Slightly wonky self-portrait

In all fairness to my mom - I felt I needed to include a self-portrait - something I haven't done in a while.  I always have a tendency to make my eyes a bit too big (they are big - but not quite that big) and my mouth a little too large (my husband decided not to comment on that one!  wisely).  I am usually smiling - but concentrating on the drawing made me more serious (just a little half smile - that was really there!!)  My grandson knew right away it was me - but not my husband.  Hmmm - wonder what that says???  My eyes are really a bit wonky in this sketch - not quite the same size and the pupils are a little off as well.  Ok - so my face is far from perfect anyway - thanks for taking a look.  Not only am I behind on my faces - I  discovered that I numbered them incorrectly.  I loved this challenge anyway - I do like drawing faces and this got me going again!  Check out 29 Faces at Ayala Art to see some of the amazing artists there.  

Bravely I post!

 I haven't been able to keep up with 29 Faces - but I have some I've worked on and not finished.  In 2008 my mom and I went on a cruise.  In 2010 she had a very debilitating stroke and has been in a nursing home since then.  Several months ago I took a class on drawing faces.  I picked this picture of my mom to draw for my first shot.  You've seen the altered picture of Jesus the lady "fixed"?  My first drawing very much resembled that painting.  My teacher consoled me with a few things - it's very hard to draw people you have a real emotional connection with; this was a difficult angle to draw; and my consolation to myself - argh - an open mouth and teeth!!!!  I haven't tried again for several months - but the other day I went at it with pen and ink, water color crayons and some pastel pencils.  It is very far from a real resemblance - however, no more monkey face.  I will have to give this another try - but for now, this is my version.  I can see many things that are "wrong" when I look at the 2 pics in my blog post - but I also see much improvement from my first try.  The photo is of mom and me on the cruise - couldn't find the original, so only my hand is showing.  I like to remember mom, who always laughed a lot, just like that.  Although she is still alive - she has lost a lot of her vibrancy and I miss it!  Thanks for visiting.

29 Faces - Day 14

This lovely lady came from a Bible study/collage project which used James Chapter 1 as it's subject.  Her skirt says "Trials of all kinds" - The balloons read impatience, pride and unbelief.  Her hair contains another scripture from Psalm 46 - Be still and know that I am God.  I sometimes have trouble working in a large group - but I guess I'm better at it than I used to be because I went right to work and didn't lift my head for 90 minutes. Thanks for stopping by.

29 Faces - Days 11-13

I loved the ink blotter faces done by Michellem at this link  Pigment of My Imagination  -  Decided to try a few of my own!  I quickly found out that iridescent  inks don't work well at all.  So went to my Higgins inks and played.  I think I need to actually blot a bit more and I'm not sure I'm liking the multiple colors in one face - but it's so much fun to see the expression you can get and there is no pressure to be perfect.  The first one was inspired by my friend Ellin - I am missing her a lot!  We went from living 30 miles or so away to 800 miles!  Totally my fault Ellin!  I moved - you didn't!  Anyway these are my 3 entries in this September challenge (getting caught up a bit).  Check out the wonderful artwork at Ayala Art 29 Faces September  Thanks for visiting - have a blessed and artful day!

29 Faces - Day 11

Have you noticed?  If you take a stand on something unpopular, or have a bunch of tattoos, and or a hundred piercings, or purple and green hair, or all of the above - well - a lot of people will keep their distance.  It's just not easy being different.  This is the girl who visited my imagination tonight and I'm sharing her with you.  Thanks for visiting.

29 Faces - Day 10

So - I wouldn't be defeated!!!  I tried this woman on a tag and was she ever scary.  I tried her again - only a little less scary - you wouldn't have wanted to meet her in a dark alley or anywhere!!  I thought - bigger.  This is a hard angle for me to draw - looking down and smiling (left the teeth out - I have my limits-lol) I started with my Micron pen and then thought there is so much shadow here - can't do that with my pen.  (I know some people can - I'm not there yet.)  I bravely reached for my Conte crayons. I got them for a drawing class and hated them.  Everything I used them for looked like dirt.  I am not kidding!  But - the time had come to wade back in.  So here she is - she doesn't look exactly like the pic in the magazine.  But she doesn't look like Frankenstein either (at least I don't think she does).  The windblown hair was also tricky - not sure I quite got it - but it' better than my first two tries.  I still have not caught up - but she is my offering (sacrifice?) for day 10.  Go to 29 Faces September to see some wonderful artwork.  Thanks for taking a look - I love your comments so leave one if you have the time.

