Angel on my Shoulder: progress

I didn't add much to the overall sketch but I started adding in the white. I like the fingers for the most part, a few darks need to be work on, but the knuckles are looking a bit wide to me. I think I need to work that out. I was playing with the idea of cropping the composition at the top to match the reference photo. I'm still at a loss for the background, but I just made the realization that I'm really happy I included my hand in this.

"Angel on my Shoulder"

I have this title in mind since I came up with the concept. I'll explain the concept and title when the piece is finished. So far I'm really happy with the progress. I think I need to to thicken the wrist and maybe lengthen the palm. The nose almost looks like I might have started a mustache under it right now because I initially made the nose too long. I was thinking the angle of the nose was wrong until I looked at this photo, I think it's actually right. Right now I'm going to use a flat black background, mostly because I'm focusing on the light of the figure and also I'm not sure what I would put in the background. The reference photo is no help, the background is just a messy room (I cleaned after I took the photo, doesn't make much sense I know). I may still do something in the background, not sure though. I've seen a lot of portrait with what seems to be just a plain wall with some sort of decorative element on it. I may try something like that.

Also I have to say I've had this general idea that for this piece that I had been struggling to find a composition for, and I got inspiration for this from Erin McCarley's "Pitter-Pat" though my concept really doesn't match up with her song just a few lines matched up with my thoughts and I came up with the idea for the pose.

New drawing started

I started my new drawing. It's not even all the glasses but it's a start. My knee is hurting from kneeling on the drawing board. Because it's a larger drawing I have to lay it on the floor. I'm going to work more on it later tonight. I'm not sure if I'll keep my original dimensions. I do like the proportions I've laid out with the eye so I'm going to follow that. If need be I'll constrain the dimensions around it.

New Drawing

I'm in the planning stages of my new drawing. Right now I'm still trying to decide on size. I figured out the proportions using a compositional mock-up in Photoshop. I have a roll of paper that is 48" long. I'd really like to do a drawing that is that high or wide, but I don't think it will work for this. I'm also worried about getting something that size framed, and getting it into a show. The last show I participated in had a size limit. I'd like to work larger than 18" x 24" though to satisfy that little voice that's still following the demand of my high school teachers to work larger. When my drawings were just getting stapled to a wall it really didn't matter what size it was, but now I have to worry about over size shipping fees and show limititations. I think I'll still have the over size shipping fees but I think it will be slightly smaller than "Angelic" which will make it work. I'm thinking of doing it 24" x 22," I still could probably use a smaller drawing board, but I think I'll add a 2" border to the whole thing. I had a hard time matting "Angelic" with that small 1" border. So the paper will have to 28" x 26" I won't be cutting the paper exactly in half but I can still find something to do with that scrap paper. I'm probably going to cut the paper and tape it down tonight and maybe even start sketching. I should have something to post on it today or tomorrow.

Reflective

I finished that small self portrait. It's only 5" x 7" but I feel really good about going into the next drawing. I'll start the next drawing in the next few days and some progress shots up. The next drawing is going to be about the size of "Angelic."

New Self Portrait (small one)

I started a small self portrait. It's my first attempt at a self portrait with glasses. Overall I think it's a great start. I think the glasses look rather good, so it gives me some confidence going into my larger drawing. I should be able to finish this one in the next few days. I would have worked on it more tonight, but I started getting a bit light headed.

Also I'm going to hold off on that flower drawing. I made a small attempt earlier and it just didn't work out. I'll try drawing flowers again another time. I've always struggled with landscapes and anything really related to nature.

New drawings coming soon

I took the reference photo for my next drawing. I didn't expect to get it so soon, but I have it. I also found a reference photo for lilacs. I'm going to start working on that drawing tomorrow. It's going to be a small 7" x 5" colored pencil drawing. Also in taking photos for my next big drawing I came up with a reference photo that I like but just won't work for my concept and I might try to do a smaller drawing of it before I start working on the larger one. It might help me to do a successful self portrait with glasses before starting on this big one. Anyway I'd really like to get the flower drawing done before Easter. I'd like to make it a gift to my grandmother. If not I can always save it for Mother's day. I still have to decide which drawings I'm entering in which competitions. I know I want to enter "Polynesian Slumber" and "Beautiful Dreamer" though I'm not sure if I want to enter both into both competitions or just submit one to each. Or maybe if I should submit "Angelic" into the new competition. I might just do both into both, if I can afford it. I have until the end of this month to figure it out. I plan to start painting after I finish this next big drawing. I may get some canvases to start out with, since I won't have to order them online. I can just get them at the store. I do want to try hard board though. It may just have to wait. I'll also have to get an easel and I'll be set. I need to focus on this big drawing first though, and of course this little flower one. Timing and how I feel will dictate whether I do that smaller self-portrait first or not.