Friday 11 August 2023

Friday Face OFF -- Woman With Long Hair

For this week's Friday Face OFF link party
of art featuring faces, hosted by Nicole of

Here's a woman with long hair, 
done freehand using my standard range of
HB, 2B, 4B and 6B graphite pencils.

I like how she turned out,
especially her hair and
the texture of her dress.


Did you ever have long hair?

I did when I was a teenager in high school.

But it was a lot of work to maintain,
almost like having a pet to take care of.

So I got it all cut off when I was 17
and never grew it out again.

[Art & photo of art © Debra She Who Seeks, 2023]

42 comments:

Boud said...

I particularly like the passage where her hair rests on her shoulder. This is really accomplished drawing.

Val Ewing said...

Hah. I just had this argument regarding long hair and shorter hair with my husband who doesn't wear my hair.

Yes, I have had long hair and short hair. I prefer the shorter...so much easier to care for.

Mistress Maddie said...

That is excellent!!!! And to get the feel and look of hair isn't easy I imagine?

sillygirl said...

I am 80 and now have long hair because it is easier - one pony tail or one bun a day - no muss or fuss since it is fine hair and not thick. I wash it once a week. Short hair on me leaves a bare place on my head when I get up from the bed - not attractive!

Old Lurker said...

What is the alternative to freehand drawing? Constrained drawing?

I also liked the texture of the hair and the dress.

I have never had very long hair but I went through a phase of my life where it was long enough that people frequently misgendered me.

Sixpence Notthewiser said...

Love it.
I especially like the face. Fab cheekbones.
And I've never had hair past my shoulders. I wonder what it would be like...

XOXO

Debra She Who Seeks said...

@ Old Lurker -- The technical definition of "freehand" drawing is that it is done without the assistance of devices, instruments or other aids. It depends solely on observational skills and hand-eye coordination to transfer that observation to paper.

peppylady (Dora) said...

Well done.
Coffee is on, and stay safe.

sirkkis said...

Well, I think just like you wrote before I read it. The hair and dress are super 🤩

Valerie-Jael said...

Absolutely fabulous drawing, you have so much talent. I prefer my hair long! Hugs, Valerie

Moving with Mitchell said...

My hair was almost as long as that! I’m so glad I had it… when I had it.

Christine said...

This is so good!

Tom said...

...Debra, such a lovely job! I like long hair, perhaps because I have very little hair.

Tundra Bunny said...

Nice drawing. You're right about long hair being high maintenance, especially naturally curly hair like mine! I wore mine in a top knot, pony tail or single braid so much that I realized I might as well just have short hair. Twenty years ago, I got it bobbed and haven't looked back, LOL!

Mike said...

I like her. Is she real or straight out of your imagination.

After I got out of the Army Reserves, in the 70s, I didn't cut my hair until it got down to my shoulders. Long hair was a thing for guys back then. I had one woman say to me, "I don't want to embarrass you but you have pretty hair".

I still have most of my hair except for "one" spot.

Parnassus said...

Hello Debra, The highlights and details of her hair are so realistic. And her expression matches perfectly. I expected her to be saying, "Don't hate me because I am beautiful!" (I hope that reference doesn't date me too much!)
--Jim

Sylvie said...

I had waist long hair when I was a child. I cut it when I was 12 and kept it short until my thirties. I often grow it out and chop it off. Lately my hair has been down to my elbows and am loving it!

JustGail said...

I cut my hair to somewhere between jawline and shoulders every 3-5 years and donate it. It's been past my waist at least twice, but usually it gets cut when about half way down my back. For me, long hair is far less work - no products, no blowdryer, no curling iron, no haircuts every 6-8 weeks, no constant combing, etc. like for short hair. Clip it up or braid it and done for the day.
Nice drawing - you've captured the hair's shine very well.

Fundy Blue said...

Your woman with long hair. I was drawn to her cheekbones and eyes. But then I saw the texture and shading of her hair and thought, Wow! Well done! I had long hair until I started teaching. Then off it came. I grew it long again when I approached my retirement. It's uncontrollable, but I'm sticking with it lol! Happy weekend to you!

DVArtist said...

