 |
| Alejandro / graphite and white chalk on heavy brown paper / approximately 14x17 |
 |
| Alejandro / ebony graphite on newsprint / approximately 15x14 |
Alejandro, with his heavy five o'clock shadow, was our model for portrait session this morning. The studio has concrete floors and it was cold! Outside at 9 am the temperature was 16 degrees F and it wasn't much warmer inside. A space heater was brought in and finally the room warmed up a bit and we could draw without shivering! The top portrait was done a little smaller than I usually work as I wanted to include the models hands. I love drawing hands! He was straddling a chair (which I eliminated from my drawing) and resting his arm across the back, He was lit from the back and above so I didn't have much opportunity to use the white chalk for highlights on the brown paper but did manage to catch a few. The second sketch was done in about 15 or 20 minutes and my goal was to get a likeness in that short time. I like the looseness and scribbly character of the second drawing.
Very beautiful portraits! I like your style.. Cheers! :)
ReplyDeleteThank you, Mari Jose - although I enjoy the more formal classical portrait, I feel so much freer when doing expressive sketching.
DeleteWow - that white chalk on the toned paper is SO effective! Most people shy away from hands, but I quite like drawing them too!
ReplyDeleteBoth drawings are wonderful - so skillfully done :0)
I am just beginning to learn how to control the white highlights and lose my fear of them. They have a tendency to run away with me and in this portrait, I felt that I was more in control. Thank you for your kind words :).
DeleteMe too.
ReplyDeleteWhite highlights really make the first drawing come to life. Your marks are your marks. They are recognizable in both paint and graphite.
And they are strong. Quite an artist you are.
So much to learn - every drawing stretches my abilities, encourages my desire to improve and strengthens my confidence. I truly enjoy finding myself in these drawings and I thank you for your continued encouragement and support.
DeleteThese are great--love the brown paper. Your horse sketches are amazing too. Do you have some reference photos to work by?
ReplyDeleteI enjoy the mid toned paper as well. I was looking at some Holbien drawings - so beautiful, simple and lyrical. He did them on a pink toned paper. I would love to try that. I have several reference photos that I use for each gestural horse drawing - those and great leaps of imagination, trial and error.
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteJ'aime beaucoup ton premier portrait, with the graphite et craie blanche, tu l'utilises à merveille et c'est vrai qque les mains sont très bien réussies, elles le sont magnifiquement. Ce reflet appuyé sur la main gauche à la craie blanche Donne Un très beau rendu. Bravo!
ReplyDeleteBonne fin de semaine à toi.
Cath.
I agree - the white chalk gave the drawing form and dimension that surprised me - thank you for your wonderful comment!
Delete