As I entered the final year of high school, I was drawn to the art room more frequently. With my 18th birthday approaching, I was determined to better the art of drawing realistic portraits. I spent countless hours practicing, studying the intricate details of each face I encountered.
Finally, I decided that it was time to take on the ultimate challenge—a self-portrait. Sitting in front of the mirror and looking at pictures of myself, I carefully observed every curve and shadow, every line and feature of my face. With each stroke of the pencil, I strived to capture the essence of my being.
After numerous attempts and revisions, I completed my first self-portrait. A sense of accomplishment washed over me as I stepped back to examine my work. The portrait resembled my physical appearance and conveyed a glimpse of my inner self. It reflected the person I was at that moment: on the brink of adulthood and full of aspirations.
From that day on, my passion for portraiture only grew stronger. I continued to hone my drawing skills, capturing the unique essence of each individual through the strokes of my pencil. I also loved shading. Tonal shading was my favorite approach, and I used the blinding stump to find my lights and shadows within the drawing. But it all started with that first self-portrait, a testament to my determination and unwavering dedication to drawing.
I did not draw my mouth at the time. As of 2024, 25 years later, I still have my first self-portrait.
Cheers,
Ligel —2024