Some old trout (my drawing)

[piskieinboots]

You all deserve a laugh

As you know, I am trying my hand at drawing cos I need to build my confidence to get my course work underway. I am working through a fantastic book called 'Drawing on the right side of the brain' - it is amazing, I love it to bits.

The first three projects were:
self-portrait (done)
hand (done)
someone from memory (done)

Here is the self-portrait - please feel free to LOL



What I have noticed is that when drawing I have the most amazing calm, almost (I imagine) drug-induced (not that I have done drugs) state flow over me - she has actually just mentioned this in the book. It seems that the right side of the brain (art) is telling the left side of the brain (logic and noise) to shut the frick up



Snowdrop says (he is naturally artistic) that I have been a bit too crytical on the jowls - he clearly sees me in a different way to my mirror

[Creemteez]

I'm not laughing. I can definately see a similarity to your avatar photo!
Being a bit artistic meself, I would suggest using a softer pencil (B4 is a nice softness) and try softening some of your lines by smudging with you finger - particularly usful for creating shadowing. When I was doing a lot of life drawing for A Level, I used the tip of my finger almost as much as the pencil or charcoal!
An excellent start. Well done. Tick. V.Good!

[piskieinboots]

*faints

Thank you for the feedback, I really really appreciate it

The pencil I used did feel hard, not that I know what I'm talking about! My brief was to use a #2 writing pencil, which seemed odd, but as I know nowt I used it.

I will try again

[scarey55]

I agree with SD - I think you look much younger than that in real life. Having said that, we always see ourselves differently than others do. I really like it, the eyes are very good. I think you are doing brilliantly 'tis much better than I could do, the only thing I can draw are the curtains

[Glutton4...]

Looking good! I can see why Snowdrop commented as he did. As Scarey says, we see ourselves differently. I have never been interested in drawing faces, so haven't tried. However, I have felt inspired enough by your previous thread to order the book...

[Florence Fennel]

That's really good.

[shirlthegirl43]

I think it is excellent but would say that we will recognise you when we meet in about 10 years time

[Snadger]

Would that be a 'brown' or 'rainbow' then?

“Oh wad some power the giftie gie us To see oursel's as others see us!"

Seems a reasonable likeness to your avatar.

I find sketching and using watercolours quite relaxing now and again also. I'm pretty carp at it, but if you can't please yourself, who can you please?

[piskieinboots]

Thanks all - your feedback is really helpful to me.

Now to get to grips with drawing the 'real' stuff, my planting plans and aspects etc

[Flummery]

I always find the eyes the hardest to do - and you've got that ok. Well done. Next time, smile!

[piskieinboots]

.... Next time, smile!

hehehe yes - good point.

If I had drawn the 'shot' a couple of stages earlier you would see my tongue

[Mikey]

Piskie, having done at least a dozen self portraits over the years one thing I have found to be very helpful is turning your face slightly side on helps.

When using a hard pencil and I prefer around a 4h for detailed work its very difficult to create the depth you need around the nose when you are looking at yourself straight on. We dont have hard lines on our noses when viewed from the front and you end up over defining this area.

Softening the eyelids with some lashes will add emphasis of the femine outline, its a good start piskie you have good proportion of the main features, continue to focus on the details when using a harder pencil texture in the iris, light reflection on the pupil, and some laughter lines.

When smudging with a softer pencil make sure you have a spray fixer, as your palm leaning on the page will overblend smudged areas.

[piskieinboots]

Fantastic feedback Mikey - thank you tons

....and some laughter lines..

hehe yep, you're the first to notice I forgot to add all my wrinkles, I have laughed much in my life thusfar

[Two_Sheds]

When smudging with a softer pencil make sure you have a spray fixer

I always use Vo5 hairspray (the max hold one). It's much cheaper than proper artist's fixative, and I haven't noticed any discolouration of the paper

Also, I prefer drawing with charcoal to pencil, you get softer lines, it's easier for shading, and it's quicker

[piskieinboots]

Snowdrop bought me a set of charcoals at the weekend - they are still unsharpened ... sooooo new soooo scary!!

All this just so I can put blodges of colour on page to represent plants hehe