Newest Portrait

This is my most recent portrait drawing. I had drawn this client's cats a couple of years ago before she had any children. I was so excited when she called again to ask me to draw her little cutie! He is drawn using graphite pencil on Strathmore bright white paper.

The Little Birthday Girl

This is a cute little girl who is turning one in a few days. She's the god-daughter of my client. I drew her using graphite on white Stonehenge paper. I also used a little pink color on her ribbons, her shirt and her lips. The portrait is a 9x12.

I enjoyed drawing this cutie and hope I get to do this more often!!! Again, the portrait looks a lot better than the photo of it. I will be investing in a good camera soon! The background should be white...not gray!

Portrait:

Here's the original photo:

Drawing Progress-Sweet Little Girls

Well, it's been a few weeks since I posted to this blog. I've been in an art show and sale (I'll blog about that later), and gotten several commissions. This blog is to update and show a progress of a drawing I'm doing for a client. She's having me draw a portrait of her boyfriend's girls.

Shhhh...it's a birthday surprise!

Here's a picture of the girls, all at the age of about 12 months old...at different times. I will call them baby one, two and three (from left to right).

Cute, huh? Well, I had a couple of things to work through. The client wants to have the girls on one portrait as if they had actually posed together. (I've done that many times for clients...so I didn't sweat it...) The girls all have the same beautiful smile, so that is working for me!

The sisters #1 and #2 are facing the same direction, though cropped differently. #3 sister is facing a different direction and holding a bear that covers her chin.

THE DRAWING SO FAR: (16x20 on Caslon /Artigan paper)

So  here is the drawing so far and how I have dealt with any of the above listed dilemmas. (The warped appearance is because of my camera...The portrait is straight and not bowed. And there is light reflecting on their eyes slightly which may look strange)... I have drawn them in a triangle lay out.

I sized the portraits of each of the girls to be as similar as possible. (With the middle girl slightly larger to simulate her "sitting" closer to the viewer). I flipped the sister #3 so that they are all looking in the same direction. And I have not added the bear that #3 is holding, I think it will look much cleaner and less distracting with the bear not there.

The only detail I've done so far is the sister #1's dress and bow (bottom left corner). And I've drawn in each of their eyes. The eyes are the most important to a portrait to capture the subject's personality and looks. I've just begun and have a lot of tweaking to do. This is actually the ugliest part of a portrait and I cannot wait to get further!

Watch for more progress drawings in the next few days!

Graphite Pencil-vs-Charcoal

I love drawing...though I haven't drawn all my life, I feel like I have. The biggest problem is figuring out what I love drawing WITH the most. It's like a kid being let loose in FAO Schwartz to play with whatever she wants to. I love finding new things to draw with and figuring out how to use them. Though I use, and love, pastels and colored pencils, I'm only going to discuss graphite pencils and charcoal...their history and interesting tid-bits. Then I'll talk about my opinions and preferences...and I'd like to hear about yours.

GRAPHITE - The History & Other Interesting Tid-Bits

Did you know that the core of a pencil is not really lead, though we call it that? Lead was used in early styluses. The core of a pencil is actually made from nontoxic graphite. Graphite started being used following the discovery of a large graphite deposit in Borrowdale, England in 1564. Graphite left a darker mark than lead, but was so soft and brittle that it required a holder. At first, sticks of graphite were wrapped in string. Later, the graphite was inserted into wooden sticks that had been hollowed-out by hand! The wood-cased pencil was born.

Interesting tid-bit: The first mass produced pencils were not painted. They wanted to show off the wood casings, but soon they started painting the casings. And the reason that most hexagon shaped pencils are yellow is because in the 1800's the best graphite came from China and the color yellow represented a regal feeling associated with China.

You can now get artist graphite pencils in a full range of densities ranging from 9B (softest) to 9H (hardest)...with the softest making the darkest marks. You can also find it in large chucks for covering large areas.

