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Kalgoras — Legolas Graphite

Published: 2011-08-14 13:13:52 +0000 UTC; Views: 21563; Favourites: 1026; Downloads: 0
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Description 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 ) The picture probably looks better digitally than it does in real life, but it still looks decent in reality 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!

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:
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Comments: 528

liamsavona [2016-07-31 19:31:17 +0000 UTC]

"…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..."  haha true! Best character out there and you killed it

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wessica88 [2016-06-21 18:08:52 +0000 UTC]

This is too good! You are very talented

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kyrzl [2016-01-23 06:37:31 +0000 UTC]

I've tried using both graphite and charcoal for my portraits but I prefer graphite because it's less messy.
I just dont like it when it gets all shiny, is there any method to get rid of the shine and retain the darkness? Thanks!

Hi this is really awesome, by the way! )

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Laerdes [2015-05-24 15:56:06 +0000 UTC]

This is amazing! How you captured the texture of the skin and the hair is awesome

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guitarrayaccion [2015-02-19 00:16:25 +0000 UTC]

cooll thank for show de process, i use a grid like you to do my draw

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Jjnelly91 [2014-12-16 12:32:29 +0000 UTC]

Just spied this as I was browsing, and I'm blown away! I'm just starting out with drawing in general, hoping you could give me some tips and tricks on how you are able to obtain the depth? The detail in this is a little out of my league at the moment, but I'll try my best to get there! If you find the time, please take a look at mine, see if you can give me some pointers! Thanks

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Jjnelly91 [2014-12-16 12:32:28 +0000 UTC]

Just spied this as I was browsing, and I'm blown away! I'm just starting out with drawing in general, hoping you could give me some tips and tricks on how you are able to obtain the depth? The detail in this is a little out of my league at the moment, but I'll try my best to get there! If you find the time, please take a look at mine, see if you can give me some pointers! Thanks

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EmilyRose481 [2014-09-11 18:52:00 +0000 UTC]

Awesome portrait! Very well done!

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TripleS-Art [2014-04-25 21:34:03 +0000 UTC]

Excellent job!!

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iPadawan [2014-04-23 08:10:55 +0000 UTC]

Love it.

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McDoss [2014-04-12 09:52:10 +0000 UTC]

Truly inspirational Kalgoras!!

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juliarr [2014-03-20 19:58:04 +0000 UTC]

Holy crap. I love it!!!!!

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amalia00 [2014-02-01 21:58:49 +0000 UTC]

very very nice

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Artsygeek117 [2014-01-20 00:49:04 +0000 UTC]

i love orlando blooom

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sashgee [2013-12-08 03:48:58 +0000 UTC]

Holy SMOKES MUTHHSSFHNDFIOHRSOG ERMAGERD I'm in love

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Kalgoras In reply to sashgee [2013-12-19 17:06:37 +0000 UTC]

Thanks!  Sorry for the late reply hehe, not quite as active as I should be

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jexass [2013-08-29 14:05:01 +0000 UTC]

bueno , bueno , bueno

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Kalgoras In reply to jexass [2013-09-04 05:31:32 +0000 UTC]

Thanks

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StacyMB [2013-06-16 19:28:22 +0000 UTC]

Another amazing job! I really like the WIP pictures.

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Kalgoras In reply to StacyMB [2013-06-22 09:13:09 +0000 UTC]

Thanks very much

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jdsvtx [2013-04-23 13:46:41 +0000 UTC]

amazing, you are very talented ,
John

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Kalgoras In reply to jdsvtx [2013-04-24 19:31:24 +0000 UTC]

Thanks

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ChristianCowgirl116 [2013-04-11 18:48:28 +0000 UTC]

This is the BEST portrait of Legolas I have ever seen... Amazing work! Amazing!

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Kalgoras In reply to ChristianCowgirl116 [2013-04-12 21:10:49 +0000 UTC]

Wow, thanks so much *blush*

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ChristianCowgirl116 In reply to Kalgoras [2013-04-13 04:00:05 +0000 UTC]

You're welcome

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Esther414 [2013-04-09 17:50:21 +0000 UTC]

THIS IS AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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Kalgoras In reply to Esther414 [2013-04-12 21:10:57 +0000 UTC]

Aww thanks!

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Warmpiexx [2013-03-27 16:09:09 +0000 UTC]

Wauw, just WAUW. This is wonderfull; i thought it was a photo, wauw.

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Kalgoras In reply to Warmpiexx [2013-03-27 18:36:35 +0000 UTC]

Thanks very much!

