New Portrait Commission

Here's my line drawing and first work in progress image for my newest portrait commission.

This is 14 x 17 graphite on Strathmore Bristol Smooth paper.   So far for pencils, I used a Pentel P2015 mechanical pencil with a 2B lead.

I love using 2B lead because I can get such a tonal range just by using more or less pressure and by layering my graphite.

This is how I always start my portraits.  I call this stage in my process the "ugly" stage.  The lines are loosely drawn and quickly drawn which makes the drawing at this point look like a 2 year old did it.  But this stage is used for placement of features only.  Sort of like a road map, I map out how I want the portrait to look.   Once I have everything where I want them to be and all the features mapped out and mark where the shadows are, I can now start adding tone and texture to bring the portrait to life.

More to come soon!!!

Woburn Guild of Artists' Annual Open Art Exhibit

My portrait of Olivia won 2nd Place in the Mixed Media Category and I was also surprised to win "The People's Choice Award".

Olivia

Here's my completed drawing of Olivia.  She's been signed, sprayed with fixative, and is now ready to be delivered to her mom to give to her dad Christmas morning.

Olivia WIP 2

Here's an update on my commission piece, Olivia.  Her face is about 95% finished.  I want to add another layer of graphite to smooth out the tone and to really bring out the contrast.  I will be 100% finished with her face for my next update, then I can work on the bib and clothes.  Once the clothes is finished, she'll be ready to mat, frame, and wrap.

Olivia WIP

Here's a work in progress image of my newest portrait I'm working on.  This is Olivia, she's 11 x 14 graphite on Strathmore Bristol smooth paper.  

I was asked by Olivia's mom to draw her, this is going to be a Christmas present for her dad.  More to come soon!

                                    

    

Robin Williams Complete

Here's my completed tribute portrait of Robin Williams.  This is 9 x 12 graphite on Strathmore Bristol Smooth paper.

Robin Williams WIP Continued

Here's another update on my tribute portrait of Robin Wiliams.  I'm really trying to focus on realism with this one.  I'm still using Pentel P205 mechanical pencils with 4H, 2H, H, B, and 2B leads.  I'm blending using a q-tip cotton swab, a medium tortillion, soft bathroom tissue paper, and a hake brush.

I'm pretty much done with the head/face now I'm moving on to the sweater.  More to come soon!

Tribute Portrait of Robin Williams WIP

Here's a work in progress image of my latest portrait.  This is a tribute portrait of Robin Williams.   I'm still making adjustments to the skin tone as I go along. I'm still using Pentel P205 mechanical pencils using 4H, 2H, H, B, and 2B leads. The light strands of hair are being "drawn" in using a Tuff Stuff Eraser stick which I cut at an angle so that I have a nice sharp edge. More to some soon!

JT Complete

Here's the finished version of my portrait of JT.  This is 11 x 14 graphite on Strathmore Bristol smooth paper.

I had a lot of fun with the shadows in this one.  To do the shadows, I took a 2B pencil and worked the dark areas.  I then to soft bathroom tissue paper and blended the dark area.  I then added another layer of 2B graphite and blended with a blending stump.

I also loved the intense focused stare he has in this piece which is really what I wanted to focus on.

Portrait of JT (work in progress)

Here's an update on my portrait of JT.  I am still working on tone and texture of the skin.  I'm blending using a blending stump, a cotton swab, and soft bathroom tissue paper.  For dark tones, I'm using a 2B pencil and for lighter tones, I'm using an H pencil.  For the highlighted hairs of his beard, I'm using a Tuff Stuff eraser stick/pen I cut at an angle to get a nice sharp edge to "draw" the highlighted hairs (negative drawing - taking away graphite instead of adding).  More to come soon!

Portrait of JT - Work in Progress

Here's a portrait I'm working on for practice.  Lately I've been wanting to draw deep shadows.  I really love a face in shadow and how the light plays off of the features.   I love the dramatic effect.

With this portrait, JT's face is mostly in shadow with just the left (screen's right) side of his face is in the light.   This is my interpretation of JT.

This is a work in progress.  The size is 11 x 14 graphite on Strathmore Bristol Smooth paper.  For pencils I'm using Prismacolor Torquoise drawing pencils 7H, 4H, H, 2B, and 4B.   I'm blending using bathroom tissue paper, a medium tortillion, and a cotton swab.

Update coming soon!