Kalgoras on DeviantArthttps://www.deviantart.com/kalgoras/art/Legolas-Graphite-252772022Kalgoras

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Legolas Graphite

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Well it's been a while since I did an A4 portrait, as I've been doing smaller images recently. I've been meaning to go back and do some more Lord of the Rings portraits after watching the films again recently (Best. Trilogy. Ever.).

I have improved a bit since my Aragorn picture ([link] ), but have been struggling with getting my contrast right and have not been going dark enough on skintones, so found a great picture of Legolas, which had some nice contrast to use and practice on. All the Works in Progress are in my Scrapbook here: [link]

Capturing the fey magical beauty of elves on the big screen is an impossibly hard job, but they managed it pretty well in the films apart from the odd dodgy camp elf here and there :)

I was pleased to find this ref, where Orlando doesn't look like he's about to go running off to pick flowers or hug a tree right after the shot...

So Orlando Bloom as Legolas on A4 Bristol Smooth paper using 2H-8B pencils and 8B Mars Lumograph for the background. Not sure how long, but around 20hrs or so.. (That poor lumo took a bit of a hammering :P) The picture probably looks better digitally than it does in real life, but it still looks decent in reality :D Full view is about actual size :)

Reference comparison pic:

How it starts WiP's (Had somebody ask on FB :) ). Some are links as I have maxed out my thumb allowance!:

[link] [link]

Really pleased with the outcome; probably my best drawing yet, so I'll try and get my tonal values better in future! :D

I might have to come back and do something about the hair near the braid...that area looks a mess :(

Comment or critique away! - Kal :)

**Photo update to answer questions on background and stuff, showing the reflections at the risk of disappointment :) - read text:
Image size
1100x774px 414.37 KB
Make
Canon
Model
MG5200 series
© 2011 - 2024 Kalgoras
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SueJO's avatar
You work your tools extremely well. I had to look very closely.