Works in Progress & tutorials
Showing you the latest art I'm working on.
Pictures of all my past progress workings are here too along with descriptions, materials used and tutorials.
Use the tab menu below to browse the categories.
You can click any image to bring up a larger view of it. 
  • Current works in progress
  • 2013 - 2020
  • Pre 2013
  • Projects on hold & other stuff
  • Drawing materials tutorial
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Current work in progress
As yet untitled.
Dean Sidwell Artist - Work in progress drawing tutorial 1 - Face drawn, some hair. Arm has rough shading.
1 - basics drawn
Face drawn, some hair.
Arm has rough shading.
Dean Sidwell Artist - Work in progress drawing tutorial 2 - Shaded the arm. Started blending and smoothing.
2 - Progress with shading & blending
Shaded the arm. Started blending and smoothing.
Dean Sidwell Artist - Work in progress drawing tutorial 3 - Giving her some hair colour - I'm using orange, reds, browns and yellows.
3 - Giving her hair some colour
I'm using orange, reds, browns and yellows. 
Dean Sidwell Artist - Work in progress drawing tutorial 4 - Most of the hair is done but it now needs fine detailing doing to it.
4 - More hair, more colour
Most of the hair is done but it now needs fine detailing doing to it.
Picture
5 - Shading, blending and Corrections
Fixed a few things on the nose, lips and face. Done more work on shading.
Dean Sidwell Artist - Work in progress drawing tutorial 6 - A Few more corrections & marble background started. Changed the nose slightly. Started a purple marble effect for the background.
6 - A Few more corrections & marble background started
Changed the nose slightly. Started a purple marble effect for the background.
Here are a few pictures along with some details about the drawing process of this piece.
Materials used:
  • Main portrait: A3 (42x29.7cm) smooth Bristol Board, Various grades of Staedtler Mars Lumograph pencils, erasers, blending stumps, Cotton buds & tissues.
  • For the hair: Various Derwent coloursoft pencils.
  • ​​For the background: Various Faber Castel Polychromos pencils.
Next in line...
Dean Sidwell Art. Victorian girl , Work in progress tutorial 1. - Everything's in place with first level of shading done. Next we need details 1 -
1 - Everything's in place with first level of shading done. Next we need details
Body and face drawn, basic shading done, ready for detailing. Outline of necklace done.
Dean Sidwell Art. Victorian girl , Work in progress tutorial 2. - Add shading and do crazy detailing to that lace glove and blouse sleeve
2 - Add shading and do crazy detailing to that lace glove and blouse sleeve
Very fine detailing on that lace glove and her right arm. Darker shading on hat and body.
​A couple of pics of the drawing I plan to finish next. It was started before the piece featured at the top of the page but got overtaken.
Materials used:
 A3 (42x29.7cm) smooth Bristol Board, various grades of Staedtler Mars Lumograph pencils, 2B mechanical pencil (0.5mm), blending stumps, erasers, cotton buds & tissues.

