Unafraid of the Dark: Draw a Bold Graphite Portrait with Margriet Aasman

In this lesson (75 mins), artist Margriet Aasman walks us through the process of building a graphite portrait from the ground up, starting with loose, gestural red pencil lines that form the foundation, and layering rich, dark values to shape form and expression.

Drawing a subject whose striking pose and soulful gaze offer both challenge and reward, Margriet guides us through her method for capturing character through tonal contrast. You’ll explore how to structure a drawing with deliberate underlayers, how to transition confidently between light and shadow, and how to sculpt form through directional hatching and bold graphite application.

This lesson focuses especially on the dynamics between dark and light, with soft transitions in the midtones and areas of stark value shift that call for precision and sensitivity.

Margriet’s thoughtful approach encourages intuition early on and sharper attention to detail as the portrait emerges, especially around key expressive features like the eyes and mouth.

By the end, you’ll have a portrait that balances raw gesture with careful modeling, and you’ll gain tools to navigate subtle planes of the face while preserving a sense of life and immediacy in your drawing.

Ready for a soothing drawing session with Margriet? Let's get started!