CHARCOAL - The History and Other Interesting Tid-Bits

In early years charcoal was used as a preliminary tool to sketch quickly. It was much too easily smudged and was very messy, so it was normally painted over or drawn over with other media.

Charcoal can be obtained in sticks, pencils, chunks, vine and compressed charcoal. Most artists prefer vine or willow charcoal - which is made by burning wood into soft, medium and hard consistencies. It's easy to use and is versatile. Willow charcoal can come thin or very thick.Compressed charcoal is not as messy as the uncompressed vine and willow charcoal. It is made with charcoal powder mixed with gum binder compressed into round or square sticks. It comes in different hardnesses like graphite. You can also get charcoal in pencil form with a variety of hardnesses as well - better used with a thicker, sturdier paper. These can be bought individually or in sets.

The early origins of charcoal drawings can be found in France. Primitive drawings of bulls and horses that are believed to be drawn with branches and sticks burnt at the end lines the walls of a cave.

MY PREFERENCE

Graphite - The Pros and Cons

Bored yet?...Well...this is where I give my opinion...I like them both. However, I will try to give my opinion of the pros and cons of each.

* The Pros of Graphite: This was my first drawing tool...it usually is for most artists...Graphite has such a smooth even feeling and it is so much easier to get the detail desired in some works of art, especially portraits. I think graphite blends well. Whether using a blending stump or just using a gradation of hard to soft in order to blend, they can easily make your subject have a life-like or photo-like appearance. Pencils are also easy to hold and use without being messy. They are easily transportable and don't require much else when you want to head out to the park to draw or sketch.

* The Cons of Graphite: There aren't many to me. If using a kneaded eraser to pick out highlights, graphite is not as forgiving. If you make a mistake or get pencil marks on your paper where you didn't intend to, it can be difficult to erase it. And one other thing that I'm not as crazy about is that it's hard to get dark areas as dark as I want without becoming shiny.

Charcoal - The Pros and Cons

* The Pros of Charcoal: I love the "feeling" I get when using charcoal. It's goes onto the paper so easily that you feel you can freely swipe your paper and draw the world! (Boy, did that sound corny?) I like the vine and willow form of charcoal, personally. You can use your sanding block to make it nice and sharp or use the side for a broader stroke. It's really easy to manipulate. And one of my most favorite things about charcoal is the darkness you can achieve with it. When I want a dark black, it obliges me without becoming shiny like graphite.

* The Cons of Charcoal: Charcoal is very sensitive. When I'm drawing with graphite I can easily work without worrying about smudging my work. My hand can rest about anywhere on the paper, if I'm careful. However, Charcoal isn't as forgiving. I feel that my hand is doing acrobatics to keep from smudging anything. Almost like "Twister for fingers". And I'm always worried about my 10 year old getting too close to my artwork and brushing against it or touching it.

IN CONCLUSION

In the end, I really enjoy both of these tools when drawing. They are so different and are both fun to work with. I think determining which one I want to work with has to do with either my mood or the subject that I'm drawing. (And sometimes the size of the artwork. - because graphite is easier to get detail done and charcoal is best with larger and free flowing work).

Have you tried both mediums? Which do you prefer? And Why?

A New Contest

Find out how you can win a free portrait from your photo! Many ways to enter! Follow this blog and comment on one of my posts...and go to the Housework Haters Club to find several more ways to enter!

Thank you!!!!

Our Need For Beauty

Sitting at home one Sunday afternoon with my husband and son, I suddenly realized what kind of day it was turning out to be. We were all cranky and stressed. Nothing seemed right. I was boiling on the inside...stressing of budgets, the cleanliness of the house, the dog chewing up everything in sight...it was all too much for me.

We decided at a moment's notice to go to the Smokey Mountains...about a 40 minute drive for us. After arriving we drove around the 11 mile loop of Cades Cove. It was a gorgeous day. The temperature was perfect...not too hot and not too cool. We rolled down the windows and had our trigger-finger on the camera at all times!

