• Graphite (H) pencil on sketchbook

• Source: photo from a UNHCR magazine

• Drawn on August 18th

• Graphite (H) pencil on sketchbook

• Source: selfie taken on my mobile

• Drawn on August 17th

The second self-portrait. I feel like this drawing is a turning point - I suddenly realised I had to pay much more attention to the quality of my lines, which are often sketchy/shaky.

So I focused more on trying to make the lines longer, more polished, more flowing, "drawing from the shoulder". This is also more of a "line-drawing" than the ones I did before, which will suit more the comic style I will most likely be going for.

• Graphite (H) pencil on sketchbook

• Source: a graphite portrait by Giovanni Civardi's "Portraits with Character"

• Drawn on August 16th

I thought it may be a good idea to draw from other artists' portraits rather than photos, from time to time, to learn how they solve various problems (shading, linework, texture, hair, etc).

In particular it's useful for me to see how other people solve hair. And find out that one can get so much with so little.

• Graphite (HB) pencil on old printer paper

• Source: selfie taken on my mobile

• Drawn on August 13th

A goal I've had in mind for a while is drawing a self-portrait in comic style that I can use as my personal avatar. So I took a few selfies and started practicing.

• Graphite (H) pencil on sketchbook

• Subject: actress Jessica Barden in the role of Alyssa

• Source: screenshot from series "The end of the F***ing World"

• Drawn on August 10th

And the last attempt at Jessica Barden. This face expression was really hard. I'm satisfied with the mouth, not so much with the eyes.

• Graphite (HB) pencil on old printer paper

• Subject: Photo from a catalogue

• Drawn on August 11th

A second quick drawing on August the 11th. I like how it came out alright really quickly, but looking at it now the right eye (the one on the left of the drawing) is a bit misplaced - oops.

• Graphite (HB) pencil on old printer paper

• Subject: screenshot of actress Adria Arjona as witch Anathema Device in series "Good Omens"

• Drawn on August 11th

When preparing for this year's challenge, I planned to tackle Adria as one of the subjects, so I collected a few screenshots from Good Omens, at various angles and with different expressions. I knew it would be very challenging to get her right, so I kinda kept postponing it until I felt more ready, by the end of the month.

This is a first study I did to test myself. It doesn't really look much like her, unfortunately. Must work harder.

• Graphite (H) pencil on sketchbook

• Subject: actress Jessica Barden in the role of Alyssa

• Source: screenshot from series "The end of the F***ing World"

• Drawn on August 10th

Yet another drawing in the Jessica series (second to last). Working on varying angles and expressions: this time a profile, and a peaceful sleeping face.

The hair is unfinished. I'm not good at it - I need to tackle hair sometime before next year's challenge...