Well I did it. It’s my first drawing in over 15 years. Strangely I started playing with my new Wacom tablet, had problems, became impatient, and switched to pencil and sketchbook. What started as a doodle turned into a portrait. Hmm, I wonder who it could be… I’m still having a lot of trouble with the eyes and some proportion problems but this is a first effort.
To keep me honest and stop from overdoing and then trashing it (that’s what I tend to do), I’ll post it here. (Sorry about the image quality. The scan washed out the midtones, so I took a snap with my iPhone.) If you can’t see the image, the link is here.
I want to thank Zelda Thornton for inspiring me to draw again. Well, and also a certain RA.
ETA: This is my final version with scanner.
Well done! Don‘t stop! 😉
Welcome Antonia! Thanks so much for the encouragement. I need it. 😀
I love your blog, Judi. It’s so eclectic and reveals what an interesting person you are.
Have you tried a zentangle kit? Good for rejuvenating all sorts of creative life. Google it. i bought my daughter one and think i might have to get one for myself. She’s a graphic designer and loves hers as it’s freeing up her design!
Thank you for the lovely compliment. Of course I actually quite dull and quiet — very quiet. Hush peanut gallery! 😉
I googled Zentangle it and looks quite interesting. Will order a kit. Thanks for the heads up. 😀
Love the drawing, Judi. I hope you’ll do many, many more. Your shading is well done and makes me wish my shading looked as good. As for the zentangles, I’m glad you ordered a kit. We’ve had zentangle workshops at our church, and although I’ve never attended them, I’ve seen the art that’s come of them. It’s amazing and beautiful to behold. It’s doodles with class (clear as much, I’m sure.) When you’ve done some, I hope you’ll post the results.
Hey there Steph! Welcome to my secret blog. 😉
Glad you liked the drawing. Yes, I ordered a kit. It sounds intriguing although I’m still not clear on the concept. It comes with CD so hopefully that will do the trick. I’ll certainly share after I’ve gotten the hang of it.
Wow, first in 15 years? I’m impressed.
Yup. That’s why I kept on going with the doodle. You just *know* something is happening. Have to say, RA is hard to draw. There are elements that lend themselves to caricature, but drawing realistically is exasperating with the mix of the feminine and masculine. Arrrrgh!
CONGRATULATIONS! You’re on a roll!
I’m on a something, could be a sugar rush. Thanks! 😉
Really good job! Especially for a first attempt! I actually got as far as buying some good pencils and sketching paper, but haven’t gotten much further than attempting to sketch my husband. I got interrupted so it wasn’t finished. I haven’t the courage to try Mr. Armitage yet. I don’t think I am up to the challenge. Kudos to you!
Isn’t it amazing how inspiring this man is?
Thank you! You should finish you sketch. There’s something rewarding about finishing a piece of art even when it turns out not exactly what was wanted.
Well, it certainly helped that the pic is my desktop. Thinking of changing it because I’m a bit tired of looking at it now. LOL!
Excellent drawing! I’m one of the few who’s gotten to see some of your sketchbook pix and it’s nice to see you back in the saddle again!
So what’s the Wacom tablet doing that’s a nuisance?
Thanks! The lines look jagged on the tablet. Not sure why or how to fix it.
Bummer. Maybe there’s a driver fix for it.
The updated pic looks good too! Nice work!
Thanks. One day I should take it to Kinko’s and have them scan it. You can barely see what’s taken hours and hours to do. Heh, I forgot that part. 😉
WOW!!!! This is your first drawing after 15 years! This is amazing! You’ve done a marvelous job! I’m so thrilled!!!! (Did I type enough exclamation points?)
Keep doing what you’re doing, because you’re doing great! I am so glad that I was in any part helpful in inspiring you.
Thank you! Coming from you, I’m really flattered.
If it weren’t for your enthusiastic tutorials and art book flogging, I wouldn’t have bought the books and supplies. I was going to try digital painting you talked about but was so frustrated by a problem with the Wacom tablet (jagged lines) that I picked up the sketchbook instead. So yes, I’m blaming all this on you.
Also you saying that you weren’t formally trained and self taught (!!!) really got to me. I really want to learn like you did so I can have a good foundation and be on the right track instead of spending all day fixing critical mistakes I shouldn’t have made in the first place. I really look forward to your tutorials. Hope you do another one soon. 🙂
I am so glad that my enthusiasm rubbed off on you! And I’ll be glad to take the “blame”! LOL.
I love the Wacom tablet, but actually I wouldn’t recommend that to someone who was returning to drawing after a long while. So you are better off with your sketchbook and pencils. The Wacom can wait until you feel you’re really back in the groove with drawing.
Oh no, I must have given the wrong impression! I did take some lessons as a teenager, and in college. I do “feel” like I was self-taught in some ways, because I had teachers that would gloss over the teaching of crucial areas, so I had to teach myself. BUT, I know enough self-taught artists that are amazing, and know that lacking a formal education is no barrier to becoming good at art!
With this portrait, you’ve captured the light and shadow very well. You have a good “feel” for portraits. But I think it has the same problem as my Lucas North oil painting has at the moment—a bit too narrow around the cheekbones. (I’m not alone! LOL!) But considering this is the first artwork you’ve done in FIFTEEN YEARS, I’d say this was amazing and I’d advise you to keep doing what you’re doing!
I suspected using the tablet was a bit premature even without the jagged business; I couldn’t draw a circle and oval to save my life and thought, “this can’t be good.” And yes, I’m shaky with the pencil too. Yikes.
There were so many things I didn’t realize about RA’s face: his cheekbones (LOL!), the unique shape of his eyes, and the chin in relation to cheekbone and jaw line. Oddly the nose wasn’t the biggest problem. This is a difficult face to draw realistically, so I really really appreciate your work now.
Now I’ve gotten that out of my system, the focus will be to master the underpinnings and proportions. The books you recommended are wonderful. I took art in high school for several years until the teacher ticked me off by ruining one of my drawings and I never got to be formally trained as she wanted. My 20s was a creative wasteland, I did three portraits in my 30s just to see, and that was it. I really want to see how far I can go with this. Thanks so much for your encouragement. 🙂
To really keep me honest, I confess to smudging. *runs* 😉
Well done, Judiang!
I knew the drawig was of Richard, instantly! I envy you. I have no drawing skils whatsoever.
Cheers! Grati ;->
Thank you! I looked at it so long it turned in a nice drawing of – somebody. As long as there’s a recognizable likeness, I’m happy for now.
Wow- that’s really good- wish I could draw people- landscapes, architechure- inanimate objects of all kinds but not people – don’t know why faces are just beyond my ability.
Welcome Jo! Thank you! Since people have always fascinated me, they were the first thing I learned to draw. It’s challenging alright. Thanks for commenting. 🙂