How To Draw Mlk: Get Prepared To Draw Inspiration
Before attempting to draw Mlk, you must first prepare yourself and arm yourself with the necessary inspiration and perspective to capture the spirit of the great activist and leader that Mlk was.
First and foremost, you must connect to Mlk’s message and spirit. His dedication to non-violence and civil rights was unparalleled, paving the way for generations to come. Taking the time to research and connect to what Mlk stood for and believing in the idea he championed is necessary in creating a worthy work of art.
Before delving into the actual drawing, it’s important to recognize Mlk’s features. While some artists may opt for a “cartoonized” version of Mlk, if you intend to do justice to his character and legacy, it’s important to use references such as photos and videos that accurately depict him. Such references can be found online in libraries, galleries and museums.
Equally important is familiarizing yourself with the techniques and styles that are most suitable for the work. Whether you plan to draw a classic oil painting, a contemporary sketch or a classical portrait, getting an overall idea of these different styles and concepts will help you create a suitable structure and approach to your piece.
Once you’ve collected your references, you’ll need to set up a working environment that is comfortable for you. This could be a studio, a room, or even your backyard – anywhere you prefer. Equally important is the tools and materials needed which depend on the medium chosen and obviously the subject matter.
Choose Your Medium
When starting the drawing process, it’s important to understand the medium you are going to use for your artwork. A few classic ideas include pencils, charcoal, pastels, acrylics, watercolors and oils. But there are other mediums available such as digital art, digital collaging and 3D art. If you’re not quite sure which medium you’d like to use, start by sketching out shapes and lines in pencil. This helps give you an idea of how it will eventually look as a finished piece.
Once your medium is selected and your materials gathered, it’s time to start sketching. Your sketch should include Mlk’s basic features and using the references gathered earlier can really help. Make sure to get the proportions, the placement of his facial features, and the general feel of a portrait right before delving into the details of the work. From there, you can add in subtle details like facial expression and shadowing.
One of the best tips for drawing portraits is to use a grid. Dividing the portrait into smaller sections can help you to get a better feel for all the small details that make up the face, as opposed to a single large image of a face. Additionally, drawing the portrait in sections with the grid method allows you to make sure that proportions remain consistent throughout the drawing.
Add Color To Your Portrait
When the basic outline and features of the portrait are done, it’s time to add color. You should start by adding light shades of your chosen color and slowly darkening as you move closer to the shadows. This can really bring out the true emotions and intensity of expressions in a portrait.
When it comes to shading, never just rely on one color. If you’re using pencils, start by using a 2B and slowly build your way up to the darker shades like 4B and 6B. Or, if you’re using paints, start by mixing white paint with a light color (like blue or green) to create subtle shades and depth on the portrait.
For a more professional fine art piece, adding highlights is also a great way to bring out a sense of realism. This can also be done with white pencils and paints. As with shading, use white with caution. Too much of it can wipe away the emotion from your portrait, which is totally different from black, which can bring out the emotion and feeling of your portrait.
Finishing Up Your Work
Once you have the full portrait, you need to make sure it’s visually pleasing and stands out. To do this, you need to take the time to look at your portrait and make sure the features, processes, and colors all fit together.
It could be investing in high-quality frames for paintings, making sure shadows are blended well and there’s no harsh outlines, or ensuring the colors pop out. What exactly you need to do will depend on the medium of your choice and the mediums of the work you’ve created.
That said, there’s no harm in taking a few breaks throughout your drawing process – especially once the sketch is done, since this is the hardest part of the process. Breaks help you to reset and come back to your work with fresh eyes, allowing you to see things you wouldn’t have previously.
When you’re finally done, take a step back and admire your work. That’s the great thing about drawing – you have the opportunity to learn and develop your skillset in the most worthwhile and fulfilling way.
Fine-Tuning Your Art
Often times you may not get the look you want or the colors may not pop enough. But that’s okay. With every step comes practice, mastery, and improvement. To fine-tune your work, add in subtle details like facial hair and clothing. This allows you to refine your drawing with intricate details and make sure that the portrait stands out from the rest, effectively capturing the spirit of your subject.
You’ll also want to be gentle with the eraser, in order to maintain the shading, proportions and subtle details of your portrait. Trying to aggressively erase something could cause a “muddy” look, which is not the professional look you’re going for.
Sometimes you may not like the work you’ve done and that’s okay too. If you don’t get the look you want in one go, you can always go back and refine your work. That’s what practice and reworking are for.
Finishing Touches
Though the bulk of your work is now complete, you should take precautions and make sure that the final touches meet your expectations. An easy way to do this is to take pictures of your portrait or scan it and look at it in a different, more unhindered way.
The best way to ensure your work looks great, however, is to have another person review your work. Ask for their honest opinion, as a neutral opinion can often improve the look and feel of your work. They can also help identify areas that need more work, or even identify features that you hadn’t considered before.
Once happy with your portrait, you’ll want to make sure to keep it safe and secure. Whether this is hanging it on your wall, storing it in a portfolio or framing it in a museum-quality frame – the choice is yours.
Getting Out There
Sometimes having a great portrait isn’t enough. After all, there’s no point having a great work of art if no one ever sees it. That’s why it’s important to get your work out there. This could be through an art show, a gallery, a website, or even an online sale.
Getting your artwork recognized requires dedication and a great portfolio, so don’t be discouraged if it takes time. You’ll eventually get the credit you deserve.
Hopefully, this guide has given you some ideas and insight when starting your artwork of Mlk. With the right preparation, inspiration, and passion, you too can tap into the power and legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. and create an artwork that will be remembered for generations to come.
