Archive for the ‘Portrait’ Category
Serenity
Friday, February 19th, 2016Clarity
Saturday, December 26th, 2015PI
Saturday, December 19th, 2015Alternative
Saturday, December 19th, 2015Confidence
Tuesday, December 8th, 2015Clarity
Sunday, September 6th, 2015Waiting
Monday, May 25th, 2015Innocence
Friday, March 6th, 2015Selfie
Monday, November 3rd, 2014Mist
Friday, October 3rd, 2014A 2nd white-on-black attempt (white charcoal on black pastel paper)
I still like the ethereal sparkle of using white, and I’m still amazed by how quickly it comes to life (perhaps because it’s still new to me, so I’m not looking so critically at every imperfection). Looking forward to doing more like this.
Laura
Sunday, August 31st, 2014The incredibly beautiful Laura.
After a long break, finally back drawing again and a very beautiful new start! Hopefully marks the beginning of a whole new series of artwork!
From the forest
Saturday, September 28th, 2013Graceful beauty
Monday, June 24th, 2013Classically Lazy
Tuesday, March 22nd, 2011Cello beauty
Tuesday, March 22nd, 2011Over the shoulder
Sunday, October 24th, 2010Another find from the 2007 photos which has grown on me since the shoot.
Youth
Sunday, October 24th, 2010Charcoal drawing on Bristol board (60 x 50 cm)
This one was a new one on several fronts — many of the usual facial shadow / highlights are obscured by the freckles and there is a shallower depth of field (with the hand, background and some of the face out of focus) which I’ve struggled to convey in previous drawings (often just looks like part of the drawing was rushed)
Skywards
Sunday, October 24th, 2010An oldie from 2007, recently rediscovered!
Writhe
Saturday, October 2nd, 2010Charcoal drawing on Bristol board (39 x 27 cm)
Last in my series of nudes. Thought it would be fun to explore a scene with a wide tonal range but with many darks, try to explore the much darker aspect of charcoal (over my previous choice of graphite)
I think I’m sold on charcoal, the wider tonal range, the beautifully dark blacks and the lack of shine all fit into what I like and enjoy in drawing.
Posture
Friday, September 10th, 2010Charcoal drawing on bristol board (24 x 39 cm)
Drawn from reference photo ~12 hrs to complete.
For me, the lower half of this drawing is what makes it — and not just for the obvious …. well, ok, a bit for the obvious! The reflected light from the floor, the little toes and the beautiful teardrop curves all add up to a wonderful scene. The harsh top light which makes the bottom half work, also makes the top half tricky to make work.
Pixie Princess
Saturday, September 4th, 2010Meet Princess Franzi, the Mushroom Pixie.
A wild yet soft creature, who is wonderful in company.
However, the lone traveller beware … many have been known to meet this excitable pixie while wandering through the woods and are taken in by her playful ways.
Delightfully enticing stories strike the imagination of the wary walker and quickly all baggage is discarded.
The well-travelled path is soon abandoned for an eternity of foraging through the undergrowth seeking a cap worthy to be her crown.
Cyborg Cyclops
Saturday, September 4th, 2010The latest subject of General Electric’s new Super-visor™ cybernetic procedure adjusting the fit of his ultra-sharp 3x zoom, image stabilised retinal-replacement. Available now from your local surgeon for as low as £25,000*
Get yours now and enjoy the world in HD.
General Electric Cybernetics™ — the human body as it is should be™.
*price includes £4,000 trade in for 2x 20:20 eyes
Deterimination
Monday, July 12th, 2010Charcoal drawing on Bristol Board (33 x 20 cm)
Drawn from reference photo, ~ 15hrs to complete.
I decided to experiment with mixed media: there is a small amount of ink used in some of the darker shadows. When I was working with graphite, I always found the darks to be too light and so occasionally used ink to bring the blacks to a good black (but found the black ink to graphite transition quite difficult) so I thought it might be easier with charcoal given its darker blacks.
Turns out that the ink doesn’t really add to the tone, charcoal can already get very dark blacks. On the down side, the ink adds a little shine to the areas where it has been used (which wasn’t a problem with graphite, since it shines anyway, but is a major distraction with charcoal).
The only place it might be useful is in outlining since you can add a very thin ink line which cannot be erased or smudged.
Live and learn as they say…
Crouch
Sunday, May 30th, 2010After managing to spill coffee on my ~70% finished charcoal figure study, I decided that I would do another quick figure study. Tried to make a weekend project out of it, but after a very productive Saturday, the majority is done. It’s not as detailed or finished as some others — may continue to work on it.
Total of ~10hrs, Charcoal on A3 bristol board.
Scarlet
Sunday, May 9th, 2010Latest charcoal drawing, only charcoal on A3 board.
I thought is would be interesting to try only using charcoal for a relatively high-key drawing.