Going Back To Basics

I've been struggling with my painting lately and I think my troubles are coming from my rendering skills.  So I'm going back to the basics. I don't necessarily want to paint realistic portraits but I do want to capture my subjects likeness. I feel like I really need to practice seeing and then interpreting everything correctly to give myself a good strong foundation of skills to then apply to my paintings and hopefully see some improvement.  All that said, this is my first drawing with those intentions:

13" x 8 1/2", graphite on paper

 And this is a painting I did last week during an open life drawing session with a 2 1/2 hour pose:

8" x 10", oil on primed paper

January

So far most of January has been devoted to a big house project: thoroughly cleaning and finishing our kitchen. That means scrubbing inside, outside, on top of, underneath everything and building the last two cabinets and putting in a tile backsplash.  Fun and rewarding but time consuming. All my creative energy has gone into that but I have been drawing everyday and stuck to my goal of a portrait a day. I'm not liking every one so I haven't been posting. Here are a few I do like:

great great grandfather

In addition to our kitchen, I've been going through and organizing ALL my photos---feels like I have thousands---which have been the inspiration for these portraits (with the exception of the last post).  Some of them are very old and faded with not much information, it's like I'm drawing ghosts. 

grandfather

grandfather

Granny Lita

Howard

William

Sarah

Kevin

I was flipping through a magazine and this image of the actress Jennifer Lawrence (The Hunger Games) caught my eye. I like her expression.

Jennifer

Sketchbook Portrait- Jenna

watercolor and graphite

This is from a 20 minute pose at a life drawing session I attended today.  I haven't posted a sketchbook portrait in awhile as I had taken a break from doing them---I think I was getting tired of looking at a photo for reference.  Having a live model is much better.

Sketchbook Portrait-A Novelist

watercolor, graphite pencil, & charcoal

In this study I was really focusing on rendering the different planes of his face, imagining the light wrapping around his head, trying to think of the drawing more as sculpture. I need lots of practice. I'm most happy with the eye on the right side, feeling like my drawing of eyes is getting better.

I drew him again below. This time I experimented with a quill pen dipped in ink to make the bold lines. Then I diluted the ink with water and with a soft brush, painted the grays.

watercolor, ink & charcoal

Sketchbook Portrait- The Texan

watercolor, graphite pencil, & charcoal

This face was inspired by a magazine add for San Antonio, Texas.   What drew me to him was the hat, the direction of his head, and the sunlight on his face.  In the add, his image is small, his head no larger than a dime.  I don't see well close up and I prefer to draw without my reading glasses, so I really couldn't see him that well which helped me not fuss over detail and see more of the predominant values.  My favorite part of the image is the reflection of the light off his skin onto the underneath of the brim of his hat, it's really subtle and beautiful in the color photo.

Sketchbook Portrait- The Secretary

watercolor, prismacolor pencil, & graphite pencil

I actually did most of this sketch yesterday but finished it today.

Sketchbook Portrait- The Forensic Anthropologist Assistant

watercolor, prismacolor pencil, charcoal, & graphite pencil

Another fascinating occupation.

We had to replace our failing computer and in doing so lost the method I use to use to transfer photos.  I'm not having good results with the new program.  I'll replace this photo when I can figure out how it works.

I replaced the photo but in a very convoluted way---sigh--- I hope I can figure out a better way soon.

Sketchbook Portrait- The Actor

watercolor, charcoal, prismacolor pencil, & graphite pencil

Today is devoted to scouring the house, patching holes in pants and repairing broken things, but I'd rather be painting. Sigh.
Yesterday, we went to a wedding and I took a picture of our friend Brant and used it as a reference for my sketch this morning.  I just realized his one eye is looking off on its own, it doesn't do that, that's my drawing skills! Sorry Brant.  You can't tell from this drawing, but he has this fabulous red, shinny beard.
Among the many things Brant does, he acts in local, independent films and is often cast as a scary character which is funny because he's more like a big teddy bear.

