ATC: Graphite Portrait Sketch

Here’s a sketch I did for my pal Kati. It’s been a while since I’ve done a graphite piece.

Every Day In May: Day 31 – It’s Over

4"x6"

My last entry for Every Day in May is a drawing I did of Michael relaxing in the sun wearing his favorite sunglasses.  He is wonderful about sitting for me.

Since doing this Every Day in May exercise I feel more inspired to go back to my everyday sketchbook drawing.    I got so caught up in my card trading hobby that my regular drawing practice really suffered.

But I can’t give up artist trading cards.  At last count I have 206 cards. It’s so addictive, I can’t imagine not trading.

Every Day in May: Day 15 – Drawing for Myself – WIP 2

5" x 7" india ink and wash

Here’s the second day of work with this drawing I started yesterday.  I’m using india ink instead of just using the gray markers I’ve been using.   I inked the sketch with a brush instead of a pen.  Now I wish I had used a dip pen.  But there will be other opportunities.  It’s coming together.  I’ll work on it more tomorrow.

Every Day in May: Day 14 – Drawing for Myself – WIP

Yesterday I got out my neglected watercolor moleskine book and set out to do a project just for myself.  Back in February I was looking through photos on Flickr and came across this self-portrait by Dominic Perry .  He gave me permission to use the photo as a reference.   I told him that I was primarily interested in the hair and eyes and that I would most likely change the pose.

I finally got around to working on the drawing yesterday.  I’m not sure if I want to do this as a painting, or just an ink and wash drawing.   I’m pleased with this initial rough sketch.   In the photograph the subject has, in my opinion, a rather defiant and cocky expression.   As I sketched  and kind of searched about for what I would do, I decided to try to make my character a bit world-weary and defeated.  Michael says he looks like someone who’s been waiting at the airport too long.  I suppose that I could call it  Stand-by.

I’ll see how this goes.   I’ll post my progress.  I just hope it doesn’t end up a disaster.

Every Day in May – Day 4 – Another Pug Sketch

graphite pencil

I’m still doing sketches for an artist trading card for a friend of mine.   I’m working on getting just the right expression.   I’m not really a dog person, but the more I study the reference photos I was given, the more I appreciate this dog.  He’s awfully cute.  Perhaps that’s why I always spend a lot of time making sketches for cards before I do final drawings and coloring or paint.  I feel like I get some sort of connection with the subject before I let it go.  It could just be something like really loving a line under a nose, or the way a curve indents when you think it shouldn’t.

Drawing is ultimately about paying attention and being present.  When I am walking around throughout the day, I have a tendancy to rush about and only take a cursory look at things.  I notice just what I need to notice and move on.  Maybe that’s why I can be so compulsive about drawing.  It’s practically the only time I pay real attention to things and ultimately find so much appreciation for them.   Drawing grounds me like nothing else.

44

5" x 5.5" graphite

Words fail.  What a day!

Presidential Debate Sketches

quick pencil sketches

Friday night I sat with my sketchpad and tried drawing the presidential candidates while they were talking.   This was pretty tough to do, but it was helpful that they were stuck at their podiums.  I could start a sketch and know that their heads would return to something close to one of the positions that I had started to lay in earlier.  These aren’t great drawings, but I count them as a success because I stepped out of my comfort zone and allowed myself to do some really bad drawing.

The downside of this project was that I got so into drawing that I didn’t hear a word they said.  Oh well…

“You Look Like You Have Indigestion,” he said.

water-soluble graphite pencils

That’s what a friend of mine told me when he saw this picture. You know, he’s right.

I like using these water-soluble graphite pencils. I’ve been using the Derwent brand. On this piece I used the HB and 4B pencils. I just love spreading that graphite around with a brush. I found this tutorial on how to use the pencils. I found it helpful.

Speaking of self-portraits, I was asked to include one of my self-portraits on A View In Your Mirror. This blog is run by Jan Verhulst with the goal of collecting self-portraits, by artists and non-artists, from all over the world and in any medium. If you are interested in participating you can submit an image of yourself and join the party.

Portrait Swap With Enerene74

I was looking through some Flickr contact pages the other day and I came across this drawing of me. Enerene74 used to do a lot of sketches of fellow artists on Flickr. I enjoyed them a lot. Unfortunately he has been busy and not sketching much. I was delighted to see that he made time to do a sketch of me. I think he did a great job capturing my smile.

I did this sketch to return the favor. I am pleased to report that he likes the sketch very much.

EDM 23 – Draw Your Feet

After weeks of drawing tiny faces on tiny cards it felt good to get loose and do some simple sketching. I was shocked at how well these feet sketches turned out. If I had carefully tried to draw these they wouldn’t have come close to looking this good.

I have been neglecting my sketching lately. I have absolutely no excuse. I read this great post by Anita Davies about finding time to draw. This woman is busier than I will every be, but she always finds time. Check out the post. She will inspire you.