Hey Mate ,I just noticed Dream Theater I like them too! I think when I was younger I was a 'Geddy Lee wanna be'. Geddy is the Bassist for Rush.

--
Jaybea

Heyyy
How are you ?

I don't really use the pacers anymore, when I first started drawing they were all I used, but I had a hard time getting the differences between the darks and lights. You do pretty much the same thing as I do by the sounds of it. I use the harder leads for the hair, and other details, and the softer leads to achieve the darks. I usually use anything from a 2B to a 2H to do the midtones.

The pacers I used to use were just cheap ones I got from a department store, there wasn't a specific brand. But I wouldn't worry about it, I think there is only one of my pictures posted I used a mechanical pencil on, thats the one entitles "bubbles". The darks aren't as dark as the pictures I used soft leads on, so I tend to not use pacers anymore.

I have an HP printer/copier/scanner, it was about $80. The scanner on it is excellent, you can set it to some really high resolutions.

AS for the orange in the Kurt Cobain picture, thats something completely accidental you're seeing, ha ha. I actually spilled Pepsi all over the top half of it after working on it for 15 hours. I was doing it for art class and figured I didn't have enough time to redo everything I had just done before the deadline (I didn't really feel like restarting either), so I did my best to clean it off, and figured it wasn't completely ruined. I just kept going with it. The orange may also be because of the paper I used, it was kind of yellowed.

Thanks again for the comments! And don't worry about asking questions, I really don't mind answering them!

Hey

Sorry about the slow response. I have MSN, although I don't go on it very often.

Thanks for the comments again!

I was looking at some of your newer drawings and they look really good. You put a large amount of detail into them. I love your style of drawings too!

I've never heard anyone call them a 'acer' before, but wikipedia lists that as another name for 'mechanical pencil'.

Hi again...
Mechanical pencils are those pencils that work a bit like pens, you click the end and more lead comes out. I don't actually think they are called 'mechanical pencils' but thats the name that gets tossed around a lot, ha ha. I don't really use them very much any more.

When I use a grid, I draw horizontal and vertical lines (that are equal distances apart) on my paper before I begin drawing. I also do this on my picture that I am using as a reference. This grid makes little squares, this helps be get the placement of the eyes, nose, mouth, etc. close to the actual picture.

I think I am a little bit slower at drawing than a lot of other people. I've seen some amazing works of art that took the artist only 8 hours to draw. I work on a picture over the course of a few days, I think my longest drawing took a bit longer than 27 hours.

Again, sorry for the long post. I tried to explain the use of a grid as best as I could. I'm sure if you searched "drawing using a grid" on the internet you would find some good instructions with pictures that would clear things up a lot.

How old are you ?

^^

When I first started drawing I used those mechanical HB pencils. For about a year and a half now, I've been using drawing pencils. I use anywhere from an 8B to a 7H. I really only use the 7H to draw stray hairs because its so light.

I've been drawing my whole life, I only recently started doing portraits about three years ago. However I can't draw from my head, I need to have a picture sitting in front of me.

As for making them look real, I think thats all in the shading. When I choose a picture to draw I tend to choose pictures that have a good contrast between the lights and the darks.

I usually use a grid when I draw. I draw the complete detailed outline first. I've seen works in progress from people who don't do this, but I can't draw without having an outline done first, I guess it just matters what you are more comfortable with. Before I start shading, the outline sort of looks like a paint-by-number, I try and map out all the dark and light areas in the picture.

Sorry for the long post, but I hope this answers some of your questions.

Thanks for the comment!

You asked me for tips, what ever you need help with just give me a shout. You look like your on your way to becoming a phenomenal artist, I doubt you need much help!

Hey Stephen!!
you have drawings excellent !

and nice to meet you !

Hi, thanks for stopping by, how are you finding deviantart do far?
and welcome too...
if you need any help or anything, give me a yell, ay.

--
lost in your ways.