​With thanks to model Madaley Selket and photographer Andy Fiechtner 
Nova's Gone All Pop Art - From start to finish
Dean Sidwell Art. Pop Art Cat work in progress tutorial 1. - Draw the large basic sketch on size A2 paper. ​Next stage is to start adding colour to it.
1- Basic sketch
Draw the large basic sketch on size A2 paper.
​Next stage is to start adding colour to it.
Dean Sidwell Art. Pop Art Cat work in progress tutorial 3. - Colour explosion.
2 - Add Some colour
Add lots of colour using pastels.
​Start layering black over top of the purple.
Picture
3 - Colour explosion
Adding lots of pinks and other colours to it.
Next is to start putting in the finer details.
Continue layering dark colours and blacks on top.
Final stage will be to add a bright multi-coloured background. 
Dean Sidwell Art. Pop Art Cat work in progress tutorial 4. - Finished and framed
4 -Finished and framed
Into a frame and onto the wall.
​​That's brightened up the room!
The progression of the Pop Art pastel drawing of my cat.
Materials used:
Size A2 (42 x 59.4cm) 220gsm paper, HB  Staedtler Mars Lumograph pencil for the basic sketch, various soft colour pastels, tinted charcoal pencils and some colour pencils.
Fracture - Piecing it together
Dean Sidwell Art. Fracture: Work in progress tutorial 1. Part coloured portrait.
1 - Part coloured portrait
Face drawn and coloured. Colouring of hair started. ​
​Thinking of an idea for a background.
Dean Sidwell Art. Fracture: Work in progress tutorial 12. Adding the background.
2 - Adding the background
Got a background idea after a photo frame I had got dropped and the glass got broken. Now adding the broken glass idea to the drawing.
A couple of pictures and some details from when I drew Fracture.
​ 
Materials used: A4 (29.7 x 21 cm) Bristol board (250 gsm), and mainly Derwent coloursoft pencils.​
Thanks to Alraunie-stock for use of the photo the girl is based on.
Ice - The progress pics
Dean Sidwell Art. Ice: Dog portrait. Work in progress tutorial 1. Basic shading of portrait
1 - Basic shading of portrait
Face is drawn. Bottom layer of shading is all done and is ready for the fine details and hair to be added on top of it.
Dean Sidwell Art. Ice: Dog portrait. Work in progress tutorial 2. Adding detail and hair.
2 - Adding detail and hair
Very finely drawing the details. Hair takes time, not to be rushed. Sharp end of erasers are great for making fine light hairs and highlights. Will continue building it up bit by bit.  
​A couple of pictures of when I drew this dog portrait.
​ 
Materials used: 
Canson Bristol board, size (21cm x 29.7cm)
arious grades of pencil ranging from 8B to 5H, HB & 2B mechanical pencils (0.5 mm), normal and putty erasers. Blending stumps, tortillions, cotton buds and tissues were used for blending.
Stormbringer - Bringing the idea to life
Dean Sidwell Art. Stormbringer pencil drawing : Work in progress tutorial 1 - Draw the basic portrait as accurately as possible
1 - Draw the basic portrait as accurately as possible
I have a couple of ideas for the background but unsure which one to do yet. So, first I want to get the girl drawn.
​I draw it accurately but without putting the fine details in.  
Dean Sidwell Art. Stormbringer pencil drawing: Work in progress tutorial 2. Developing the idea.
2 - Developing the idea
I had already got a couple of ideas for the background for this drawing in my head.
Because, by now, I had now already drawn the basic accurate portrait just with a plain background I was able to test out my ideas.
I opened up my paint editing program(I use Paint.NET) and drew a couple of my very rough background ideas. The 2 ideas are here on the left. After scanning, copying and pasting my portrait into both images I was able to see which would work best.​
I obviously opted for the bird in the window with the lightning. It also gave me the idea for the title of the piece. Stormbringer.
Now it's time to put the idea down with pencil on paper. ​​ 
Dean Sidwell Art. Stormbringer pencil drawing: Work in progress tutorial 3 - Progressing with the background. Start shading, blending and details.
3 - Progressing with the background. Start shading, blending and details
It's all taking shape now.
​I drew a crow outside of the round window. Lightning is now in the sky and the outline of a city in the distance beyond a stretch of water. 
Started doing more work on the wall and more on the girl.
Dean Sidwell Art. Stormbringer pencil drawing: Work in progress tutorial 4. Almost there.
4 - Almost there
Not much left to do on it now A few finishing touches to do here and there. Got to finish that butterfly hairclip. A touch of shading and a few bits on the girl and her hair. That hair was a crazy thing to draw, it's taken up a lot of time. Added a timepiece around her neck that needs finishing. Almost done! 
The drawing of Stormbringer from beginning to end.  
Materials used:
A4 size(29.7 x 21 cm) smooth cartridge paper(220gsm).
Many grades of pencil ranging from 5H to 6B.
2B - 0.5mm mechanical pencil.
Tortillions, cotton buds, tissues and erasers.​​

With thanks to lady-death-stock for the use of the photo I based the girl on and thanks to peroni68 for the crow ref.
Geddy Lee - Fitting the drawing together
Dean Sidwell Art. Geddy Lee pencil drawing: Work in progress tutorial 1. Just a guitar.
1 - Just a guitar

