Progression image 5 of 6. 11x14 Marker paper, Medium Graphite Pencils (asst. B-5B). Here the drawing started to come together. I used a metal tip to a mechanical pencil and dragged it along the paper to create the highlight effects in her hair. It is effective but irreversible, so I don't do it very often.
I try to do a couple of birds a week (obviously don't post them all). This is based on an on-line photo reference drawn with a "soft" Palomino Blackwing pencil and a 4B Koh-I-Noor Hardtmuth Progress woodless pencil. Hence the dark velvety black.