Incredible pencil sketch with stunning realism garnered over 2.3 million views on TikTok after a laborious two-year creation process
Unveiling the Secrets Behind Gurekbal Bhachu's Hyper-Realistic Pencil Drawings
Gurekbal Bhachu, a self-taught artist from London, has been captivating the art world with his hyper-realistic pencil drawings. His latest masterpiece, a photorealistic portrait of his mother, has garnered over 2.3 million views on TikTok and 1.1 million views on YouTube. One thing is for certain - Bhachu's art skills are consistently high across his color and black and white pieces.
But what makes Bhachu's drawings so remarkable? The answer lies in his meticulous choice of tools and his innovative layering technique.
The Pencils of Choice
Bhachu's work involves layering different shades on top of each other to build texture and depth. To achieve such fine detail and tonal variation, he uses a variety of high-quality graphite pencils with different textures and hardness grades. These pencils are spreadable, smoothable, and blendable, allowing him to create the unbelievable texture and fills in color using dots, as seen in his mother's lips, which have lipstick on them with the color and texture being perfect.
Artists who create hyper-realistic portraits often use graphite pencils ranging from hard (H) to soft (B) grades to control light to dark shading. Pencils with finely graded hardness allow for precise thin lines (like eyebrow hairs) and soft blends (like skin textures and shadows). Blending tools (like tortillons) alongside smooth pencils help achieve realistic transitions. Sometimes, colored pencils are incorporated to add subtle color nuances and realistic touches.
The Layering Technique
The key to Bhachu's hyper-realism lies in his layering technique. Each eyebrow hair in the drawing is crafted with pinpoint accuracy, and the eyes appear realistic, with the artist creating the appearance of moisture and reflections. The video showing the artist's process over a two-year period demonstrates how he adds detail to create a textured, hyper-realistic finish.
Learning from the Master
If you're inspired by Bhachu's work and want to try your hand at hyper-realistic pencil drawings, the Creative Bloq Newsletter offers daily design news, reviews, how-tos, and more as picked by the editors. They also provide a link to a how-to-draw tutorial roundup that could help you get started.
Gurekbal Bhachu's TikTok and YouTube feeds include videos that break down the drawing process into smaller chunks, making it easier for aspiring artists to follow along. Whether you prefer color or black and white pieces, there's something for everyone in Bhachu's impressive portfolio.
[1] Graphite pencils: https://www.creativebloq.com/art-and-design/best-graphite-pencils [2] Colored pencils: https://www.creativebloq.com/art-and-design/best-colored-pencils
- Gurekbal Bhachu's artistic expertise extends to both color and black and white pieces, demonstrating his consistent high skill level.
- Bhachu's hyper-realistic pencil drawings are created using a meticulous layering technique, showcasing pinpoint accuracy in each detail.
- To achieve such fine detail and tonal variation, Bhachu utilizes high-quality graphite pencils with varying textures and hardness grades.
- Incorporating colored pencils into his work, Bhachu adds subtle color nuances and realistic touches to his hyper-realistic portraits.
- The art of hyper-realistic pencil drawing can be explored further through resources like the Creative Bloq Newsletter and their how-to-draw tutorial roundup.
- Bhachu's TikTok and YouTube feeds offer insightful videos that breakdown the drawing process into smaller, manageable chunks for aspiring artists.
- Designers seeking inspiration can explore various creative avenues, including lifestyle, home-and-garden, UI, UX, 3D, and poster designs.
- Sketches and illustrations, like Bhachu's hyper-realistic drawings, serve as an essential foundation for any well-rounded design project.
- The art of a designer lies not only in their technical ability but also in their ability to capture the essence of their subject matter, much like the artist Gurekbal Bhachu.
