Here's one more update.  I've started Martin's other eye.  This is going to be real dark, I'm going to darkening the entire paper and will try to bring him out of the shadows so to speak.  I'm still using a Pentel P205 mechanical pencil with a 2B lead.  I'm also starting to add a 4H and a 2H lead for the lighter tones on the face.  I'm blending with a medium tortillion and soft tissue paper.  I am overlapping my light and dark tone then blend them together to try to achieve a nice smooth transition from dark to light.  More to come soon!

Martin King Cavataio (Work in Progress)

Here's another update to my portrait of Martin.  I have his hand complete, just need to make some minor tweaks here and there; but for the most part, the hand is done.   I added tone to his fingers by applying graphite by making tiny overlapping circles (circulism) then blending with a medium tortillion, also using a circular motion to achieve a smooth blend.  I then add another layer of graphite and blending some more.  I repeat the process until I achieve the darkest value possible by applying a slightly harder hand pressure each time.  

I'll be moving onto Martin's face as I focus on the shadows and try to manipulate the light.   I will save the background for last since that will be completely black.  

More to come soon!!!!

Portrait of Martin

Beginnings of a new portrait.  This is 11 x 14 graphite on Strathmore Bristol Smooth paper.  So far I'm using only a Pentel P205 mechanical pencil with a 2B lead.  I'm blending using a medium tortillion.

To begin, I print out my reference photo in gray scale.  I then create my line drawing which I call the ugly stage of my process.  The line drawing is drawn fairly quickly and doesn't really look like much at this point.   I also map out where I want the facial features as well as shadow and light.  Once I'm content with the line drawing, I can start to bring my subject to life on paper.

WIP 1

WIP 2

WIP 3

Portrait of Allison

Here's my finished portrait of Allison.  I've sprayed the drawing with fixative and now can package up and ship the drawing to her new owner (Allison herself)....I hope she likes it

Here's a work in progress scan of my newest portrait.  This is Allison, she's 11 x 14 graphite on Bristol Smooth paper.  I'm using Pentel P205 0.5mm mechanical pencil with a 2B lead only.  I'm blending with a medium tortillion and soft tissue paper.  For the highlighted strands of hair, I'm using a Papermate Tuff Stuff eraser stick which I've cut at an angle so that I get a nice sharp edge.  I then "draw" the individual highlighted strands of hair.  More to come soon!!!

Buster Complete

Here's my latest portrait, Buster!   He's 11 x 14 graphite on Strathmore Bristol Smooth paper.

Event - Spence Farm - Woburn Farmer's Market Sunda June 21st from 10:00 - 2:00 PM

Spence Farm - Woburn Farmer's Market
Date: Sunday June 23, 2013
Time: 10:00 - 2:00 PM
Location:
41 Wyman Street
Woburn, MA. 01801

Come visit the Woburn Guild of Artists' tent where I along with other artists will be drawing and painting. If you're in the area, stop by and say hi.

Buster WIP 7

Here's another update of Buster. Sorry for the bad photo, I took the photo in a dimly lit room. I'll take a better photo on my next update which should be my final update before Buster is completely finished. I have his face completed finished and am now starting to work on a bit of his shoulder and chest area. I'll post another update soon!

Buster WIP 6

Here's another update on my portrait of Buster. I am working on his other ear and am starting to add hair to the right side of his face (screen's left). I'm using strictly a 0.5mm mechanical pencil with a 2B lead. I'm blending with a medium tortillion and soft bathroom tissue. I then pick out the lighter hair with a Tuff Stuff Eraser stick which I cut at an angle to get a nice sharp edge so that I can "draw" a nice thin line. I hope to have Buster finished this weekend....more to come soon!

Buster WIP 5

Here's a small update on my portrait of Buster. I'm working around the jowel area now. I'm still blending with a medium tortillion and "drawing" in the lighter fur and whiskers using a Tuff Stuff eraser stick. More to come soon!

Buster WIP 4

Here's an update on my portrait of Buster. I completed his right eye and worked on his chin a bit. Tonight I used a 0.5mm Pentel Mechanical Pencil with a 2B lead. I blended using a medium tortillion with light pressure. I used a Tuff Stuff eraser pen which I cut at an angle so I get a sharp edge which I use to "draw" the highlighted hair. I then go over the entire drawing using a 2 inch hake brush. The bristles of the hake brush is very soft so I'm not worried about smudges but I feel that pulls everything together nicely and gives a nice polished look to the piece; though it may not do anything really but I do love to use it :-)