When life gives you lemons, draw them, 11 x 14 inches dry pastels, graphite on paper

"When life gives you lemons, draw them." (Nikki)

"Color! What a deep and mysterious language." (Paul Gauguin)

graphite

« Previous Entries Next Entries »

Mom and Dad’s Hands

Monday, July 27th, 2020


 

Mom and Dad's Hands, 16H x 20W inches graphite on paper

Mom and Dad’s Hands, 16H x 20W inches graphite on paper. Excerpt from Paul Simon’s “I Don’t Believe” on the album, ‘Surprise’:

“I don’t believe A heart can be filled to the brim Then vanish like mist As though life were a whim”.

Fins, Feathers and Fur 2020: Cockatiels

Friday, July 17th, 2020


 

Cockatiels, Jurong Bird Park, Singapore 12H x 9W inches graphite on paper, white double mat and white 18H x 15W inches frame with crackle finish

Cockatiels, Jurong Bird Park, Singapore 12H x 9W inches graphite on paper, white double mat and white 18H x 15W inches frame with crackle finish. Check out the Jurong Bird Park website.

Showcased in the J. Mane Gallery’s Fins, Feathers and Fur 2020 exhibition.

 

Dutch Creek Hoodoos

Sunday, March 8th, 2020


 

Dutch Creek Hoodoos, BC Canada- 18H x 24W inches soft pastel on 140 lb cold pressed

Dutch Creek Hoodoos, BC Canada – 18H x 24W inches graphite, soft pastel and markers on 140 lb cold pressed watercolor paper

Brooke

Friday, July 12th, 2019


 
Brooke, 11 x 14 inches graphite on paper

Brooke, 11 x 14 inches graphite on paper

Brooke Isabelle

Wednesday, September 6th, 2017


 

Brooke Isabelle, born last week, 11 x 14 inches graphite on paper

Brooke Isabelle, my neice’s daughter born last week, 11 x 14 inches graphite on paper. She looks like a cherub in the photo used as reference, so I subtly impled wings in the background.

Hannah

Thursday, June 1st, 2017


 
Hannah, 11 x 14 inches graphite on paper

Hannah, 11 x 14 inches graphite on paper. This was a special commission for a good friend. I no longer offer to do portraits – pets, absolutely – but while I love drawing people, the work and long periods of in-between study I require take too long to warrant what I’d need to charge. There are other artists who specialize in only portraits and do nothing else.

Hannah portrait: scribbles outlined lightly. Some are erased but some are left, creating a bit of life in the drawing. Hannah portrait: scribbles outlined lightly. Some are erased but some are left, creating a bit of life in the drawing.

The photo was a very small file, only 500 pixels wide, plus the feet were not in the frame, so initially I thought it impossible to work from, but started anyway. All works on paper begin with taped edges, leaving an inch of border which helps when it comes to framing, especially if composition is off a bit. I scribble in the main shapes lightly, gradually building up areas with lines and then shading as confidence grows. As marks, once placed, are difficult to erase, the face details are drawn in more gradually than the rest of the composition.

As marks, once placed, are difficult to erase, the face details are drawn in more gradually than the rest of the composition.I remember that my friend used to call her grand-daughter Hannah Banana, so I snuck some banana shapes onto the blanket  – that will be a surprise for her when she sees this. I smudge the graphite and use erasers quite a bit, a good technique for subtler details like the background and blanket pattern.  Eraser sticks, 2 different sizes, are perfect because they are held and used like a pencil.

Hydrangea

Tuesday, August 6th, 2013


 

Blue Hydrangea, 18 x 24 inches graphite on 80 lb premium

Blue Hydrangea, 18H x 24W inches graphite on 80 lb premium, white mat

Blue Flag Iris

Tuesday, July 30th, 2013


 

Blue Flag Iris, 24H x 18W inches graphite on paper

Blue Flag Iris, 24H x 18W inches graphite on paper, white mat

Gladiolas

Tuesday, July 2nd, 2013


 

Gladiolas, 24H x 18W inches graphite on paper, white mat

Gladiolas, 24H x 18W inches graphite on paper, white mat

Zinnias

Thursday, December 20th, 2012


 

Zinnias, 18H x 24W inches graphite on paper
Zinnias, 18H x 24W inches graphite on paper.

Using an eraser just as much as the graphite, the composition is roughed in to fill the page. Smudging creates dark tones – some are removed with different sized erasers, and some areas are detailed. Initial plans were to create a drawing with about 4 inches of grey tones bleeding into a colorful central square to be drawn and painted with watercolor pencils, similar to Chrysanthemums, with borders more defined, but I like this one without colors. Plans always need to change according to what the results are dictating.

« Previous Entries Next Entries »