Sketchbook session: study of a Nicolai Fechin portrait

In the third part of this sketchbook series I’ll be doing another master study exercise: this time of a portrait drawing by Nicolai Fechin. Hope you’ve enjoyed!

The drawing took 45 mins - but I’ve sped up a little to make watching easier.

Links

Equipment:
- blackwing matte pencil and sharpener (but any pencil is fine)
- eraser - I love a tombow mono zero and a kneaded eraser
- smudging - paper stump
- sketchbook - moleskine art book

Key moments:
- materials: 00:00
- initial sketch: 00:22
- Fechin’s artwork: 02:46
- smudging: 06:06
- refining facial features: 07:39
- hair: 12:13
- finishing touches: 14:46
-finished drawing: 18:36

[jerryaubill]

Absolutely love your style.
Beautiful work...keep posting!

[glenda]

I love your gentle, narration style, it’s so generous and intimate. Thank you. Vulnerable admission about tilt issues, I suffer the same disease. Great tip for cleaning smudged, I have sanded, but that changes the angle, love the kneaded tip. I’ve been using that BW matte on a toothed paper and not enjoying the “noise”.

Also, if your nails are stained from gardening, I love you even more. 🌸🙃🤭🥰

[jdawson]

Thank you for posting these drawing lessons. I've really learned a lot and I'm starting to draw more often now that I've begun using a small sketchbook in addition to larger sketch pad drawings. Please keep posting!

[Sheepadventures]

I discovered your channel yesterday, and I am loving your content. Subscribed x
Thank you so much for all you share, very inspiring to me 😊 love and light xxx

[ziksarthi]

beautiful sketch!! thank you for sharing.. :)

[MACEASY]

Thankyou for introducing me to Nikolai Fechin, who I'd never heard of before. I love the examples of his work you showed, and will now investigate further.
Also, thank you for a very clear demonstration of your approach, I find it very helpful and it is not full of the usual 'method' like Loomis etc which I can never get to work very well. Your approach seems much more intuitive and holistic. It is also very gentle and soothing!

[RobbScottVideos]

Thanks for sharing your videos. I enjoy watching the creative process.

[amjadwyne]

Loved it. Your approach is unique with excellent brief explanations and pointer. I have already subscribed to your channel. Definitely look forward to viewing more of your portraits drawing. Thanks for sharing your talent.

[recreepy]

Impressive achievement—congratulations!

[patrickhalloran]

Good example of working small . I tend to do this a lot — I like your technique.

[shibanisatapathy]

Thank you sooo much for uploading these sketches ❤❤❤..can you please upload more real time sketch process which would help us to improve our art skills…and honestly your voice is really soothing to hear ❤❤❤lots of love 🧡

[JCarrera_ll]

Great study, fechin and sargent drawings are of my inspirations as well, but so do the ones from Henri Latour mainly his self-portraits you should check them out

[ZeEggzz]

question: do you use anything to keep your sketches from smudging on the paper above them?

[virtualsnake]

i love your art and your videos. how do you record from that "bird's eye" view? do you have some type of tripod?