Why did we do this? Why did we suddenly feel stress roll off of us as if we were the richest, cleanest, dogless people in the world? This is my theory...WE NEED BEAUTY. God loves beautiful things and made us to love it as well. Why else would he stress that we think about beautiful things? Philippians 4:8 says "Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things."

Our creator made us to desire lovely things. He wants us to think about them. I don't think that we are suppose to ignore the unlovely things in life, but we aren't suppose to dwell on them long and hard either. Why? We just weren't created to. The cares of life should be rolled over into His more-than capable hands...and we are just to think about things that are honest, pure and lovely...in other words, TRUST HIM. 

God created such a beautiful earth...every part of the world has it's beauty and how many times have you heard someone say, "This looks like a painting", when they see lovely scenery? I've often wondered, and have heard others ask, what is art good for? Most of it is not useful, not needed for anything...yet people...many people...love art. I know that I have been known to swoon over a beautiful landscape or still life in my time. Why? Because beauty relieves stress and gives us joy. And, I truly believe it gives God joy too. Enjoy what you see and think about it. Dwell on it and most of all be thankful for it. Take a drive and notice a beautiful tree, or landscape. Or go to an art gallery and stare at beauty. We need it...at least I do. So next time you get overwhelmed by daily stresses just try saying, "Renoir, take me away!"

My Story - How I Became an Artist

How God Made ART Blossom Out of a Dry Flower Pot:

I grew up in a family of four children. My twin brother and I were the oldest...then came two more brothers. Yes...I was sister-less. But that was okay. I held my own with my brothers and I had a pretty happy tom-boyish childhood.

While growing up I never considered myself artistic...never even imagined I could be. I enjoyed art class in school, but no one ever mentioned any particular talent. As a matter of fact, my entire self-esteem was not what you would call "great". All that changed when I met my husband. He was the most encouraging person I'd ever met. He would compliment everything I did and would tell me that he saw something in me, a potential. He saw that I had something inside that wanted to emerge. Neither he or I knew what that could be...and I wouldn't find out until my mid-30's that I was destined to be an artist!

It all started so subtly. I had been working in my church in Longwood, Florida. The pastor at that church, and his wife, are both very talented artists. He wanted the church bulletins to be original, not those ready made kind you buy at the bookstore. So I learned a computer drawing program and started designing them. I had such great feedback from people who were telling me that the bulletins were so special to them. Some even told me that they were framing them.

Then the craziest thing happened...my pastor started telling me that I was an artist...Huh?...I laughed it off, embarrassed that he would think I was an artist. But, he continued to call me one. With all that encouragement from my husband, people at the church and my pastor I even started believing it...(God bless you, Pastor Greg Freeman!!!)

A few years later my husband and I had been married for 12 years and had adopted a baby two years earlier. We felt called to work as house parents at a childrens home in Okeechobee, Florida, and ran one of the homes (with 6 girls). It was the most challenging time of our lives to date. But I have found that the most challenging and difficult times causes things inside of us, either good or bad, to bubble up to the surface. One day, while standing out by the water with one of the girls in our home,  I commented that I wish I could draw or paint what I was seeing because the scenery was really beautiful. She turned to me and simply said, "Why don't you?" I answered her the way most people answer something like that..."I can't even draw stick figures!" But her simple answer sparked something in my head. I started thinking about Pastor Greg calling me an artist so I went inside, sat down at the kitchen table and started drawing something. It wasn't great, but I was pleasantly surprised at how bad is wasn't. So, I drew something again the next day and the next...and the next. I found that I couldn't stop. I bought books, I went to classes, and drew everything I saw.

I started seeing the entire world differently. A tree wasn't just a tree...it was a beautiful object of shapes, highlights and shadows. At that point nothing was safe from my pencil! I drew everything and carried my sketchbook everywhere I went! In time I found that my strength was portraits. I loved drawing faces, people, dogs, cats, cows...you name it!  Now I draw portraits from photos by commission and I absolutely love it!

