Hello nairalanders, call me Teesha (pronounced as "teacher"). I've created this thread to share my progress story (and photos of course) as a pencil artist.

Let me begin with a brief introduction. Like wrote earlier i'm TeeSha (nickname my parents gave to me), i'm a Forensic Scientist (B.Sc Hons)......in my early twenties, highly introverted.
I think that's enough intro for now. Lets get to my humble beginings.

I've always loved anything art, born in an art inclined family. Most time, during a boring class in high school, i'd try to sketch something in my note. Below is a photo of one of my earlies sketches.

This was done around 2010 back in high school....abeg no laugh...its my humble beginning.

Here's another done around the same period. Saved thes photo's in a PC.

So the above sketches were made with regular classroom HB pencils. At that time, i knew little about technique.
I got really interested around October 2016. I was on break when I came across an art magazine....and fell in love anew. I immediately went online (what can we do without google?), and learnt about the pencil range (12H to 12B), types (charcoal, graphite), and even oil painting.
I located the nearest art store (about 60kms away) and got some pencils, 2H, 2B, 4B and 6B, to start practicing with.

If you noticed, my last drawing is without a head. Yes i sucked at drawing the human face, so i knew i had to deal with it. I did that by learning how to draw the parts (eyes, nose, mouth) individually. Then i combined what i learnt.....and got this.

And thus my journey began. I decided to start with A4 papers (i learnt that there were different drwaing papers which gave different finishes).
My first was a shirtless picture. I was beginning to learn the ropes of shading.
This was done around January 2017.

@ TeeSha, you have good drawing skills.

uboma:
@ TeeSha, you have good drawing skills.

Thanks.

After about a month, tried to do another. Still on A4 paper with my few pencils.
When i think back from now, i realised i lacked patience. Which is a requirement as an artist.
Here goes.

At this point, i decided to step up a bit. So around August 2017 (after like 4months without practice, due to time spent on my project work), i decided to do a work for someone, i joined 2 A4 papers to get a larger size of paper.
Unlike previous works whick took less than for hours, this one took me six hours. 3 hours per day for two days (had to rest my eye).

After the previous sketch, i was very hopeful. It looked so real, and i almost thought i'd "arrived". Later realized i had not even started.

I later did another large sketch a month later, of which i can't find the photo (i'd upload as soon as i uncover it)
Then, in the first week of December, decided to do something for my eldest sis.
I learnt to use the grid method for accuracy and applied it to this Christmas drawing. The size is 20" by 16" and it took me two whole weeks (weekends inclusive).

TeeSha:
I later did another large sketch a month later, of which i can't find the photo (i'd upload as soon as i uncover it.

Finally found the photo. This was done on two and half A4 papers cellotaped together. It took about 6 hours.

That was it for the year 2017. I found out a branch of art....Hyper-realism....i decided to adopt the style.
I also met an artist on facebook by name Chuka. He's ahead of me and i always view his art when i need inspiration.

My aunt's birthday was upcoming on March (this year) and she asked for a portrait. I was feeling lazy and had little time (i started working). But had to do it for aunt.
So one day at work, took out an A4 sheet and my pencils (they're always in my backpack) and tried to sketch from one of her photo's.
Took me two days and a total of two hours (its hard to concentrate while clients keep coming in).
So, here goes.

Next was my nephew. The photo i had of him was not really clear, so i had to do a lot of rounding up. It still turned out well.
Done on an A4 sheet.....around April.

Wow following
Also teaching my self artwork and I will appreciate it if you and I together with other artist( beginner or pro) can form a WhatsApp group.

Aimwest:
Wow following
Also teaching my self artwork and I will appreciate it if you and I together with other artist( beginner or pro) can form a WhatsApp group.

Nice idea.

Next was this A4 portrait of my cousin. In four hours....for her birthday around june.

And then......around July, i started one of my best works yet, for a friend on facebook.

I spent a lot of time on this particular work....about 3days (didn't count the hours)...and i achieved a degree of hyperrealism.
Complete piece coming soon.

Nice one.. Keep up the good work and never stop learning to improve.

betboyforever:
Nice one.. Keep up the good work and never stop learning to improve.

Thanks.

This is the completed piece. There's no feeling better than what you get when you stare at a good handwork of yours.

TeeSha:

Thanks.

You are welcome.

Good work you have there. pls add me to any Art or drawing whatsapp group 07064774565

Well, lets do some throw-back. Remember the pencil sketch of a man in towel above? I decided to try my hands on biro. And i figured the best way is to do a work i've done already.
Did this around August 2017.....my first (and currently-only) biro work.....here goes.

TeeSha:
Well, lets do some throw-back. Remember the pencil sketch of a man in towel above? I decided to try my hands on biro. And i figured the best way is to do a work i've done already.
Did this around August 2017.....my first (and currently-only) biro work.....here goes.

you really tried.
Ballpoint pen drawing is really tough.
I've tried learning it before but I gave up

EpicMaurice:

you really tried.
Ballpoint pen drawing is really tough.
I've tried learning it before but I gave up

Thanks.....i've not tried it again. I intend to achieve a certain level of expertise in pencil before delving fully into biro. I feel the better i am with pencil, the better i'd be when i use the pen.

August 2nd, started this new work. 10" by 10....graphite on cardboard.

Progress shot.