My New Art Project

[keyodie]

I would love to be able to draw portraits, except I'm not too good at drawing faces right now. So I decided to draw 12 portraits this year, each one of a different celebrity, so that I can compare and see how much I've improved at the end.

Here's the first portrait, of Olivia Wilde:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pvd86X6Xn6U
(it's a recording of me drawing it sped up really fast )

 

[smkie]

ROck on with you! THat was just excellent..WOW. You are going to be far better of an artist with goals like that then you will ever dream. I loved the video

 

[keyodie]

Thank you so much smkie. Your comments mean a lot.

*hugs*

 

[ACooper]

Very nice Key

My daughter is all about drawing/sketching as well and has set some goal for herself this year too Keep moving forward, it's the only way to go!

 

[Dizzy]

Not good at portraits???

Ok, you might have your own visions of what is good and bad, but credit where credit is due girl!!!!!!!!!

 

[Dekka]

Key that is lovely.. I can't wait to see the others!!! I loved watching the process too. An excellent beginning.

 

[keyodie]

ACooper - Thanks! And haha yup. Art isn't a gift you're born with, you gotta practice and keep at it, I totally agree.

Dizzy - Awww hehe thanks. xD *blush*

 

[keyodie]

Dekka - Thankyou! I've always been fascinated by watching the process for other artists, so I figured I should try it myself.

 

[bubbatd]

Wonderful !!! The video was fun to watch !

 

[keyodie]

Hehe glad you enjoyed it.

 

[Baxter'smybaby]

that is fantastic!

 

[keyodie]

Thanks!

 

[GoingNowhere]

just amazing! Really. Can I ask how long it took you in real time?

 

[MyHorseMyRules]

Key, you are so amazingly talented. I really enjoyed watching the whole process, and I can't wait to see more. Gosh, you're just... Wow...

 

[keyodie]

Thanks!

GoingNowhere - Somewhere around 3 to 4 hours, pretty quick actually.

 

[smkie]

I was told if you really want to get good at portraits go out and do them for a few bucks...it won't matter if you suck in the beginning because you won't for long...and there are quite a few that are really horrible i see out there that indeed are taking in the funds. Your goal of 12 will do essentially the same thing. Repeated efforts are the only way to get the skills down.
A couple things you might try just for fun..is doing one on tinted paper using both a white pencil and a dark. Try putting in your highlights first. A second tip is one my teacher told me and that is the only really dark places on teh human face are the pupil and the space betwen the lips. Don't know if you want tips or not, but i thought i would through them out there. You already have a grand ability, and the best thing is the only way to go is better and better which will build on each and every piece you do. You already know i am impressed as i can be with you. ANd feel that you could probably get a scholarship to any art school anywhere.
I noticed you put a piece of paper over so you do not smudge. I use my left arm as a brace the wrist right infront of my right elbow which lifts my right arm an inch or so over my paper. Sometimes the paper can smudge anyway. THis way i avoid all contact with the paper except for the point of my pencil. I found that everytime i erase it changes the surface of my paper and if i come back in to put a very light tint somewhere where the integrity of the paper has been changed it is darker then i care for it to be no matter what i try.

 

[keyodie]

Ah yeah, I thought as much. I noticed that my portrait always looked infinitely better than the last one I did. xD

And yeah, I may try the tinted or black paper idea. I didn't want to do them all like I did this one with just graphite on white paper. I was thinking maybe I would do one in color, I'm not entirely sure yet. It really depends on the reference pictures I find I think.

Hmm, really? I think my art teacher would add the area right under the lips to that list, but that sounds about right.

And I'll try that arm thing next time.

 

[noludoru]

Keyo... that is amazing. :yikes: You have talent at portraits, trust me.

I'm especially awed at how you managed to draw it all at once - I can never do that.

 

[keyodie]

Haha I cheated. xD I took a couple 30 minute breaks. Editing ftw.

 

[smkie]

i don't think black paper would be quite the same but it could be interesting. In life drawing we started with charcoal and graphite stick, moved to the tinted paper with conte, white pencil and black, ink wash, before we started color that was usually the end of the second semester and we had the long half hour pose to work with.

For Christmas my mother ordered me a lovely ink set, i haven't done ink washes in a long time. I Think since i can't see like i use to to do the ultra anal tight stuff i usually do, this might be a good way for me to work loose and still enjoy it. I am getting sick of sculpture and would like to go back in some form to my illustrative side.

In life drawing classes they are almost always 3 hours long but you always take breaks. I have to walk away sometimes and come back to see fresh and where i am going wrong.