Elderly Men

Elderly men are good subjects for practicing a variety of techniques, such as drawing wrinkles, thinning white hair, and aging features. Pay close attention to the details to create an accurate rendering.

This model exhibits a somewhat worried expression; notice how the eyebrow angles down slightly in step A. Use bold lines to develop the features and hairline in step B. Begin shading with diagonal strokes, changing direction slightly to accommodate the uneven surface.

Coarse shading over the entire face creates the rough skin texture.

Two media were used for this drawing. A chisel-tipped 6B pencil was used for the shading on the face, and a brush and black India ink were used for the darkest details. Experiment with different drawing media to create new effects.

As always, begin with quick proportion guidelines. Then sketch the basic shapes of the features, including the bushy mustache. Keep referring to your subject, checking the proportions and shapes. When the sketch is to your liking, create form through shading.

When observing your subject, look for unique characteristics such as the pronounced brow and the bump on the nose.

Use a brush and ink to bring out fine strands in the hair, eyebrow, and mustache. Keep the shading to a minimum to indicate the white hair.

Practice will allow you to develop your own artistic style. Keep at it!

Shade the darkest areas first. Be sure to leave light areas for highlights.