Have you ever wanted to capture the beauty of a person who has passed away? Drawing a dead person can be a meaningful experience that honors them by creating a lasting reminder. But it may also be emotionally difficult to think about drawing a loved one who is no longer with you. Don’t be scared away, though. With the right preparation, a steady hand, and a bit of practice, you’ll be able to create a lasting tribute of the person you’ve lost.
1. Get the Skills and Supplies Needed
Drawing a dead person is no different than any other kind of drawing. Start by arming yourself with the right supplies. You’ll need a quality set of graphite pencils and erasers. Sharpen them so they have a good, sharp tip and will allow you to stroke with precision. You’ll also need a surface smooth enough to accept pencil strokes and erase marks, such as Bristol board, smooth paper, or canvas. If possible, take a few drawing classes or hone your pencil skills before attempting a memorial portrait. This will help you to be more confident and comfortable with your drawing.
2. Choose a Picture
One of the most important steps in drawing a dead person is choosing the right reference photo. This will serve as the basis of your portrait and help you create the likeness. Avoid old, blurry images and try to find ones that were professionally taken. Black and white pictures are usually better, as they enable you to concentrate on the contours without having to worry about color. Focus on the person’s eyes, as they’re typically the most important part of the portrait.
3. Prepare Your Surface
Once you have your supplies and images ready, you can get started. Carefully stretch and mount your surface, lightly sand it, and use a kneaded eraser to pick up any dirt or particles. You don’t need to use any kind of treatment, but if you’d like the surface to last longer, you can seal it with shellac. However, you probably won’t need to do this unless you plan to keep the portrait for a long time and expose it to a lot of light.
4. Sketch the Portrait
Start your drawing by transferring a light outline of your drawing onto the surface. To do this, attach your reference photo to the surface with removable tape and use a lightbox or a window to outline the features of the person onto your drawing surface. When drawing the features of the dead person, take your time and draw the picture in stages. Start with the face and then the eyes, nose and mouth. Then, the hair, neck and other details. If you make a mistake, use the eraser and try again. It’s okay to make mistakes. Don’t get overwhelmed and take your time.
5.Trace the Outlines and Shade the Portrait
Once you have your outlines drawn in pencil, use a slightly softer pencil to trace the lines one level deeper. Don’t press too hard, just enough for the outline to be more visible. Then use the eraser to clean up any unnecessary lines. Finally, you can start shading the portrait. Start with the eyes and nose and gradually draw the features one by one. Different tones and intensities will help to create a lifelike rendering. Take your time, be patient and don’t forget to smudge and blend the light and shadows to create a realistic effect. Erase any mistakes you make and keep working.
6. Embellish with Color and Details
After you’ve drawn the basic portrait, you can start to add details, such as clothing, jewelry, and facial hair. You can bring the picture to life by using dynamic strokes and adding color if you have a black and white reference photo. When adding color, make sure you stay true to the person’s original skin tone. When you’re done, scan the portrait so you can print out a finished piece. You can also give the original to the family member.
7. Finish the Portrait and Be Proud Of Yourself
Drawing a dead person may be a difficult task, but don’t let that stop you. It’s a beautiful way to honor a lost one and cherish their memory. Start with the basics, be persistent, and take your time. Don’t raise your expectations too high and don’t give up if you don’t get the results you want right away. Give yourself time to practice and make adjustments until you’re satisfied with the result. Have faith in yourself and enjoy the process. When you’re done, you’ll be proud of your accomplishment.
