Prove yourself as the best artist for the week

Greetings, Steemians! 🎨

It is always exciting to join creative contests that push us to step out of our comfort zones and showcase our artistic abilities, and it's all thanks to @dequeeen. For this week’s contest I decided to pick up my pencil and create something both unique and expressive. It is a piece that shows a figure turned away, with hands resting on the head—a pose that reflects both calmness and quiet contemplation. I will share the step-by-step process of making the drawing you see below using only pencils.

Drawing tools

• A4 paper

• HB pencil

• graphite pencil

• 2B pencil

• charcoal pencil

• eraser

• sharpener

• black pen

Step-by-Step Creation

Step 1

To begin my drawing, firstly I began by writing my username and date at the top of my paper, then I started by drawing the hands raised up.

Step 2

After doing that, I then went over to draw the hair and shoulder. I used layered strokes with an HB pencil to achieve depth, ensuring that some areas were darker while others remained lighter to reflect shine. By varying the pressure, I was able to create texture that gave the hair a realistic appearance.

Step 3

Next was the hoodie. The oversized hoodie brought character to the artwork. Using a gradual shading technique, I darkened the folds with a 4B pencil while leaving lighter areas untouched to create highlights. This gave the fabric a realistic look.

Step 4

The lower part of the drawing, which shows the waistline and elastic folds of the trousers, was shaded with short, curved strokes to mimic the texture of fabric. I blended these areas carefully, ensuring they looked soft but structured.

Step 5

Before completing the drawing, I reviewed the entire piece to balance out the tones. I darkened certain areas and lifted highlights with an eraser. These finishing touches gave the drawing a polished and professional look.

Step 6

Below is my final result.

A selfie of me and my drawing

Creating this artwork reminded me once again why I love drawing. With just pencils, erasers, and blending tools, I was able to transform an empty sheet into something meaningful. My artistic ability lies not only in technique but also in my patience, observation, and ability to translate emotions into art. Through this piece, I hope to inspire others to see that art does not always need to reveal everything—the most powerful stories are sometimes told in silence. This is my entry for this week’s contest, and I am proud to share it as proof of my passion, dedication, and love for pencil art. I hope you like it.

Inviting

@caringmanasseh

@tammanna

@nexcis

Cc @dequeen

THANKS FOR YOUR TIME