What can I say about myself? Not much. I hope you enjoy whatever you find in here. I'm not usually one to show my work, especially in a place filled with artists, but I'm trying to accept myself as an artist.
So, I'll be perfectly honest (with anyone who either reads this or looks at my artwork): I haven't stopped drawing...I'm taking a class and am thereby required to draw, however in the last two months I have watched my Grandfather approach death, my Uncle unexpectedly die, I faced lay-offs, and I have a wedding coming up in 97 days. I'm not doing my A+ work, here...I am hoping that the project we are starting tomorrow in class will take me back to my old self...in the meantime pray for my family.
Getting a likeness is the hardest thing to get when drawing portraits freehand, so I understand what you mean. I don't always get a likeness either. Is it only when you draw from a live model that you have trouble, or is it the same when working with reference photos?
Figure drawing is great. My portrait drawing instructor once invited us to drop in and try his figure drawing class. I totally enjoyed it. I signed up for the class after that term and never took portraiture again. I took that for a while and then my job relocated and I just couldn't make it to my night school art classes anymore. I miss that.
It's a little bit of both, actually. There are some pieces that I have graphed that I know I succeeded in getting a likeness: Beatrice in my "Peace! I will stop your Mouth", M. Berke in the portrait of my French professor, and Zach and Manda (I know that all of these mean nothing to you unless you've studied all of my artwork, which I don't expect you to do ) However, I have completely failed in other graphed attempts and in my life-drawing situations...so...I don't know. lol
I apologies for my ranty-ness, it's almost 3:00am where I live and I'm very tired.
I looked up those works of yours that you mentioned. They're pretty good! I think I like "Peace! I will stop your mouth!" best. The lady's face just grabs your attention and the detail work is fantastic!
You're really good with colours! I'm so jealous! Whenever I try colours, I end up with mud. lol
BTW, is "porcelain doll" based on a John Singer Sargent painting? He's my favourite artist!
Heh, I knew that had based the piece on a painting, but the source I found it at didn't have the artist name. Thank you! Wow, now that I look at it again, I could have probably done more to make the piece more mine and less a study of his. :"<
At any rate, it became my mother's favorite, so it's going to live in her livingroom until the end of time
John Singer Sargent isn't that well-known to most people, but he is considered by some (including me!) as one of the greatest portrait artists that ever lived. There's a virtual gallery of his work online if you want to check it out. http://jssgallery.org/
I don't see anything wrong with using a famous piece as a starting point and it looks like your mom doesn't either. As long as you're happy with it, then it's fine. You can always create another painting later on that improves on your previous work. You can do a series where you vary different things about the portrait.
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) However, I have completely failed in other graphed attempts and in my life-drawing situations...so...I don't know. lol
I think I like "Peace! I will stop your mouth!" best. The lady's face just grabs your attention and the detail work is fantastic!
