Art Progression: 2019 vs 2022 vs 2025

Every three years I would go back to an particular reference photo of an random lady & redraw it. And as such it has become an art progression check.

The Source:
tinyurl.com/y2ed9kah

I have always wanted to draw people with a photo-realistic look to it.

In 2019 when I was nearer to the start of my art journey, 2019 was the result. No. 2 pencil, notebook paper, no concept of shading or that no everything needs hard outlines.

2022 was when I changed to blank paper, added in shading & started to care more about how I filled in the black of her hair. However, the use of shading gave her the look of being dirty. I started to work on her neck as well.

2025 was after I dropped the usage of charcoal in my drawings & used higher grade of B pencils for darker shades. I use a smudging pencil now to help making my shading more uniform in look & it has built up shade to the point that I can shade with it without the prior application of pencil. Helps make the shade look less like dirt and more like shadow. The neck could use work as it looks like she has a hanging fat under-chin. Eyes are bit too spread apart, but I was too focused on getting them to line up. Mouth came out nice as well.

I wonder what 2028 will bring?