After my serious portrait attempt with charcoal left me feeling a little down, I decided I needed to try something a little more upbeat, fun. The charcoal drawing was laborious without the quality you would have expected for something taking so long. So, at the top of this sketchbook page I wrote, "unkempt me", because I hadn't showered yet, and I looked a little bedraggled. The shirt that I was wearing was actually just a plain dark blue t-shirt. I made up the stripes and the folds in the shirt and this actually turned out to be my favorite part. The drawing was done in five minutes (the best kind, if you want to know my opinion!) I like the colors I've used on this. Notice the name, 'unkempt me' has been cropped out here...I don't think I caught the slovenly part of my look. Plus, it looks like I have makeup on and went crazy with the blush, and who does that before the shower? I look serious, don't I? That expression makes me laugh. It is so recognizable in artists' self-portraits. This is pencil and watercolor in my exacompta sketchbook, which isn't for watercolor but works surprisingly well for simple ones. (you can see that the paper waves)
Eh, this wasn't intentionally a self-portrait. This was a doodle with a ballpoint pen that I thought looked similar to me, so I slapped on the glasses and watercolored. I'll never get to a hundred if I don't take these freebies when I can!Of the self-portraits I've done so far, only #3 and # 8 (above) are from looking in a mirror. All the others, except nine, are from photos. Now, I really like #6, it is probably my favorite so far, but I think the two done from life are really good, and they were much easier. Both were drawn with relative ease. I will keep this in mind for the, um, 91 more that I have remaining!
Freebies are MOST DEFINITELY allowed!! The folds in your striped shirt are SO GOOD!!!! I could never do something like that in such a short time. Impressive.
ReplyDeleteThank you Pamo! The whole thing wasn't completed in five minutes though...just the pencil sketch. The color was added little by little as I watched a movie!
ReplyDeleteExcellent self-portraits! Fun, like you said. The folds are wonderful & I do recognize that look from the one I did of myself but somehow yours doesn't look like a mugshot like mine did.
ReplyDeleteAnd guess what! I got the moleskine with all the extra goodies you enclosed! Excellent!! :) I will send you an e-mail.
Thanks Dan! I can't believe it got there so fast!!
ReplyDeleteI think you made an excellent job on those stripes and folds and I think you really captured the sense of 'unkemtness' - and I rather like your flushed cheeks - it's as if you'd just been for a run or something.I like the bottom one too - it looks like you with big hair - you look as if you should be trying to get into Government or something! (that is meant to be humourous!)
ReplyDeleteBoth of these portraits are really good Raena, but I think the stripes, expression and rosy cheeks on the first are wonderful.
ReplyDeleteThank you for leaving your comment on my blog...I'm happy if I was any help to you.
I like them both. You did a fabulous job on the stripes!
ReplyDeleteNumber 8 is fabulous and the striped shirt brilliant! I feel that I would recognize you very easily.
ReplyDeleteYour portrait with the stripped shirt is very cool!And yes, great job on the stripes!
ReplyDeleteAll your last portraits and self portraits are great - I like the charcoal one a lot, too. Like you said in your post - sometimes we don't see what the author doesn't like in his/her own work.
Since I haven't come here for some times, also wanted to comment on the little sea turtle painting below : it's wonderful! (these are beautiful animals but not easy to paint!)
Five minutes? Holy moly ... you rock, girl. These are really good, and yes, the stripes are especially fine and fun! nancy
ReplyDeleteSuper portrait of you Raena with the striped t shirt - the stripes paid off. The specs look a little flat and wobbly though, distracting somewhat from the lovely work you've done on the face. With my unsteady hands, I use a rigger for lines I need to keep straight and use it at a very sharp angle.
ReplyDeleteThank you all very much!
ReplyDeleteFrank, I appreciate it so much that you are here giving me critiques! Please don't ever feel the need to hold that back on me! With the glasses, I had done just fine with my line until I reached the very last corner and for some reason my hand twitched and put a giant blob there. So, I tried to hide it by making the rest of the lines fatter. I was afraid to try and straighten them out any more; who knows how fat they would have been before being straight! LOL It does take away from the results and my eyes are definitely pulled to that area. I wish that I had just used a micron pen! Thanks for stopping by!
Well, Number 8 is great--love the stripes that indicate folds (even more impressive that you made them up).
ReplyDeleteI like the "unkept" one, the colours and detail look great!:)
ReplyDeleteLove the style of this portrait with the loose water colour! The stripes really work, good plan of yours to add them. I have done the same thing regarding drawing glasses, they just got fatter and fatter and every time i looked at them they had another kink Lol. But actually with the style of the portrait you have done i don't think they distract at all, maybe if they had been perfectly sharp lined they may have looked more out of place?
ReplyDeleteDe Wilde Art
I love this! And I love the way the bottom one turned out. I admire you because faces are something I seem to avoid far too much. I really need to do what you do and draw them often or I will never get the hang of them!
ReplyDeleteSuch achievement with such little time utilized! That's speedpainting Raena! ^^ Does this also mean that you're getting used to drawing yourself now...I mean, it seems like you're getting faster and faster ^^
ReplyDeleteSpeaking of Charcoal, I need to get my hands on those hahahaha
Fascinating work.
ReplyDeleteIt has been delightful
to visit your gallery.
Good Creations
it may have been fun to do, and it looks fun, but i think No 8 is also a seriously fine self-portrait, Raena.
ReplyDeleteYou have excellent portraits here Raena :)
ReplyDeleteWould love to explore you blog more:)