[Leo]

Hi Bernhard,

I have tips for you in regards of getting your charcoal work to the next level:

You seem to have good skills in regards of getting nicely looking facial features and it’s not the part I’m going to say anything at this time
Your work suffers from some messiness that doesn’t need to be there.

I recommend you try take a piece of sandpaper and powder some of that charcoal on top of it and pick up a brush and “paint” to get more even gradations where you need them

I’ve found those cotton pads not very useful with charcoal – I recommend getting a piece of chamois leather and some stomps to create more even gradations along with brushes

Also, there seems to be fingerprints etc. from your hands and I definitely recommend using nitrite (and the like) gloves while working on charcoal because the oils of your hands really stick to the paper and create very hard to erase fatty surfaces on the paper that end up creating a mess, which is next to impossible to combat along the way

And finally I recommend you to try some toned paper so you don’t need to do create all the mid tones by yourself

[Leo]

Great work with hatching – It definitely gives the 3D effect you were after

I especially like the thighs and how much light there is on them

I think the reflected light on thighs is great, but to me the value of the shadow on the calves is just a touch too dark
To my eye it sort of steals the attention of from beauty of the light of the thigh and creates interference

I’m loving the hands too – Stunning work

One thing about the model right hand (viewer left side) is perceptual lack of perspective
Perhaps it could be just a tiny bit bigger as well as perhaps the best illusion of depth is not attained because the middle of the forearm being perhaps just a little bit too light
Having the forearm be just a little darker or maybe with softer hatching could help the hand be more separated and thus give a better illusion of depth

When it comes to the face I think the eye is slightly misplaced too far towards top right direction – Very slightly
That top right corner should also have more shadow to it because of the direction of the light

I think those two corrections would have been enough

On hair, I think the regularity of the lines under the face makes it seem unnatural
I have to give compliments on the hair especially on her back side – Very beautiful and natural looking

I get a feeling the whole hair and face thing was very experimental and judging design wise, perhaps you did it as a wild idea along the way
Given the amount of work you put in it as a whole, maybe the next time resist the urge to go at it on the main piece and do a separate sketch before going at it

Beautiful work!

[Leo]

Very intriguing and unique choice of colors, which makes me want to see more!

[Leo]

Marcolino,

I’m loving the box aesthetic on your bodies and the way you are able to still construct it around such dynamic gesture

The amount of work you’ve put into studying hands is inspiring

I think to take figure drawing to the next level I’d love to see you take your studies towards the head, face and facial features as you are so proficient with all the other areas already

Keep up the good work!

Leo

[Author]

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