Portrait Pages #1: Behind the sketch

I’ve always found peace in drawing, well it’s my little escape, my way of expressing things I can’t always say out loud. Recently, I started working on this sketch of a girl, and I thought I’d share a bit about the process behind it.  I started by sketching her face lightly with a pencil. I always begin with basic shapes like a circle for the head, some guiding lines for the eyes, nose, and lips. From there, I slowly shaped her features, making adjustments until things looked just right. For me, the eyes are the most powerful part of any portrait. I put a lot of care into one eye first, really trying to make it feel alive, especially that all I use is a cheap pencil. I added details like lashes and shading, and left the other eye softer for now, just a guide for later. It’s funny how even a half-finished face can already tell a story. The hand near her face was a bit tricky, but I really wanted to include it. It adds a nice touch of attitude, like she’s posing naturally, maybe even playfully. The flow of her sleeves and hair helped make the whole piece feel more alive and less stiff. And now, she's finally complete. After hours of sketching, erasing, and redrawing, I can finally step back and take it all in. It’s a surreal feeling, seeing how a simple idea that once lived only in my head has now fully taken shape on paper. I know I am not that good enough but at least I have something i can be proud of. Finishing a drawing is always a relief for me. I see the version of myself who just kept going even when I wasn’t sure how it would turn out. That’s the thing about art: you don’t always know where it’s going, but you keep showing up anyway. And somehow, that makes it all the more rewarding. This project reminded me why I love drawing in the first place. I hope that when others see it, they feel a little of that connection too. Thanks for reading and for coming along this little drawing journey with me. 🖤