ridges of the veil to suggest the translucency of the filmy, white fabric. Shade the flowers in the bouquet, suggesting the shapes of the different types of flowers. Now refine the facial features, darkening the eyes and lips and creating the shape of the nose. Then begin to lightly shade the skin of the face, chest, and arm. It's important not to make the skin too dark; use a kneaded eraser to pull out some of the tone or create highlights as needed. 

Step Four Finally, refine the shading by adding more lay· ers of strokes where darker values are needed. Keep the shading smooth, applying the strokes very lightly and close together. Use a kneaded eraser to create some white edges on the veil To soften the shading and give the material a more realistic appearance, lightly use a tortilla on a few areas of the veil and dress. Add more shading to the flow· era, Using a 2B pencil in the darkest areas. Use the same pencil to further shade the hair, still leaving some white along the front for shine. Finish by using diagonal strokes with a 3B pencil to shade the background, which helps the white veil and dress stand out from the white paper.