Tag: portrait

Something Different

I really prefer landscapes to nearly anything when it comes to artwork. Part of it is pure laziness – no one will point out the inaccuracy of my rendering! I can make it anything I want. Portraits, of someone you know or is famous, are inherently more challenging. With this challenge in mind, I decided to enroll in an 8-week portrait class led by my painting instructor. Yesterday was the second class.

For a number of years now I have sporadically met up with a small group of artists in a nearby park. Originally the group was for a portrait class, in person, sans masks, during the Covid days. Eventually it evolved / devolved, but now it is once more on track as a portrait class. No problem – I think i will happily return. The reason is simple – I am beginning to enjoy portraiture – at least in pencil.

We did a graduation party for Dakota, new high school graduate and soon to be university student. I decided the photo Auntie Am took was perfect for subject matter in yesterday’s class. Tan paper, hard and soft pencil, white Prismacolor pencil for highlights.

I listened to my Portraits-in-the-Park teacher, Steve, whispering in my ear as I drew, recalling words of advice and hints. Barbara, too, refreshed the “rules” of portraiture last week. And so, a portrait of Dakota emerged with the help of my two wonderful instructors.

My own observations tell me my noses are improving but need work, my ears still suck, and the rest is not too bad. All done in about a 45 minute session once the class instructions were completed.

Now, let’s be honest here. Pencil is easy to use. Barbara’s class is to soon move into value studies on canvas and a painted portrait may emerge in the next several weeks. That is going to be pure experiential hell. I have never painted a person in my life. At least I am somewhat comfortable with oils and other media. I am considering oil paint or pastels. Oil is slow drying and can be modified. Pastels are like drawing with a pencil. Watercolor requires a bit more skill than I have and in a classroom I don’t think I would be comfortable, but may decide to do at home where I can wade through paper if need be. Colored pencils may or may not be on the agenda.

Onward!!

First Painted Portrait

I have drawn people and done some half-witted attempts in paint, but this painting, for me, is my first more than half-witted portrait in paint. Source photo is from Pixabay.

9×12 canvas paper, Golden Fluid Acrylics. Limited palette of violet oxide, cobalt blue, yellow ochre, cad yellow, zinc and titanium white.

My Buddy

Well, I hope not. Can you guess who this person is?

Today a friend challenged me because I was complaining about the combo of supplies I had chosen for a drawing class – conte crayon and Strathmore 300 watercolor paper. For drawing it was not a good combo. So my friend challenged me to do the drawing from hell, and here it is. It was hell – and a helluva lot of fun, too. I got very dirty and everything is smudged all over. I did this free hand as being in hell is hard enough.

Who do YOU think this is?

Portrait of a Little Girl

Over the last year or two I have been doing pencil drawing with an amazing instructor, Steve Tanaka. He used to teach at our local adult school, but with the pandemic and virtual classes, he decided to try out meeting in the park behind our local library. A small group of us meet at a moment’s notice – well, a week or two’s notice! – on Wednesday morning, weather permitting. The primary purpose of the class is portraiture in pencil, but I have wandered at times to cat faces and trees, others have done horses or owls, but we draw. The doing is the point, and Steve’s tutelage is subtle, available, encouraging. He has a sharp eye and a lot of experience. He is a fine teacher.

This is a drawing of a portrait of a poor girl in India by a talented Pixabay photographer Aamir Mohd Khan. His portraits have a drama of a place I have never seen and are both fascinating and touching. His portrait is below.

I cropped the portrait to focus on the little girl whose face is so haunting. I wonder what her life is now – I don’t think it is easy at all.

My own drawing is done with pencil – graphite – using HB, 2H, 2B and 4B pencils on bristol paper, 9×12. There is still some work to be done, but I felt a need to post it. I have spent about 5 hours on it altogether.