First artwork for over five years.

[caddyman]

Well, I got my scanner up and running again. The plug wasn't working, but I have a spare adapter and so there we are.

Now I expect most of you who know me also know the subject, so I'm not going to tell you who it is and see if you can guess. Some of you already know, though. The pic was drawn from life in about 40 minutes of fading daylight - I really needed more time and better light. As I noted last night, I spent a half hour or so tidying the drawing from memory.

My rusty technique has let me down I think but here it is:



Unfortunately the pencil and rusty drawing skills may have added a few years. Oops. Sorry.

Anyway, I intend to get back in practice, I am already down to draw nyarbaggytep and immerwahr at some point.

Comments

[serratia.livejournal.com]

No idea who your subject is, but she is lovely! And your skills are not as rusty as you think :)

Thanks... and please share more with us!

[caddyman.livejournal.com]

Thank 'ee very much ;-)

The secret's out of the bag (not much of a secret this side of the pond, actually). The subject is ashenkat (see her icon below against her comment) so you can judge the likeness or lack thereof for yourself.

[dreamfire.livejournal.com]

although the icon is taken at a strange angle and the hair photoshopped so it isn't a very good likeness of its own. This one is a bit better maybe

Is it...?

[maleghast.livejournal.com]

Kat Q??

Re: Is it...?

[maleghast.livejournal.com]

'cos if it is you are not as rusty as you think you are...

Of course the flipside is that if it isn't then you are...

[littleonions.livejournal.com]

I think I saw ya sketching it so I shant venture a guess, nice piccie :)

[iwantmymookie.livejournal.com]

I'm a beginner with the portraits. I have issues with the noses.
Any suggestions?

[caddyman.livejournal.com]

I think you need to be a bit more specific as to what causes you the (most) trouble.

[oldnick.livejournal.com]

I suspected knew who it was before it loaded, as I remembered seeing the beginings of it at NWO. Well, if that's rusty, the rust is well hiden. Nicely done.

[caffeine-fairy.livejournal.com]

It's Kat. You mentioned sketching her in your journal ;o)

But a very nice picture.

[dreamfire.livejournal.com]

don't think its rusty at all
think I might have been wrong about the age bit on second reflection - think I'm getting that impression cos it seems a little severe - and can identify that that is down to wrong shape at bottom of nose - which you drew from memory so entirely unsuprising
I also think you have given me bigger eyes than I have. I always think everybody thinks I have bigger eyes than I have

[caddyman.livejournal.com]

Well as I said in my email, I'll try again once I've got some extra practice under my belt, if you'd like.

[nyarbaggytep.livejournal.com]

Nah, I have to say it is a lovely picture, and you are right, eyes too big. Bry, you been watching manga?! :)

[caddyman.livejournal.com]

Nope, but I do like eyes.

The main problem with drawing a face is getting the proportions right as even a miniscule error can alter the whole balance, distorting the likeness. After a while they all build up so that the face may be a fine one, but it isn't that of the subject.

Drawing from life is even harder, because no matter how statuesque the sitter, he or she will move, as will the artist, so getting a likeness...

Out of the 40 mins available to me on the day, I must have spent at least 20 drawing and redrawing the outline of the face to get the balance and proportions even approximately right.

I'd have liked to spend at least an hour before filling in the fine detail, which ios why it is so hard to get someone to sit.

[wallabok.livejournal.com]

why do I think it's Scully?

[caddyman.livejournal.com]

I don't know. Why do you think it's Scully?

[wallabok.livejournal.com]

because I know you.....

[caddyman.livejournal.com]

Even I can't draw a fictional character from life...

[caddyman.livejournal.com]

In fact right now I'm watching Andy Richeter Controls the Universe on Paramount, and I notice that this pic looks a bit like Irene Molloy.

[nyarbaggytep.livejournal.com]

I'm not *very* good at sitting still, but I'd give it a go.

I could be mean and suggest you draw immerwahr and I having a conversation, cos that would make you sketch all quickly like and give me an excuse to talk to him for ages :)

[caddyman.livejournal.com]

You've given me an idea....

[the-hooded-crow.livejournal.com]

You're not that rusty..This is great:)
Maybe the eyes are a little big, but they are very expressive - and it's far more flattering to draw the eyes of your subject slightly larger than they actually are, compared to my usual mistake, which is to make the nose far too big..~g~
I'm really glad that you're getting back to your artistic roots. You may be a little rusty - but the talent will never go away..

[caddyman.livejournal.com]

Thank you. ;-)