OMG! She is stellar. I would love to take the class you are taking. Her hair did turn out beautifully. I have a terrible time drawing hair. Yes, I had long hair most of my life. I mean long down to the back of my knees long. I cut it in the 1990s and kept it waist legnth. My hair is so thick that hair dressers always want to keep it. I tell them no. I always donated it to the cancer association. Then lupus hit me hard and my hiar fell out in handfulls. I cut it very very short and it has been short ever since. About 20 years. More than you wanted to know right? LOL Have a great weekend.

Marie Smith said...

I had long hair until my mid twenties. That was enough for me. Love the texture on the dress.

Debra She Who Seeks said...

@ Mike -- She is a real person. Our instructor provided us with a photo reference to work from. I don't know anything about the model though.

angela said...

Your drawings are amazing. So talented
Yes I have long hair. Always have. I did cut it a few times due to damamge.
But I definitely feel more me with it long.

roentare said...

This is a gorgeous portrait!

Laura said...

your drawings are just amazing!
yes, i usually have long hair. i had long hair as a child and when my mum divorced my dad when i was seven she had her long hair cut off to the dorothy hamill style and did the same to me against my will. ever since, i mostly keep my hair long. i cut it super short at the end of 2019 (it was past my bum) and then let it grow out again. i cut it to shoulder length-ish this past june but miss my braids and stuff. i don't think i'll ever be the permanent short hair kind of girl. :-)
have a great weekend!
love & magicks
~*~

Richard said...

My long hair is a nuisance to me. I only grow it for cultural reasons. Don't ask. When my brother decided to shave his head, he was happy, and I was sad. It is just hair, after all.

bobbie said...

Well done, Deb! Love the different textures ~
bobbie

Linda said...

I am impressed. Well done! She looks very 60's era to me. The hair is gorgeous.

Kirk said...

Very good. I can tell it's a real person rather than a generic female.

My hair's been down to my shoulders in the past. But I get it cut more regularly now.

River said...

It is a beautiful drawing!
I have hair past my shoulders but still a long way from my waist. it doesn't grow any longer than where it is. i keep it long and in a ponytail which to me is far easier than having to go to the hairdresser every few months to keep it short. They charge an arm and a leg!

My name is Erika. said...

She is absolutely amazing.What a fabulous drawing! I have never had long hair as my hair is fine and I really don't have a lot of it on my head. I always wish I had it, but now I don't want to be bothered. Have a great weekend. hugs-Erika

Anonymous said...

'Almost like having a pet to take care of.' That made me laugh!

Fantastic portrait. Looks like some girls I went to school with.
E

Bleubeard and Elizabeth said...

Sorry I'm late visiting. Hoping to be more punctual now the clean up is over. You are a phenomenal artist with a pencil. You made this woman look so realistic and her hair simply shines.

One year after I gradated from high school, I decided to grow my hair long. I kept it long about a year and decided I hated it, especially since I have naturally curly hair. When it's long, it waves, not curls. Like you, once was enough and I now keep it short, short, short, except for the bangs which I let grow down below my eyes.

Martha said...

Awesome artwork, Debra! I've had long hair for the majority of my life. I've cut it short a few times but always grew it back.

How do we know said...

wow! i didnt realise that you are also such a good artist! i LOVE the dress too.

I had longer hair earlier, and then got them cut and grew them out a little bit, which is where i am at now.

The Happy Whisk said...

Hair down to my butt for a long time. Now it's mid-way ish. Though autumn is here (to me), and that means I'll likely chop some hair again. Just love that.

Ur-spo said...

My hair was quite curly, which I didn't like. If it got too long it looked horrible. Always short

Liz Hinds said...

I had very long hair when my children were young - a silly time to have it really with the time it took to wash and dry. Anyway I finally had it all chopped off and haven't looked back.
Beautiful drawing again.

Busy Bee Suz said...

The details, and texture in her hair and dress are magnificent!
The longest I ever had mine was to the very top of my shoulders; having thin hair, it looks better being shorter.

This N That said...

Just gorgeous..Her hair is wonderful..It looks like it shines...really good!! I don't (can't) do hair...so detailed..
My hair was never longer than shoulder length and that was in high school..A very long time ago..

Adam said...

Beautiful drawing

Barbara said...

Debra, that drawing is amazing. Wish I had some talent.