Q&A for How to Draw a Self Portrait

What I do is I lightly go over where I want to shade with pencil, and then rub it in with my finger to help it blend.

Try taking a picture of yourself and changing the filter to the black and white setting. This should help you figure out where to shade. It's all about observing where the light and shadows fall.

Wherever you see shadow in the picture you took, shade it in the same place in your portrait. Make sure not to over-darken and be sure to blend in.

When you are sketching the rough outline, use H or HB. Then, when you're ready to shade use softer pencils like 3B.

If you have a well-defined eyebrow shape, draw the outline first, then fill in the shading and maybe some hairs. If your eyebrows are less well-defined, draw small lines (hairs) throughout the eyebrow area for a realistic effect. Do your best to copy what you see in the picture.

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If you draw yourself at different stages of life, you can see how you have improved and changed over time, almost like a diary. It also provides an idea of how your drawing skills have changed through the years.

You could use a grid, copy the same grid onto you paper lightly and then use it to help you. Try to draw what you see, and not what your brain tells you you look like.

You can use a mirror if you don't have the ability to take a photo, but that might be more difficult.

You can look in the mirror. You can also use the light source to determine where to put the shading. Another idea is to create your own light source or change it. It's up to you!

Her nose may be long but not necessarily unnaturally so. Every face is different, and every assessment is subjective. No offense was intended.

A set of drawing pencils (9B, 6B, 2B, HB/#2, 2H, 6H and a white pencil. Also pastels and charcoal. And you should get a variety of erasers, like kneaded, gum and rubber. Don't use a pen if you are a beginner.

You can use Q-tips for shading, but you can also use other shading tools such as tissues, and brushes.