29 Faces - Day 9

Found this rather ugly totem in a local magazine - This one was done with the colors of the Steelers - but I think you can order one for your favorite team.  I'm not sure (yes I am sure) - I would not want to see this guy in my yard - but to each his own.  I am linked to 29 Faces in September  -  go check and see what all the wonderful artists are doing there.  Thanks for the visit!

29 Faces - Day 8

This poor turbaned lady certainly looks a bit stressed and worried.  A lot how I'm feeling right now.  Have you ever noticed how hard it is to make art when you are stressed?  I'm still playing catch up in 29 faces - I drew her the other day while my grandson was having a karate lesson.  She is not on a tag - but that's ok.  Don't need to add rules for myself and get even more pressured!  This face is for the challenge here:
29 Faces in September  Go and check what wonderful art is being created for this challenge!  Thanks for the visit - I love to read your comments.

29 Faces - Day 7

Another grandson sketch.  I am not totally happy with it - technically some of it is off kilter.  However, I think I got close to capturing his wonderful expression in the photo.  I actually did this twice - now tired so I'll stick with this one.  I'm a little behind - I was in a wonderful collage class given by Jane Davies in Saluda, NC this weekend.  So - I'm in catchup mode here.

29 Faces - Day 6

This was extremely hard to draw - from an advert of a lady having a massage.  Her first face was just too off.  This one isn't great - but it's better.  I really stretched myself here.  I actually messed up one of the hands on this one - but wasn't about to do it over since this is about faces!  Drawing a nose that is basically upside down for viewing - that is hard.  Well - I definitely feel challenged today - I'll be away for a couple of days and probably won't be able to post.  I will try to keep up and post on Monday.  Thanks for stopping by.

29 Faces - Day 5

Waiting for my husband as he got his teeth cleaned - I met a lovely lady and we chatted a bit.  Then she went in for her appointment.  I then pulled out my little tag and sketched her as well as I could from memory.  Her hair was not that yellow (more ash) but that's how it came out with my available colored pencils.  She was a pretty lady and I think I caught her likeness.  She is my day 5 entry - 29 Faces In September is where you'll find what everyone else has done!  Go and check it out.  Thanks for stopping by.

29 Faces - Day 4

I hope you guessed it!!! LOL  Mr. EA Poe.  Used Liquid pencil for much of the "painting" - it can be messy stuff if you don't watch where you put your hands.  I like the way it "paints" though - it's very smooth and with more practice I hope to get more control.  I am somewhat satisfied - but see many areas for improvement.  I thought Edgar A. would be easier to do because of his very distinctive features.  For better or worse - he is the Face of the day.  Thanks for stopping by.  Go to 29 Faces In September and check out all the wonderful artists participating.

Ink;pen; marker

I have had an obsessed day with Mr. Poe.  Sketched him in charcoal, pen, pencil - just not happy with any of them.  This one is larger than the tag --done in pencil, ink, marker and charcoal for shading.  He is the only one who makes me remotely happy (with the outcome that is - I can't imagine a less happy looking face - LOL)  Anyway - just thought I would update.  My Poe related OCD is over now!!!

29 Faces - day 3

Grandson photo

Day 3 - Face 3.  I decided to give this photo of my precious grandson another try.  He was about 3 or 4 months old at the time and I just love the angle of his face.  Although this might be the best rendition I have gotten so far - I can see it has a way to go.  For today though - this is my entry-drawn with charcoal, gone over with pen and Graphitint pencils (with a dot of white acrylic paint for the eyes).  I am kind of liking the tags - when I am done I will have a book of faces I can look back on.  (Hope I have gotten these posts right now.  I will try to add the first face to this post and this will be my 29 Faces entry)

29 Faces - Day 2

Day 2 - face 2 - trying to keep up (already!).  This young lady was living in my head - I have so little spare room up there that I moved her to this manila tag.  Kind of like releasing the genie from the lamp.  She is colored with Derwent Graphitint - love those soft colors.  If you go to 29 Faces In September you can see all the wonderful work from the participating artists.  Thanks for stopping by.

29 Faces

I love drawing faces - however, I would much rather make them up than draw a portrait of a real face.  I have decided to participate in Ayala's 29 Faces challenge for September - and this first one is a quick pencil sketch of my 7 yo grandson.  I didn't quite capture the angle of his face in the photo and to my eye he looks older than 7 here.  He was showing off his Superman symbol painting on his arm.  I will be doing other "real" faces for this challenge - need to get better "eye to paper" coordination.  I'll probably do some "in my head" faces as well.  The real challenge is to try to keep up!!!  Check out the challenge here -






29 Faces In September