Another round of life drawing exercises from the New Masters Academy youtube page. This reference set is life drawing session #32. For this set I wanted to focus on the head.
Unfortunately most of the poses in the set hide the head so I was only able to draw 2 heads. One thing I like about these timed reference poses is that it simulates real life drawing session. Part 1 (above) features 1 & 2 minute poses. Part 2 features 5 & 10 minute poses where I am able to demo some shading techniques using charcoal pencil.
Process Images

I begin with the gesture and 2D graphic shapes. Note how the shape very closely resembles the 2D shape of the model in this pose. I can almost get a likeness even at this early, graphic stage.

Next I turn 2D shapes (circles, squares, etc) into a 3D volumes. To do this, I draw planes, rhythms and construction.

Since this was a 5 minute pose, I was able to start the rendering process. To begin rendering, I design or map the shadow shape that I see on the model.

Finally I mass in, or fill in the shadow shape with a medium dark tone and the 5 minutes is finished!

For this 10 minute pose I had a little more time for rendering. Once I have a map of the shadow shape, I fill it in with a medium-dark tone.

Once the shadow is filled in, I begin to work on the core shadow which is the border between shadow and light. Here I’m beginning to darken and soften the core shadow edge.

Before time runs, I add small dark accents and reintroduce sharp edges at cast shadow areas.