How to Draw Pencil Portrait Tutorial with Artist Dryden Goodwin | Hospital Rooms Digital Art School

Summary

Artist Dryden Goodwin invites viewers to join him in a digital art school session where he explores the art of drawing people. He discusses the process of capturing a person's likeness with pencil and paper, emphasizing the importance of light, conversation, and the connection formed between artist and subject. Goodwin shares insights on the challenges and privileges of drawing 'on the fly' and how drawing can be both an intimate and abstract experience, reflecting on the dynamic between the subject's physical presence and the artist's interpretation.

Takeaways

• 🎨 The artist, Dryden Goodwin, is leading a digital art school session focused on drawing people, encouraging participants to use pencil and paper to capture the essence of a person.
• 🤝 Goodwin often engages in conversation with his subjects while drawing, creating a connection that enhances the drawing experience, but this session is unique as it involves discussing the drawing process itself.
• 🌟 He emphasizes the importance of light in creating drama and highlighting features in a portrait, suggesting that the choice of light source and direction can significantly impact the artwork.
• 👀 Goodwin typically starts a drawing with the eyes, as they are often the first point of connection when looking at someone, and then moves on to other facial features.
• 🔍 The artist discusses the challenge of capturing the abstract and unseen parts of the head, such as the back of it, and how this requires an imaginative and spatial understanding.
• 🏞️ Goodwin appreciates the contrast between positive and negative space in a drawing, noting how the environment behind the subject can define the shape of the head.
• 🤔 He finds the process of drawing both subjective and objective, oscillating between capturing personal presence and focusing on shapes and forms.
• 📝 Goodwin suggests that drawing from life can be both intimate and distancing, depending on the relationship with the subject, and that each drawing is a unique attempt to render the person in space.
• ✏️ The choice of pencil hardness can affect the drawing experience, with softer pencils providing more 'torque' against the paper, and harder pencils offering a different interaction.
• 🕒 Drawing duration can vary from quick sketches to more sustained and layered studies, each capturing a different aspect of the encounter with the subject.
• 🖼️ Goodwin references historical artists like Rembrandt and Giacometti to illustrate different approaches to drawing and the impact of time on the artwork.

Q & A

Who is the speaker in the video script and what is their name?

The speaker in the video script is an artist named Dryden Goodwin.

What activity is Dryden Goodwin inviting the audience to participate in?

Dryden Goodwin is inviting the audience to participate in drawing, specifically drawing a person.

What materials does Dryden suggest for the drawing activity?

Dryden suggests using a piece of paper, a pencil, and an eraser for the drawing activity.

What is the significance of capturing people through drawing, photography, and sound recording according to Dryden?

According to Dryden, capturing people through these mediums allows for a deeper understanding and connection with the subject, as well as the experience of the encounter.

How does Dryden describe his usual drawing environment?

Dryden describes his usual drawing environment as being on the move, often in different cities or countries, drawing people in their own environments such as homes or workplaces.

What is the role of light in Dryden's drawing process?

Light plays a crucial role in Dryden's drawing process as it creates drama across the face, highlighting features and shaping the form of the subject in space.

What does Dryden find intriguing about the experience of drawing someone?

Dryden finds the experience of drawing someone intriguing due to the challenge, the privilege of sitting and drawing someone, and the connection that can be made through the process.

How does Dryden approach the process of drawing a face?

Dryden approaches the process of drawing a face by starting with certain features, such as the eyes, and then navigating to the rest of the face, looking for shapes and forms that define the subject's presence in space.

What does Dryden suggest about the relationship between the subject and the artist during the drawing process?

Dryden suggests that there is a sense of exchange and connection between the subject and the artist during the drawing process, which can lead to discoveries about both parties.

How does Dryden differentiate between drawing from life and drawing from photographs?

Dryden differentiates between the two by stating that drawing from life offers a direct engagement and conversation with the subject, while drawing from photographs allows for a sense of intimacy to be built up through focused observation.

What does Dryden consider when choosing a pencil for drawing?

Dryden considers the hardness of the pencil and its torque against the page, as well as the quality of the paper, as these factors affect the drawing's line quality and the artist's interaction with the surface.

What is the impact of changing light conditions on Dryden's drawing process?

Changing light conditions impact Dryden's drawing process by requiring him to constantly review and re-question the form and tonality of the subject's face in space.

How does Dryden perceive the difference between drawing strangers versus people he already knows?

Dryden perceives that drawing a stranger can lead to a deep familiarity, while drawing someone known well can sometimes result in a distancing experience, as the perception of the person changes through the drawing process.

What insights does Dryden provide on the duration and stopping point of a drawing?

Dryden provides insights that the duration of a drawing can vary greatly, from quick studies to sustained looking over time. The stopping point is often determined by the artist's sense of when the drawing has captured the desired essence of the encounter.