A few months ago I was laid off from my 8-5 job. It's been a strain on us financially, but I have also seen it as a blessing from the Lord. I am giving it a go and doing what I love most...drawing. I've started drawing commissions full time. (And marketing myself). I don't believe that God allows a talent to emerge from nothing for no reason. I've spent the last 8 or 9 years practicing, practicing, practicing and have gotten better every year. I have so much more in me and I'm excited about what's coming next. Even if I don't know what that is!
But one thing I have learned is that God can make a blossom grow from a dry pot...like me...He's got some more planting and growing to do in me...and I am ready! 

Thank you for reading this blog. I'm still very new at it, and I'm not really a writer...hmmm...maybe I shouldn't say that either...you never know!!!!

Melinda

The "Un-Art Festival"

Hi! I thought I would drop you a few notes and pics about the "arts and crafts" festival I attended this past weekend. I call it the "Un-Art festival" because that's not really what it was. There were some arts and crafts vendors there...but there was also bluegrass music, antique car competitions, an antique appraiser, a mechanical bull and other interesting non-artsy things.

This was my very first booth at any event. The other arts and crafts vendors were so nice. I loved meeting them and learning from them. But none of us, new or seasoned veterans, sold a thing! It was quite disappointing, but I learned alot, got to know some great people, and had a real adventure. So, I wouldn't have changed anything! (Well, maybe the no selling part)...

Here are a few pictures of my first booth...I would love any helpful hints, advice, or constructive critism you may be able to share! Thanks!

A Little Portrait Progression - No. 2

Here is the next progression of the little baby portrait. As you see I have added some shading to his face, (still working from the left), and added more sketching to his clothes. I have filled in his eyes and I am happy with his right eye (the one on the left of the portrait). But I am still tweeking and working on his other eye.

When I finish that I will continue to work to the right and down...so his nose and left cheek will be next and then his mouth and shading on his chin. When I'm completely happy with his face I will start working on Elmo and then the baby's clothes.

I hope you are enjoying watching this cute little portrait come to life! Check back soon for more!!!

A Little Portrait Progression

Good Friday all! I am working on a small charcoal drawing to place on a cigar box purse. It's a really cute baby ...along with a friend. I thought I'd show a progression of the drawing and the cigar box purse.

This is "day one"...I've laid out the most of the drawing in a preliminary sketch and have nearly finished the hat. When working with charcoal I always work from the top-left and work my way down and right...because it is so easily smudged.

I enjoy this part...watching it start to come together and come to life! I still have plenty of tweeking to do to his face...especially his mouth, which I am not quite happy with. I want it to represent faithfully the sweetness of his little smile...with just a hint of nervousness - which is so precious.

Here is the start:










Here is the reference photo:






Don't forget to "follow" this blog to watch the progression of this drawing and other drawings to come!!!

Done with charcoal drawing

I'm done with this beautiful animal. I really love how she turned out. I feel that she is so life like that while I was drawing her I could nearly feel her breath and see her eye sparkle...I know that's crazy, but when you're drawing someone or something it really is amazing how alive they become as your drawing them. Thank you to Lisa Burleson of TLCFrenchies.com for your belief that I could do a good job for you!

Here's another drawing progression. (charcoal drawing of a french bulldog) for Lisa B. at www.tlcfrenchies.com

I'm really pleased at how she's turning out. I like the effect of the charcoal. It's so fun to draw with!

Drawing a dog with charcoal

I am working on a drawing for someone with charcoal. It's a french bulldog. I haven't drawing with charcoal for a while. But I'm finding that I'm enjoying it alot. It is so much more sensitive than graphite. I can really work like crazy with graphite and mess with it and let my hand rest about anywhere without messing it up. But charcoal wipes off so easily. I find myself doing hand-acrobatics! Almost like twister for hands! But it blends easier and I can play around with the kneaded eraser so much more productively. Like I said, I'm enjoying it!

Here's a picture of my progress: