Draw the Face in the Fog with Darren Wells

"When drawing a face, I like to think of it as seeing someone emerging from a cloud of fog," says artist Darren Wells.

You don't see details straight away. First, you might see just a dark shape or shadow. As they get closer to you, you will maybe start to see the shape of their hair or their beard. When they get closer to you still, only then will you see eyes, mouth, nose. It's a gradual process.

Based in Sydney, Australia, Darren is a multifaceted creative professional who draws "in between it all." While he enjoys various media, including digital art tools, the simple pencil holds a special place in his heart.

"Pencil is as pure as art gets, and shows that creating art doesn’t need to be complicated," he says. "It’s all about the fundamentals - form, tone, and shape - using the most basic of art tools."

In this lesson (97 mins), Darren draws a portrait in red mechanical pencil. Whether comparing the relationship between the features of the face to a "constellation of stars" or the process of drawing a portrait to a face emerging from fog, Darren has a rare gift for articulating his creative process that artists of all experience levels will surely appreciate.

Ready to draw with Darren? Let's get started!