Drawing hair is a truly unique challenge. Capturing its thickness, flow, and curls in a way that feels tangible is incredibly fulfilling when you get it right. At first glance, it might seem like a simple task, but once you start, you quickly realize it’s far more complex than just shading and adding highlights. Each strand needs life, and it’s easy to get it wrong, ending up with something lifeless. This demands a whole new level of patience because the amount of shading can either make or break your work.

For me there’s something deeply meditative about drawing hair. It’s one of those moments in art where you can reach a state of flow, losing yourself in the rhythm of the pen moving across the paper. Getting hair right adds immense value and depth to a drawing. Overlooking or oversimplifying it can leave your work flat and uninteresting.

Over the years I’ve found that drawing hair teaches me a lot about patience and attention to detail. Each time I get lost in the process, it feels like I’m not just drawing but connecting with the essence of what I’m creating. The challenge keeps me engaged, and every successful stroke brings a sense of accomplishment. It’s this journey of transforming lines into something almost palpable that makes the effort so rewarding.

Study - Portrait V

Pencil drawing
300gsm, Canson Aquarelle paper
70 x 100cm

Sundsvall
Sweden 1997