​With the idea of the drawing planned, the first stage is to draw the guitar on one side of the paper as a starting point.
​​​Then all the rest of the elements can be drawn around it. 
Dean Sidwell Art. Geddy Lee pencil drawing: Work in progress tutorial 2. Fitting elements into the drawing.
2 - Fitting elements into the drawing
Clockwork, & most  elements in place. Drawing Geddy as a poster on the wall. Work starts on shading and detailing.
Dean Sidwell Art. Geddy Lee pencil drawing: Work in progress tutorial 4. All coming together.
3 - All coming together
Fine detail started. Most the shading and blending now done. Got to add a keyboard behind the pipes. Tidying up & smaller details will finally finish it off.
Lots of ideas and lots of things that I wanted to put into this drawing. Here's how I fitted them all into place. 
Materials used:
Various grades of pencil from 6B upwards, HB & 2B mechanical pencils(0.5mm), tortillions, tissues, cotton buds and erasers. 
​A4 cartridge paper (21cm x 29.7 cm).
The collection of works from before 2013
Dean Sidwell Art. Mystery, pastel drawing work in progress pic.- First draft, the original idea - First draft, the original idea
Mystery - First draft, the original idea
Picture
Re-worked version in comparison
​No, you're not imagining things, this is my pastel drawing, Mystery. It all started with the woman putting her hand on a crystal ball. ​​I decided that it wasn't working. I removed the hand and crystal ball, gently with a cloth, leaving just some of the colour left where it used to be. ​I then carried on with a second idea, drawing her looking towards a planet in outer space, using more blues and less pinks. ​It became a completely different piece(see image above).
Dean Sidwell Art. Jessica Alba pencil drawing work on progress tutorial 1
Jessica - WIP 1
Dean Sidwell Art. Jessica Alba pencil drawing work on progress tutorial 2
Jessica - WIP 2
A couple of early progress pictures of my Jessica Alba pencil drawing,
Starting of with the outlines in place first. Then began doing some shading. I worked on getting the head and face right early on. Then onto the background. That helps to separate Jessica from the white paper.   
Dean Sidwell Art. Jessica Alba pencil drawing work on progress tutorial 3
Jessica - WIP 3
Going forward, I started getting some more detail in.
Using darker grades of pencil to get much of the hair done. Started detailing the long dress, having to use lighter pencil grades and erasers on it, being that it's a white dress. Kneaded erasers will be used on that dress a lot throughout this piece as pencil can make it look very grey.
Dean Sidwell Art. Jessica Alba pencil drawing work on progress tutorial 4
Jessica - WIP 4
Next is to get some finer detailing in. Started to put those little holes into the dress. Done a little more on the hair too. It's coming together. Will keep at it bit by bit.
Materials used for this: A3(42x29.7cm)cartridge paper, various grades of pencil ranging from 5H to 5B, HB & 2B mechanical pencils(0.5mm), blending stumps, tissues, cotton buds & erasers.
Dean Sidwell Art. Alice. Pet dog pencil drawing work on progress WIP 1
Alice - WIP 1
Work in progress of a commissioned dog portrait - Alice.
​​I was very kindly been given permission to show you the progress of this drawing.
Still much to do, shading blending and fine details will be done next.​
Dean Sidwell Art. Alice. Pet dog pencil drawing work on progress WIP 2
Alice - WIP 2
As you can see, it's really coming together at this point.
Shading and tones all done a much of the detailing.
The fine hairs have taken time to do, the use of erasers came into play a lot to do them.

​
Materials used for Alice:

A3 (42 x 29.7cm) 250gsm extra smooth Bristol board.

Various grades of pencil ranging from 4H to 5B.

HB and 2B mechanical pencils (0.5mm).

Blending stumps.

Tissues and cotton buds.

Putty eraser.

Standard eraser.

