Link/ Dark Link Drawing

Make-to-Learn Youth Contest Entry

This is a contour drawing that I created for my AP Art Studio class. I was required for the class to look at any original drawing or painting and recreate it as closely as possible. My immediate choice was to select one of the many artworks from one of my most beloved video games series, The Legend of Zelda. 

1. What did you make?
Here, I have done a recreation of the Legend of Zelda's character Link. Using a standard Ticonderoga pencils, along with shading pencils B, 2B, and 4B, I engaged in a 6-hour process to complete the sketch and shading. 

2. How did you make it?
I was inspired by the video game to draw this character, and I got the idea of having both Link's normal and dark side being represented from an in-game event (from The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past) where Link fights a shadow version of himself.

3. Where did you make it?
This drawing was completed fully at home, which took about 2 days. This project expresses my love for free drawing as well as my love for video games, and my especial fondness for The Legend of Zelda series.

4. What did you learn?
I can accurately say that I am most proud of the shading techniques I used working on Link. I tried to use a red-colored pencil for his left eye to give him the sinister and dark trait familiar with his darker version, but it didn't turn out quite right. So, I would definitely change how I go about doing his eyes if I were to do it again; I did gain a lot of experience from this, however!

Steps:
1. Find your reference picture.
2. Outline the body shape. 
3. Shade in first layer, adding additional details as you go.
4. Shade in several more layers, darkening slowly as you go through each time.
Make sure you are paying close attention to your reference picture as it will ultimately affect the outcome of your drawing.
5. After you are satisfied with the shading, finish with any last details and clean up around your drawing.