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A Pencil Version

Based on the photo reference of Billie Burke used in other efforts recently, I did this mechanical pencil drawing of her earlier today. The substrate is Bienfang watercolor paper (140 lb.).  The area surrounding the figure is gesso'd; the figure is not.

I added the line work/shading of the glove and coat elements after completing the face.  The face looks lovely by itself.  So, those addition elements distract a bit from the face's elegance.  In any case, I like this piece and am calling it done (for now anyway).  

My next effort is to turn the reference photo upside down and draw it that way.  I wonder if or how much it will resemble her.


    

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