Braided hair graphite study

Back view of an adult head and upper shoulders with one thick three-strand braid and a plain hair tie. Practice form, overlap and selective shading in graphite.

A way into the drawing

1. Establish the main shapes

   Place the head mass and tapering braid envelope.

2. Connect the structure

   Interlock three broad hair sections down the braid.

3. Develop the drawing

   Use selective interior marks and local shadow groups to explain the overlaps. Keep the lighter planes open rather than shading every surface.

A small thing to tryKeep the braid sections alternating around one central axis.