Faces have always fascinated me.

Although watercolor has become the medium most closely associated with my work, pencil portrait drawing has been an important part of my artistic journey for many years. I love the simplicity of graphite — with no color to rely on, everything depends on light, shadow, proportion, and expression.

I sometimes use a charcoal pencil as well. It allows me to create deeper blacks and gives the drawing a softer, more expressive quality.

Drawing a Face, Not Just a Photograph

Most of my portraits are created from photographic references. But for me, drawing a portrait is not simply about copying a photograph.

I look for what makes the person recognizable: the structure of the face, the expression, the way light falls across the features, and the small details that give the face its character.

Some of my drawings are portraits of recognizable people, including Steven Spielberg and Bryan Cranston, best known for his role as Walter White in Breaking Bad.

Drawing a familiar face is a special challenge. Even a small change in the proportions of the eyes, nose or mouth can completely change the likeness.

Light, Shadow and a Few Important Lines

One of the things I love most about graphite portrait drawing is learning to see a face as a combination of light and shadow.

I don’t need to draw every detail. In fact, sometimes leaving an area soft or unfinished makes the portrait feel more alive.

This way of observing has stayed with me throughout my artistic journey. Whether I am drawing a face, painting an animal, or working outdoors on a watercolor landscape, I am always trying to really see rather than simply reproduce what is in front of me.

A Different Side of My Art

The first portrait in this article was created about eight years ago. Looking at it today reminds me how much my art has changed — and how much has remained the same.

I have many older pencil portraits in my sketchbooks, and I think it is time to bring some of them back into the light.

They are a different side of my art, but an important part of my journey as an artist.

And perhaps one day, I will return to portrait drawing again.