Thursday, January 25, 2007

The two sketches I did yesterday and today are based on the lesson from the February Drawing Newsletter created by Michael R. Britton (see Jan 23 entry for URL).

This time, a child's face. Michael Britton says how hard it is to get a good likeness of a child - then goes on to draw - with conte crayon (which is says is like a thoroughbred and a bit of a prima donna)! I'll post his version last (might as well save the best portrait for last, right?

Now here's mine:

First - Clara Serena (daughter of Peter Paul Ruben). Britton uses the oil painting done by Ruben in 1614 as a guide. I did it first in charcoal. Didn't want to do another graphite and wasn't brave enough to try the prima donna conte :)

Clara 1 - January 24, 2007

Then I got very brave - or very foolish - and tried one with sanguine conte. And Britton is right - you have to know what you're doing with this medium to get it right and I aged her a few more years by overstroking and blending and lifting and - well you get the idea.

Clara 2 - January 25, 2007

And finally, the version in sanguine conte by Michael R. Britton - as you can see, I have a long ways to go...