Life-Size Figure Drawing

This was my figure drawing that I did that was life-sized with a black charcoal pencil.  

Skull

Artists Develop Art Making Skills
Did you learn new techniques or processes as part of the work for this project?
This was my first experience with drawing a face and shading it.  I learned a bit more about the position of things on the face and proportions, along with which areas were darker and lighter.  
Did you gain skill with familiar materials?
I used drawing pencils, which I have been using all semester now, but I learned a bit more about shading and controlling the pressure of my pencil while drawing.

Artists Solve Problems
How did you respond to challenges that occurred as you worked? 
I wasn't sure how to draw anything in this, so I just tried my hardest and used the references provided on how to structure the face, along with the skull in the background.  I constantly redid portions to try and make them look alright, although it didn't turn out very good in the end.  
Did your work take an unexpected turn due to a mistake or did something happen that was unplanned?
The shading on the drawing didn't work out at all.  I was hoping it would make the face look more realistic, but it ended up looking very grainy and full of lines, ruining the look of it completely.  If I had more time, I would have probably tried to smooth over the lines to make them look less like the way they turned out.

Artists Reflect
When did you step back and analyze you work during this project? 
I constantly looked back over my project to make sure it looked at least a little realistic.  I constantly analyzed the way I made each feature to try and make them each as close to me as possible.  
Did you consider how ideas would work before you tried them?
I considered how the placement would work out and lightly sketched the basic portions of the face before going into them in detail.  I thought about what I could do to make the face look more symmetrical constantly.  

Gesture Drawings

These are the gesture drawings that I did of my partner in class.

Artists Develop Art Making Skills
Did you learn new techniques or processes as part of the work for this project?
In this project, I learned how to draw figure/gesture drawings and got more practice with it.  I had to draw many different positions and learn how to convey the motion and not focus too much on unnecessary detail.
Did you gain skill with familiar materials?
I used drawing pencils, and learned how to draw more loosely with them and not to push down too hard, creating light, loose lines that I could go over again.

Artists Take Risks
Did you try something that you weren’t sure about as part of this project?
I am not very good at figure drawing, so I wasn't sure if the technique I was using would be alright.  I tried to start with a sort of stick figure and build on from there.
Did you pick a material or technique that was new or different over something that was familiar?
I don't really make gesture drawings very often, so the entire experience was new to me.

Artists Collaborate
Did you ask another student for feedback during your work process?
I compared the method I was using to draw with other students to make sure mine looked alright and to get a better idea of how to make the gesture drawings.
Did someone help you understand important information or inspire you?
The others in my group posed for the pictures, which helped to draw them with a clear visual in front of me.  I got inspiration from their poses.  

Gesture Drawings

These were the gesture drawings that I did of students in gym class on the iPad.

Self-Portrait

First, I got my sources for the drawing.  I took a few pictures to try and find something I would want to draw, and decided these two pictures were best.  

I then tried to draw a rough draft to practice.  I originally wanted to use color, but decided not to because it was a bit harder to try and blend colors correctly in order to get the effect I wanted.  

I finally started the final drawing.  I started with an outline of the face, then got to shading.

Now the drawing is complete!  Here are a few questions to analyze it:

Artists Create Original Art

How did you use your own unique ideas in your work?
I came up with the pose to draw for my piece, which was my own idea.  
Did you use a source for inspiration, then combine it with your own ideas to make it original?

I saw some ideas for portraits on Pinterest, such as different emotions to try and capture through drawings, and decided to incorporate my hands into the piece as well to make it more original.

Artists Take Risks

Did you try something that you weren’t sure about as part of this project?
I decided to put my hands into the piece, which I wasn't really sure about at first.  I had never tried drawing hands before, and figured it would be hard to try and get them to look right, but after practicing a bit I went ahead and included them.  
Did you pick a material or technique that was new or different over something that was familiar?

Drawing the hands and things such as knuckles and fingers on them was definitely new and a challenge, but it was fun to try to draw them.  

Artists Solve Problems

How did you respond to challenges that occurred as you worked? 
I felt like my piece was alright until I started shading, which, as it turns out, I'm not very good at, especially when it comes to faces.  I tried to look up different techniques and analyze other pieces of art to see how the shading was done, especially with the nose, which was definitely one of the hardest things to draw and shade to try and make it look right.  
Did your work take an unexpected turn due to a mistake or did something happen that was unplanned?

My eyes were originally supposed to be looking straight ahead, but once I finished making one, I realized that it was looking more downwards.  I decided to make the other one looking the same way instead of changing the first one, though, for fear of erasing too much and messing up the entire eye.