The layout is the most important step. It insures correct size, shape and placement of a drawing. It can be abbreviated as your abilities develop, but it cannot be eliminated. It precludes the possibility of getting to the edge and finding one's subject needs another half sheet of paper. The design and finishing steps are done on the same page as the layout. Each step will correct and improve upon the preceding.

We use a drafting pencil to hold the lead. Sharpen your lead to a long tapering conical point. Hold the pencil between your index and middle fingers. Draw swinging from the shoulder with your wrist and elbow locked. This will give you graceful lines. The other steps will use different techniques.

Think in terms of masses-lights and darks, or positive and negative shapes rather than details or contours. The skin tone will be lighter, regardless of race, than folds, wrinkles and features, which appear darker. You can make many lines, and select the most correct one later. Draw just using the weight of the pencil, in light grey. Pencil lead is made from graphite, a lubricant. It is important not to have dark areas in the wrong place, where they may be difficult to correct later. We don't want to load the paper until we're ready for those rich darks of the finish.

1. This drawing process is really very simple. We will decide how the image will fit on the paper, then divide the image in half and draw what we see there. Next we will divide each half in half, and draw what we find there, and continue to subdivide until we have drawn everything that crosses the imaginary vertical line. Make a mark on the paper where you want the top of your subject (the top of their head). Do the same for the bottom (the tip of the beard in this picture). Draw in light grey, using just the weight of the pencil. You should just barely be able to see the marks.

2. Next, draw a silhouette of your whole subject. This will show how your drawing fits on the paper. Enlarge or reduce it if you aren’t satisfied with its size or placement. The following illustration shows the marks to indicate the top and bottom of the subject done in step 1, and the silhouette of the sitter. Both are considerably darker and wider than they should be, but are easier for you to see here. The illustration for step 4 and one of the the sample layouts at the end of this page show actual values.

3. Point your pencil at your model-the photograph-while holding the pencil horizontally at arms length with your elbow locked.

4. Imagine a vertical line down the center of the subject. Estimate the point midway between the top and bottom of the subject on the imaginary vertical line. Since we are using a dark lead on a light paper, we will look for a dark area, such as a corner of the eye, wrinkle, hair, etc. If we were drawing with white on black, we would reverse the process, and draw light areas. Something may be slightly above or below the actual midpoint. That's OK. Remember the closest dark area. Now look at your paper. Imagine a vertical line down its center. Estimate the midpoint between the top and bottom marks that you made. Think of where your dark area was in relation to the midpoint on the subject. Draw that point on your paper in its proper relationship (on, above or below) to the midpoint on your subject.

5. We just divided the subject in half and drew the information we found there. Now we will subdivide each half, and see what we find on or near that midpoint. Find a dark area (the hairline, or perhaps a forehead wrinkle) halfway between the midpoint and the top of your subject, then estimate the corresponding midpoint and draw that. Do the same between the midpoint and bottom.

6. Continue to subdivide the subject vertically until you have drawn all the information along the vertical axis. Stick to the masses-lights and darks- avoid contours.

7. Now find a horizontal area of the subject which has a lot of information. The eyes are usually the best in a portrait. Draw several lines to indicate the information nearest the imaginary vertical line you were working on. Work from this line toward the outside using angles and judging your distances. Do not skip any information! Work from the center to your left, then from the center to your right. Place a scrap of clean paper under your hand when it is over an area you have already drawn. This prevents smearing the drawing.