Realistic Portrait 070411

First time I've done a realistic portrait like this in over a year. FEELS GOOD, MAN.

This is the first time I've actually used a range of pencils and charcoal together in an image to achieve a wider range of values (I used to just use an HB pencil!) Something I realized while doing this picture (compared to realistic portraits I've done in the past) is that I have much finer control over a pencil than I used to. This certainly makes it easier shading large areas.

Anyway, it's neat to see how my practicing stylization has helped my realism, as well. And in case you're wondering, this is referenced from some nameless guy in a photography magazine.. although it doesn't look much like him due to wonky proportions. : P

Now I just need some fixative before this entire picture rubs off...

B range pencils and willow charcoal in sketchbook