Thursday, October 11, 2007

Challenges


Conte crayons & charcoal on cream tinted paper - 30 mins

Another challenging self portrait sketch from life.
This time a quick rendering in Conte crayons. It has many imperfections but I do believe I was a little kinder to myself in this one so things are looking up!



Noodler's ink in sketchbook

Two more lead-free ink sketches from my sketchbook. Both were sketched very quickly, one worked and one went pear shaped. The first is supposed to be Billie Piper but I managed to give her 'the' worse nose job I've seen in a long time as well as other errors. I thought running the water brush over her may plump her up a little and soften her...I thought wrong!
The second is my Son and was sketched while he drew at the kitchen table a couple of minutes before we left for school. I'm a little happier with that one!


EDM challenge #124 - Draw something yellow
Gouache in sketchbook

Lastly, one of the EDM challenges, to sketch something yellow. I chose my yellow Lamy fountain pen that I have filled with Noodler's black/red ink, the same pen I used for the two sketches above.
I have a red Lamy too, that I keep filled with Noodler's Lexington Gray ink, they are wonderful pens.

18 comments:

Laureline said...

Such a strong self-portrait, Anita---really, really solid. And your yellow pen is charming. You remind me that I have one of those....somewhere. Thanks for unwittingly nudging me to find it ;D.

Michael Emerald said...

I like the way you put how long it took to do.

Nina Johansson said...

I love the self-portrait, it´s awesome. And the Lamy - we´ve got the same taste in colours here! A yellow and a red (and a black, somewhere). And my red is filled with Lexington Grey too. Small world, huh? :)
Lovely work!

Anonymous said...

Lamy pens are great, aren't they? But the real star of this post is that self-portrait; it's superb.

lyn said...

Nice drawings as always. I'm glad to see you post things with imperfections, (the Nose) Mine are incomplete or often works in progress. The pose thing with muscles is very cool!
Lyn

Jana Bouc said...

Wonderful self-portrait! You look like someone with great depth and power. I like that the picture is right below the word "challenges" as it seems that this woman can handle any challenge put before her. The Lamy pen is beautifully done too.

Anonymous said...

love self portrait much kinder more you linda

suzanne cabrera said...

This post really displays your breadth as an artist. I find it interesting how you seem to be able to switch so easily between styles.

Oh, and great handwriting!

Anita Davies said...

Thankyou Laurel...Yes find it!

Anita Davies said...

Michael thankyou for popping along to look. I put the time for my own purposes more than anything else really because sketches are sketches but I can see that practice is allowing me to create a sketch alot quicker than I did 6 months ago, which shows me I am progressing.

Anita Davies said...

Oooh Nina, I was torn between the yellow and the black but figured the ink colour warranted the yellow pen. I have one more Noodler's I'd like to try so I'll probably purchase another pen for that colour.
Who would have thought we'd be pen Sisters!
Thankyou for your kind comments on my work.

Anita Davies said...

Thankyou so much Dave!

Anita Davies said...

Thanx Lyn.
Yes, I post it all, the good, bad & the ugly. I think it helps us all to know that everyone gets it wrong from time to time and noses are my nightmare.
The posemaniacs is great isn't it!

Anita Davies said...

Thankyou Jana.
I have a habit of rising to a challenge, it's true. I get bored with the mundane.
Life has a way of giving us choices...I was never comfortable with the idea of being a victim so I guess I chose the 'strong' path!

Anita Davies said...

Thanx MUM! :)

Anita Davies said...

Thankyou Suzanne. I have never been great with making decisions, it takes me ages to order in a restaurant...I want to taste a little of everything!
I get bored easily, things are exciting while they are challenging and then I lose interest.
So, art is the perfect path for me...so many challenges, so many different media, so many different moods, styles and techniques...The chequered flag is always in sight giving encouragement but I hope and pray I never reach it...The journey is just too good!

Anonymous said...

Yes, I remember you were doing the self-portraits before I went missing. This is a much kinder, gentler looking you. As for the sketches, well, we learn and we play and that's what makes us artists. I love the one of your son. You caught how immersed he was in his drawing. Great work!

Anita Davies said...

Thanks...Yes, the sketch of Harry worked out well in the time I had and poor Billie Piper didn't!...That's how it goes for all of us and I think it's important to know that sometimes, especially when you first start sketching and everyone elses work looks so 'perfect' all the time.