Friday Sketch, June 26

Today’s sitter was Dana, a nice fellow who works at the center where we hold the class.

I managed two decent sketches before having to run. What with July coming up, it’s going to be at least a couple weeks before I can go back, though. Which is too bad, because now I’m in the mood again. Doh!

-o.o-

Friday Sketch, June 12

I went back this morning, but could only stay for an hour so I’m sticking with sketching. Which is okay, because I feel the need to work on the form and also to simplify a bit. I didn’t get a chance to take her picture, so you’ll have to take my word on this one

-o.o-

Friday Portrait, March 6

Today I finally went back to it. Below is the end result:

To see the process unfold, read on…

Raccoon Bowling

As though I don’t have other stuff to do, this (or something like it) has been bouncing around in my head for a couple weeks now:

Fun with Illustrator. For a first attempt with the software, not too shabby. This could get addictive.

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If anyone’s interested, here’s the original sketch:

Update – one more sketch, which I haven’t rendered yet but had fun drawing:

Friday Portrait, October 3

Today’s sitter was Ruth, who had the wonderful skill of both sitting still and genuinely smiling for extended periods of time. A rarity, indeed.

Friday Portait, September 26

Today’s sitter was June. She had a positively radiant smile, but unfortunately it vanished and she got a bit sleepy as soon as she sat down (a frequent problem with our more elderly subjects, alas). So I did what I could.

The first sketch.

The cross is there for measurement; I’m not sure how much it helped, today.

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The sketch today isn’t bad, I think, but there was an element of softness and roundness to her face that is completely missing. It may be mostly due to the angle, which makes her face looks longer and leaner than it is, but the end result is that I don’t think it looked much like her.

Of course, in the above it really doesn’t look like her

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-o.o-

Friday Portrait, September 19

Before I show you today’s subject, I think it’s important to set the stage just a bit. As I ambled into class today, I was contemplating some things I’ve been reading lately, specifically the idea of Man as imago Dei. Before I start to sketch anyone, I usually try to look for the person behind the person, the animating Spark, and I was contemplating how to accomplish that today. With such light fancies wandering through my brain, I beheld our sitter:

Friday Portrait, September 12

Today’s sitter was Rebecca, a lovely woman who radiated a remarkable serenity and good humor the whole time she was there. Remarkable especially because she’s been going through some serious challenges (so if you could say a prayer or two for her, I’m sure it would be appreciated).

I forgot my regular camera today (not just at home, but in the other car), so while the photos are decent I had to toy with the white balance and contrast; I don’t know how accurate the results are, color-wise, but it’s passable on my computer. Your mileage may vary.

First, a gestural sketch.

Friday Portrait, September 5

Today’s sitter was Linda. I’m in a sketchy kinda mood, so I went with the sketchy photo of her (well, that and she looked concerned in the other two). I didn’t stay for the full session today. I’m apparently in something of a speed mode, and all I wanted to do was whip out a few gestural-type images, focusing on some basics. Some days, you just have to go back to the foundational elements. Today, I think that was a good thing.

First, the warmup sketch. I kept it loose and squiggly to begin with, but then filled in more solid details. All of these were done in ten or twelve minute segments.

For the rest, I’m in a primary kind of mood. I just love the effect the pure colors have, and when you’re not focused on getting just the right flesh tone, it can actually be quite liberating.

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This was a one-segment sketch, trying to capture broad gestural strokes.

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This last sketch took probably three or four segments. It’s rough and sloppy, but I’m happy with it. it feels like I’m finally loosening up a bit, which is a good thing.

-o.o-

Friday Portrait, June 27

Today’s sitter was Tonya, a lovely and very still young lady who’s going off to college this fall to study art and psychology.