​
Dean Sidwell Art. Keeping Secrets: Pencil portrait work on progress tutorial 1.
Keeping Secrets - WIP 1
Early stages. ​​
The black in the background really is that dark. I've gone through so much 5B pencil lead so far.
Dean Sidwell Art. Keeping Secrets: Pencil portrait work on progress tutorial 2
Keeping Secrets - WIP 2
Doing some work on the hair now.
​I have started to put tones, blending and shading on her face.
Dean Sidwell Art. Keeping Secrets: Pencil portrait work on progress tutorial 3
Keeping Secrets - WIP 3
Lots more pencil lead used on her dress.
​Got all the folds done and continuing to blend into the dark tones.  
Dean Sidwell Art. Keeping Secrets: Pencil portrait work on progress tutorial 4
Keeping Secrets - WIP4
Her eye's done & almost all her hair. Ear needs finishing.
​Almost there now.
Materials used for Keeping Secrets: 
A4 smooth cartridge paper(220gsm),HB & 2B mechanical pencils & various grades of pencil from 2h to 5B.
Dean Sidwell Art. Nocturnal: Vampire girl drawing - Work in progress tutorial 1
Nocturnal - WIP - 1
Some details of the hair done and work started on her dress at this early stage. Outline of the moon drawn.
Dean Sidwell Art. Nocturnal: Vampire girl drawing - Work in progress tutorial 2
Nocturnal - WIP - 2
A bit more work on the hair and darker areas of the dress. Putting in a layer of grey to start off the background. 
Dean Sidwell Art. Nocturnal: Vampire girl drawing - Work in progress tutorial 3
Nocturnal - WIP - 3
Getting a background in. Darker tones in the distance and basis of clouds. Drawn in a tree and a bit of grass.
Dean Sidwell Art. Nocturnal: Vampire girl drawing - Work in progress tutorial 4
Nocturnal - WIP - 4
More grass and cloud work. I'm now adding some water in the corner with some stones around the edge of it.
Dean Sidwell Art. Nocturnal: Vampire girl drawing - Work in progress tutorial 5
Nocturnal - WIP - 5
More detailing going in.
The stones are almost done and more work being don to the water. 
Dean Sidwell Art. Nocturnal: Vampire girl drawing - Work in progress tutorial 6
Nocturnal - WIP - 6
Done the grass and more background. Shaded her face and arms. Given her some leggings to wear. 
Dean Sidwell Art. Nocturnal: Vampire girl drawing - Work in progress tutorial 7
Nocturnal - WIP - 7
Finished her dress. Will finish the water next. She will need friends, I will give her some bats for company soon. 
Dean Sidwell Art. Nocturnal: Vampire girl drawing - Work in progress tutorial 8
Nocturnal - WIP - 8
Almost done.
​Materials used:​ A4 cartridge paper, HB & 2B mechanical pencils, various other grades of pencil, blending stumps, cotton buds & erasers.
Dean Sidwell Art. Leaving: Goth girl and castle pencil drawing - Work in progress tutorial 1
Leaving - WIP 1
This piece altered and changed a lot over time.​
For a start, the proportions of the left side of the castle are way out here.
I gave her rather a strange gown to wear over her dress here too. That needs to go(I have an idea of what to do with that).
​Much needs altering at this point.​
Dean Sidwell Art. Leaving: Goth girl and castle pencil drawing - Work in progress tutorial 2
Leaving - WIP 2
Fixed the castle and started detailing it. 
I've now given her a new leather jacket to wear. The new jacket is actually based on one of my own. I got a family member to wear it and referenced it from that.​ I've changed the face here a bit too.
Next, a huge amount of detail is going to go into doing the castle.
Dean Sidwell Art. Leaving: Goth girl and castle pencil drawing - Work in progress tutorial 3
Leaving - WIP 3
 Much of the castle and background is done. It's all coming together now although there are a few things need that still need fixing. I will change her face again somewhat too.
For the finished piece I used HB & 2B mechanical pencil (0.5mm), various other grades of pencil from 3H to 5B, blending stumps, cotton buds, tissues & erasers. Drawn on A3 cartridge paper.
Dean Sidwell Art. Leaving: Edward Cullen pencil drawing - Work in progress pic
Edward Cullen - WIP
Not too much to say about this.
​Outlines & all elements of the face are in place. Shading started. It's on A4 Paper. For the finished piece I will use various mechanical & normal pencils, erasers, blending stumps & cotton buds.