Have you tried the Staedler Mars Lumograph Carbon Black pencils? they give a dense black tone and work well with standard graphite. They have a higher level of carbon in the graphite mix and are a good one to try. https://www.eckersleys.com.au/staedtler-mars-lumograph-black-artists-pencils This is ...

The reductive method sounds interesting. I have charcoal from years ago, but have never really used it because it IS messy. I’ll have to try this. One of my hobbies is card making and this looks like an interesting style for cards (after a fixative is added, of course). Hotlips-What a great name for...

I agree Pogart “understanding of the skull, definitely will benefit while shading the face features, etc.”. It explains why so many good artists have books on skeletal structures as well as actual skeletons! Thank you Mile and Laurene on your positive comments concerning the feathers. There is alway...

Impressive work Kurt. As always I enjoy Mike’s thoughtful comments and how he can bring insight to some of the best work!

I had previously attempted this picture, which I have decided to post (not the best picture, my computer crashed taking all my files with it, so this scan was done after my picture was framed, through the glass, I think that is where the green came from). I have included the original artists work as...

I’ll try making sections a bit darker. Even though this is a sample, not my final artworkI I will use your suggestion of making a copy to work on. It will save time and frustration

With the kind permission of artist Zindy Nielsen (she sells her art on Etsy) I am attempting my own version of her stylized owl profile. I came up with the brilliant (?) idea of having the highlight be a moon rising over mountains. Here is my first attempt. I'm not sure how to make it look like a mo...

Very Impressive!

A degree in Scientific Illustration-that has to be satisfying-I didn’t know such a degree existed!

the clothes, the hair the picture in the background all are drawn in a way to help tell your story. However, the eyes really carry the story. You caught what is, at least in the USA military called the “thousand yard stare” meaning someone who has seen a lot of combat and/or the darker side of life....