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Man in a kilt

A couple of years ago, a young friend asked me to draw this picture of him. At the time, I just wasn’t up to it. Now — just ever-so-slightly belatedly — I’m making a start.

I like it so far. But since I’m now reaching the point where my next step is inevitably to ruin it, I thought I’d post the in-progress version for posterity. šŸ™‚

Young man wearing a kilt and carrying a rifle

23 Comments

  1. Carl-Bear
    Carl-Bear February 23, 2012 3:57 pm

    Hmm. I think I recognize him. Haven’t seen him lately but isn’t his hair a little longer?

  2. Joel
    Joel February 23, 2012 3:59 pm

    Hm. Who do I know, that:

    *Carries a rifle
    *Wears a kilt
    *Knows Claire

    You may need to change the hair, Claire. Or my guess could be all wet.

  3. Claire
    Claire February 23, 2012 4:49 pm

    LOL, and I was thinking I disguised him SO well! I left his face ’til last so I wouldn’t be posting a picture of a specific person without his okay. Oh well.

    And yes. The hair. This photo was taken several years ago when the hair was shorter.

  4. Karen
    Karen February 23, 2012 4:58 pm

    “But since Iā€™m now reaching the point where my next step is inevitably to ruin it…..”
    I think it’s wonderful so far and can’t imagine that you could possibly “ruin” it. You’ve posted things you were a bit disappointed with, but nothing that wasn’t actually wonderful. Just the 2 cents of one of those who can’t even draw stick figures. I can’t wait to see how it grows!

  5. Kent McManigal
    Kent McManigal February 23, 2012 5:29 pm

    Just put a “V” mask sticker over his face to protect his identity and to prevent you from messing up that area. (Human faces are the hardest thing for me to draw, so I’m probably just stating what I should do if I were at that stage.) But, it looks very good.

  6. naturegirl
    naturegirl February 23, 2012 5:38 pm

    “But since Iā€™m now reaching the point where my next step is inevitably to ruin it”

    Don’t jinx yourself with all that confidence…..no, seriously, you’ll do a great job – think positively……

  7. Claire
    Claire February 23, 2012 6:50 pm

    Karen — Awww. Believe me, I frequently do much less than wonderful, but I appreciate your vote of confidence.

    Kent — Yeah, a V mask would really complete the picture, wouldn’t it?

    naturegirl — Just once in my life, I’d actually love to be overly confident …

  8. Gus S. Calabrese
    Gus S. Calabrese February 24, 2012 5:43 am

    Is that a shooting umbrella ???? Scan it and print some copies that you can mess up repeatedly…… trying and sort of failing is the way to develop a style.

  9. Karen
    Karen February 24, 2012 5:54 am

    Kent says human faces are the hardest. But Claire has the gift of capturing the eyes, and that’s really the core of what the face is. If the eyes are right, the face just works pretty much however it turns out. IMO as an observer – not a doer.

  10. Marlana W
    Marlana W February 24, 2012 7:06 am

    Looks great and I’m sure it will be even better completed šŸ™‚

  11. Teresa Sue
    Teresa Sue February 24, 2012 7:17 am

    I like it Claire. I wish I could do something like that. I think it’s kinda cool just like it is, it could me any man.

  12. Teresa Sue
    Teresa Sue February 24, 2012 7:18 am

    Make that, it could be any man.

  13. Amber
    Amber February 24, 2012 7:43 am

    As a portrait artist, I have to get the face first, specifically the eyes, or I simply will not be able to draw the person at all. I have trouble drawing clothing and inanimate objects, so I am very impressed with this drawing. You’re very talented!

  14. FarmMama
    FarmMama February 24, 2012 8:25 am

    I saw this on the Facebook feed, and knew it was a utilikilt he’s wearing. I clicked on the photo to get a good gander. Good job Claire! Your shading is beautiful!

  15. WolfSong
    WolfSong February 24, 2012 8:36 am

    Somehow, I don’t see you ruining it, Claire. You’ve already done the hardest part…hands. By the Gods, hands are the toughest damn body part to draw, and not make look like claws or twisted stubs of goo…you’ve already got realistic looking hands, so the next steps will be easy peasy.

    Trust me…I’m *not* from the government, and I’m here to help you. LOL!

  16. Claire
    Claire February 24, 2012 9:20 am

    A shooting umbrella …? The mind boggles. šŸ™‚

    Hello, FarmMama — Yes, that’s a Utilikilt, though not exactly. The young man’s mother is a theatrical costumer, and that’s her homemade adaptation. Thank you for your kindness; I’m still working on getting the shadows right, but it’s fascinating drawing a subject with strong light coming from behind him.

    Yeah … hands — difficult. I always fear the “bunch of bananas” effect. Now I’ll have to switch to fearing “twisted stubs of goo.”

    Amber — interesting observation from an artist. I think you’re right about portraits. The eyes are everything.

  17. MamaLiberty
    MamaLiberty February 24, 2012 9:24 am

    I’ve always been a total sucker for a man in a kilt… and it’s been many a long year since I saw one. Need to go to the Highland games this summer. šŸ™‚ Takes me weeks to get over the impact of seeing hundreds of them!! LOL

    The young man in your picture is lovely, Claire. But he does need a wee bit more of a face. šŸ™‚

  18. naturegirl
    naturegirl February 24, 2012 3:26 pm

    LOL-ing at “twisted stubs of goo”

  19. Ellendra
    Ellendra February 24, 2012 6:46 pm

    Guys in kilts, guys with long hair….. that picture could get dangerous for me!

    Nicely drawn!

  20. Randall
    Randall February 25, 2012 11:25 am

    From the look of it so far, it’ going to be a wonderful piece. Sadly, for me, artistic ability sometimes skips a generation. At least I can appreciate good art like this. šŸ™‚

  21. Hutch
    Hutch February 26, 2012 11:51 am

    Make “Him” a “Her” and that would be a Smok’n Hot Prepper Chick portrait.

    Boot’s and All.

    Just Say’n,

    Hutch

  22. Claire
    Claire February 26, 2012 12:04 pm

    Heh. Hutch, maybe I’ll do something just like that in another portrait. Yeah, I expect that would be popular around here. šŸ™‚

  23. Hutch
    Hutch February 26, 2012 8:36 pm

    Lady you got Skillz…How about a Prepper/Thrivalist family portrait.

    I think you would capture the spirit and mindset.

    Sell them in wall poster form.

    Hutch

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