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zlgriff [2013-02-06 12:36:40 +0000 UTC]

dang.....im flabbergasted, you did WONDERFUL!!!!! any tips on how you draw such an accurate portrait? seriously, i would love to find out...my work sucks compared to this, this is awesome!!!! excellent work! i want to give you a "wow" and "love" emoticon but don't know how to do it , just know your work is awesome!

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Kalgoras In reply to zlgriff [2013-02-14 12:43:19 +0000 UTC]

Thanks so much I use a grid to help me get the proportions and positions, so it ends up where I want it. It's not perfect, but I find it a lot better than doing it freehand as I have a lot to learn for that Grids really help when judging the positions of things, as you have many more reference points to work from.

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zlgriff In reply to Kalgoras [2013-02-14 13:09:17 +0000 UTC]

i tried grids long time ago but could never master it. i always do freehand, ive always managed unwittingly to do things the hard way...in drivers ed in high school i hit the cone driving through them forward but not going backwards...im in my own twilight zone...lol.....thanks for getting back to me, i may have to try the grid method again...love your work, i love how you shade them, they look so real. im still working on that..my latest one i finished yesterday, a collage of anakin skywalker, i think it turned out ok but i did learn a really cool way to do hair which is one of my strong points without this tip but if you get a crochet hook and make indentions on the bristol and then run your pencil across it in the direction you did the indentions, you get instant highlights, it looks really amazing

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Kalgoras In reply to zlgriff [2013-02-20 19:03:09 +0000 UTC]

Yeh I've used that last bit a couple of times on Bristol You can also use a pin or a needle to make fine scratches which also highlight hairs really well Only problem is you can't rub them out! I've been so lazy, not really drawn for nearly 5 months Must get back to doing something soon

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zlgriff In reply to Kalgoras [2013-02-20 20:31:33 +0000 UTC]

me too, my last hiatus was 2 years, before that it was a 5 years...can't draw i you don't feel like it, at least that's been my experience but you are very talented

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AdyDay [2013-01-07 14:16:07 +0000 UTC]

Which pencil type can make such a dark trail?
1000000B ?

I wish I had it.

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Kalgoras In reply to AdyDay [2013-01-08 21:09:44 +0000 UTC]

Mars Lumograph 8B A very dark black pencil...almost more a carbon pencil than graphite

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AdyDay In reply to Kalgoras [2013-01-09 11:17:08 +0000 UTC]

I guessed so.
Are those the dark blue ones?
I think I have it somewhere...

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Kalgoras In reply to AdyDay [2013-01-15 20:30:02 +0000 UTC]

Yeh it's a dark blue one For some reason it still counts as graphite, but I have my doubts. It's a bit wierd as you can't layer it with normal graphite as it won't write over other pencils. If you want to use it, you have to put it direct on the paper first. Other pencils can write on the Lumo, but it's so waxy, it won't work on others

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ladyalita [2012-10-12 01:39:00 +0000 UTC]

Great values! You captured him well.


~~~
My heart and soul: [link]

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Kalgoras In reply to ladyalita [2012-10-14 18:44:32 +0000 UTC]

Thanks for the comment!

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capatel5101 [2012-10-02 01:49:30 +0000 UTC]

this is awesome im obsessed with LOTR

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Kalgoras In reply to capatel5101 [2012-10-02 18:16:23 +0000 UTC]

Glad you liked it

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krisy3791 [2012-09-02 17:54:09 +0000 UTC]

wow, this is a fantastic drawing! I really like it a lot! Love the contrast and shading!

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Kalgoras In reply to krisy3791 [2012-09-05 21:45:50 +0000 UTC]

Thanks so much!

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mipic [2012-07-31 08:08:10 +0000 UTC]

Inspiration=CHECK!

amazing work, amazing and unreal,

Love,

Mipic

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Kalgoras In reply to mipic [2012-07-31 19:05:48 +0000 UTC]

Thanks very much, it's still my fav piece I've done so far

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mipic In reply to Kalgoras [2012-07-31 20:29:51 +0000 UTC]

I understand why^^ I want to be able to draw like that one day...work, work and work

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Kalgoras In reply to mipic [2012-07-31 21:27:44 +0000 UTC]

Thanks very much, well it was my 3rd portrait, so it just takes a bit of time! There are some really good tutorials on here for drawing and it makes a huge difference. It's very easy to improve in big jumps early on, so just try and improve one thing every time you draw a picture! It will come

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mipic In reply to Kalgoras [2012-07-31 21:31:17 +0000 UTC]

Thanks loads for the tip! I am just amazed that it was just your third attempt:S I thought the first one was good...

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Rodelrosario [2012-07-13 21:33:09 +0000 UTC]

What kind/brand of paper you are using?

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