It has been ages since I have created an artwork. Two main reasons: either I am not in the mood to do so or I just don’t have enough time to finish an artwork. I know some of you are wondering why “Portrait Artist” is being included in my blog description, when in fact, I haven’t posted a single portrait drawing since I’ve started my blogging journey here on Steemit.

Well, my initial plan apart from sharing my financial advocacy is sharing the steps and tips for making commissioned portraits. Unfortunately, I turned down several portrait requests when my workload seemed a bit more demanding than usual. Worse, I haven’t documented any portrait process documentation of my past portraits either.

Allow me to show you my previously-made commissioned portraits:

_{My previously-made portraits}

Since I was a child, I am fond of drawing cartoons and creating crafts. It is one of the main reasons why I chose to become a civil engineer. I cannot remember how this passion started but I carried it all my life. Though I have this artistic side, I never tried drawing or sketching faces, not until I was in my third year in college.

_{First portraits made using ordinary pencils}

These are the very first portraits I made using an ordinary pencil. Would you believe that a huge heartbreak caused me to start working on portraits? Well, I don’t want to go into details about how I acquired such heartache but diverting my emotions and my time into Arts made me feel better during my moving on stage. Instead of burying myself into maoy moments, I found a way to better my artistic skills.

Guhit Pinas, a facebook group composed of aspiring Filipino artists also made a great contribution on how I acquired my skill in portraiture. This group isn't limited to great and pro artists alone. Newbies and frustrated artists are also welcome for mentorship, and I was one of the lucky artists to gain tips form the pro ones. Using the grid method in order to arrive with a more accurate facial proportion, I was able to make a bit realistic facial features.

_{My first commissioned portrait}

This is the very first commissioned portrait I made for a classmate who is too obsessed with Nam from a Thai movie A Little Thing Called Love. I never asked for anything monetary but my colleague insisted to pay 200 pesos (4 USD). That time, I was very reluctant to accept it since I believe my skills aren’t enough to receive such compensation.

_{My previously-made portraits using sketching pencils}

Over time, I learned different techniques in portraiture. I also upgraded my materials from ordinary pencils to sketching pencils, and from ordinary paper to vellum board. This time, I became slightly confident to receive portrait request and I charged 200 pesos (4 USD) per portrait to aid myself financially during senior years in college. I normally finish one portrait ten or more hours straight. Can you imagine my struggles just to get that 200 pesos?

Until such time that I started using charcoal pencils. I find it very hard to manage at first but in every portrait that I make, I learn new tricks and techniques in smudging and proportioning.

_{First time using charcoal pencils}

This is the very first portrait that I considered as “human”. My cousin requested this portrait as a Christmas gift for herself way back 2015.

These are the other portraits I made using charcoal pencils:

_{Charcoal Portraits}

_{Protrait request from a co-worker (May 2017)}

The last time I worked on a commissioned charcoal portrait was May last year. I worked for about 20 hours or more for each portrait. I know, it is very time consuming but watching my clients exclaim with satisfaction made all the efforts paid off.

_{Protrait request from a friend using soft pastels (May 2017)}

In my pursuit to level up my skills in portraiture, I explored soft pastels in making this one. You guys have no idea how frustrated I was while making this one. Soft pastels are just unfit for portraits. I even considered it as a complete mess but fortunately, my client still liked it.

I don’t know when the spirit of motivation will visit me once again, but let me just extend my utmost respect to all traditional and digital artists out there. For years of struggles to perfecting your crafts, for those countless drafts and scratches out of frustrations, and for that passion and dedication to constantly improve your masterpieces.

To all aspiring artists out there, just keep doing your thing. All those efforts will pay off in no time.

Much love,

@smaeunabs