London-based artist Zulf creates dramatic portraits of women half-hidden in the shadows. These realistic drawings are made on black paper using a combination of pastel and charcoal. Instead of drafting the model’s entire face on the page, Zulf invents a light source in the composition and draws only the illuminated parts of the person’s face, hair, and body. Not only is this minimalist approach to portrait drawing immediately eye-catching, but it also demonstrates his masterful knowledge of light and shadow.

Zulf utilizes light-colored pastels and charcoals to add fine details to each drawing. For instance, in some of the portraits of long-haired women, he carefully sketches white into the dark paper, blending some of it into the shadow, whilst leaving other parts starker. Then, to imitate certain bright lights, the artist catches the subject’s extra fine hairs that are otherwise invisible to the naked eye.[…]

More: Artist Uses Charcoal and Pastels to Only Draw the Light Cast on Women