Black on Grey on White

Christmas continues in the blogosphere and you are, I'm sure, curious to see what a few of us created for the occasion? Presents have been unwrapped and many of us (commission artists) are now able to unveil our artwork. This is why today's post is not directly about my work but that of some of my fellow artists. Did you know that all too often commission artists are looked upon with a certain disrespect? This is mainly because we are considered to be selling ourselves and copying photographs. Total rubbish. Being commissioned to render a loved one is MUCH harder than copying a photograph. Why? The artwork has to be above average artistically , spot-on accurate , come from the heart and display total understanding of the rendered subject. All these elements are crucial. Should one of these fundamentals fail the artwork will hold very little credibility (if any at all!). Oh this could get so very long... ! We are simply wizards of our chosen mediums. Artists with a skill for r...

"Grandad's Story" graphite on paper, 33x25cm This is how my pencils render love. Thank you for patience ( a whole three weeks of patience) have a lovely week-end.

Flowing smoothly (and slowly) to the last stages of "Grandads' Story". The above steps show how the ear, neck and shirt developed over a period of two sittings (roughly 5 hours) I've added the hat in a penciled-in version. Once I have brought the two subjects together (by balancing and harmonising the values and textures) the hat will get its own final tweak. The last image gives you a wee view of the connection between the two figures (as well as the hat). The shadowing is still wrong so I'm off up to the studio to get that sorted... Back soon. p.s: please ask any questions you may have: answers will be forthcoming and not too long winded!

Gone with the flow and more progress has been made. Yeah again! The shadowing and light is proving quite a challenge. I'm tackling it with determination and layers of 2B and F. See what tomorrow brings - hopefully loads of progress I'm really dying to see the finished piece and tweak away to my hearts content...

Yeah! A little progress  has been  made on "Grandads' Story"... Amelie is nearly finished -the tweaking and final detail layer will be done after I've drawn the second subject. The dress has been mapped out and still needs a whole load of attention. I've decided to keep the pattern as it adds to the portrait (summer feeling and "colours"). There will be more posted tomorrow..the flow has picked up again and always a good thing to go with! Apologies for the scan quality...sadly it  looks as though my good old faithful scanner is just that: old and tired... Quality control will pick up: promise!

The week flew by. My silence: a direct result of a virus "thingy" (the one that hit our household a whole 2 weeks ago). Not only has it made my family ill... but proceeded, shamelessly, to nibble away any work and me time... Today, the sun made a rare appearance and sent us off for a good battery recharging traditional Sunday stroll (i.e: a walk). For your viewing pleasure: a couple of "proof pics" that explain, in the way only pics can, the afternoon we so enjoyed.  I hope you, wherever you are, are enjoying or have enjoyed a great second of Advent. Cheers for now.