Realistic Drawings from Photos

I've been creating realistic drawings from photos since 2012. My (Amy Watts) drawings and paintings are created in a highly realistic style using charcoal on cotton paper or soft pastel on sanded paper or canvas. (See specifics). The art takes anywhere from a few days to weeks to complete. Because the subjects are usually living things that don't want to sit still for that amount of time, I typical refer to photos taken personally when possible, supplied by the client, or purchased from stock photo sites like wildlifereferencephotos.com.

The realistic art process is a blend of craftsmanship and artistry. My goal is to make the finished artwork even more beautiful than the photo. When completing commissions, I know inaccuracies can distract from the art and the subject, so I take great care to make sure the finished drawing resembles the subject as closely as possible. I understand clients not only want a beautifully-drawn portrait, they want to see their beloved pet or person.

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A short film of the realistic drawing process.

Charcoal & Pastel Art

realistic-drawings-from-your-photo-pet-dog-spaniel

Pets

People

Wildlife

Still Life

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Art Materials

Although there are many great brands of art supplies, these are the ones I've found work for me:

Generals & Primo charcoal pencils in HB, 2B, 4B, 6B, Elite #5000
Strathmore 500 Bristol paper, plate finish in 11" x 14" for smaller, 1-subject drawings and 14" x 17" for larger animals or multiple subjects. I use the the plate finish because it's smoother than the vellum for fine detail. The cotton surface stands up to multiple layers of blending and erasing without damaging the surface.
Generals Factis Mechanical Eraser for highlights, light fur, and hair.
Various paint brushes. Actually, makeup brushes are an effective, economical blending tool.

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