After painting rocks (difficult), I decided to do something more natural to me — a face. But to do it in a hard, or at least non-intuitive, way, by working dark to light. So here’s “Maria.” She’s done with colored pencil on black construction paper (yes, the stuff you probably used liberally in the second grade).
This was my reference photo. I wasn’t trying to make Maria look like her; just referring to her for general shapes and patterns. Maria is a slightly shopworn virgin with much on her mind.
One of the challenges I set for myself was to use just five pencils in different shades of gray. Then I realized halfway through that I could have done the job with a single pencil (white or light gray), merely varying the pressure or density to create lighter or darker areas. Oh well. Still happy with it. This one’s a keeper. Or would be if construction paper weren’t also self-destruction paper. Two hours for this one.
Wow, that’s striking. Excellent job.
Unfortunately she reminds me for some unpleasant reason of my long ago stepmother on a bad morning…
Yes, Joel. Maria is tempestuous, to say the least. I do hope she doesn’t go over the line into wicked stepmother territory.
You nailed the “general shapes and patterns” — and some of the specific ones too! I like your (her) chin better than the photo; it’s stronger. You also managed to give her an introspective look without any real worry lines. And you’ve opened and lightened her eyes — that’s better. Yet the photo is in there…
So the black is the paper and the lighter colors are the model, is that right? That seems difficult to me, like you’re seeing her in a photographic negative.
Pat — Thank you. 🙂 And yes, you nailed it. Black paper, white modeling, and it’s exactly like seeing in a photographic negative.
Very good!
Do you really realize how talented you are?
A real blessing!
What does “virgin” mean?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gd3oYFS9g9I
Larry — That’s hilarious.
Comrade X — My long-ago art teachers could tell you at least 10 things wrong with that drawing (and so could I). But after struggling with art for most of my life, I’m happy with what I’ve got and ecstatic at the support I’ve gotten from you and the Commentariat (who, after all, didn’t come here to look at pictures).
I came to look at pictures. Your paintings and artwork tells stories words could never tell, (even YOUR words). Keep wondering if you might want donations of references pictures for future works? I have a great shot of the Palouse when we use to live there and others. Just wondering how you decide to make selections? If there was a pool of your readers’ images to find inspiration from that would make a really neat connection for us as well.
I love coming to look at pictures! It is a soul refreshing change from politics and the daily grind. I wonder if the approaching spring has something to do with it because my boss at my volunteer job is also returning to her art as a relief from the job stress of her position. Interesting.
Great job, by the way!
Haunting… Looking at this generates a feeling that I need to look over my right shoulder. I wonder what your subject was thinking about at the time the image was done.
Very nice work Claire…
” My long-ago art teachers could tell you at least 10 things wrong with that drawing”
Most art teachers I had in school wanted us to do art their way. Not our own way.
Art is meaningless if you don’t follow your own way.
Some Bob Ross inspiration (hope your a fan of his).
https://youtu.be/YLO7tCdBVrA
“Art is meaningless if you don’t follow your own way.”
There’s definitely something to that. I know my early art abilities were damaged by giving too much credence to the methods of a beloved teacher who tried to get me to do things her way. (Funny, I had enough brains never, ever to take a writing class because I knew it would lead me wrong, but I didn’t take the same attitude when it came to art.) OTOH, art teachers can be invaluable for learning techniques and learning things like how to observe acutely and draw accurately. For all that, I’m grateful to them, even as it causes me to be critical of my work.