Sketchbook Portrait- The Earthquake Lady

watercolor, prismacolor pencil, charcoal, & graphite pencil

Today I tried and tried to create a block of time in which to paint but the day had other plans for me, but I did do this sketch this morning.  I read this interesting article about the women above who besides being a revered seismologist, she's a mother of two, has a doctorate in geophysics, a B.A. in Chinese language and literature, and she plays the viola de gamba (a Baroque, cello-like instrument)---how interesting and cool is that!

Sketchbook Portrait- The Sociologist

Oh my, I didn't realize until after I posted this that the drawing was so off!  Look at those ears.  He has such a great face, I think I try him again.

watercolor, charcoal, & graphite

Sketchbook Portrait- Just a Face

watercolor & graphite

I've been a bit sick the last couple days which has left me with little energy to draw or paint. I did do this small sketch today.  It's not of anyone in particular. I was playing with trying something different by using just one pencil and an eraser. Instead of drawing a face and shading it in, I did a rectangle of solid graphite and then with a gum eraser began erasing where I imagined light would hit, sort of working backwards. I made up the face as I saw it emerge, if that makes sense.
Many years ago when I was doing lots of printmaking, I created a series of monotype portraits where I painted or rolled ink on my printing plate and then, with a rag, would wipe portions of it away leaving what was needed to define the face.  I hadn't thought about them in years until today when using the eraser, kind of a similar technique  I found one and thought I'd share it. I think it's from 2000, twelve years ago! I like working this way, I like the surprises.

monotype--- oil based ink on paper---2000

Sketchbook Portrait- A Man With Many Stories

watercolor, charcoal, & graphite

I went to the library this morning and challenged myself  to a search for a face and a fast sketch.  I found this man but started reading the article and almost ran out of time to draw. I think the portrait came out a bit awkward but I do like some of the lines that I did the quickest and didn't fuss over.  My aim is to reach a level where I am accurately catching that certain something about someone with lines that have a lively feel to them.  Practice, practice, practice.

I finished the cigar box! Can't wait to try it out, hopefully tomorrow, but certainly Thursday.

Sketchbook Portrait- A Man Seeking Justice

watercolor, charcoal, & graphite

Still working on the cigar box easel, hoping I can finish it tomorrow.

Sketchbook Portrait- The Historian

watercolor, charcoal, & graphite

Today I was working on converting a cigar box into a small tabletop easel. I was inspired to do so by the many artist out there that have already done this.   It's great fun and I think it will work nicely.  I'm hoping it will help contain my spread when I'm working at the dining room table.  It's the spot right where I eat every day that has the most lovely light. I cannot resist painting there; perhaps the little box will make it less obtrusive.

Sketchbook Portrait- The Yuba Maker

watercolor, charcoal, & graphite

Sketchbook Portrait- The Mayor

watercolor, charcoal, & graphite

I played with this one a little bit. First I did a fast contour sketch of my reference and then quickly blocked in the darkest value, mid-value and then white.

watercolor, charcoal, & graphite

Then I re-sketched it and did a more detailed drawing. This one looks much more like him, but I kind of like the first one better---I like that he looks a little grumpy.  My goal with these faces is to eventually feel confident enough to ask a live person to sit for me.  When I get that down, I'd like to try some small, quick paintings which would eventually lead to larger portraits.  I have a portrait project idea in mind but I need to strengthen my skills to pull it off. Anyway, that's the intention with all these portraits but also, they're just plain fun to practice.

Sketchbook Portrait- The Furniture Maker

watercolor, graphite, & charcoal

Sketchbook Portrait- The Magistrate

watercolor, graphite, & charcoal

I finished the persimmon painting but late and I would rather take a photo of it in natural light.  I'll post it tomorrow. This morning's sketch of a face was inspired by a photograph I found connected to an article in the Smithsonian about the Italian mafia.

Ink Bottle

watercolor, graphite, charcoal on paper

5 x 7 oil on canvas panes

I had intended to make another vessel today but woke to rain and then an afternoon with strong, cold winds --- not good for outside work. So instead, I did a small sketch of an ink bottle.  Liking the shape so much I couldn't resist doing some painting. These are two 15 minute poses.