Self Portrait...again

EDM #62  Draw a previous challenge in a different medium than you usually use.

While it's true that I've used pencil many times, I haven't been using it much recently, so I think this totally counts as a different medium.  I've also been wanting to try another self portrait, so I put the two together and here is the result.  It's definitely my best attempt at capturing myself thus far, and I rather like it as a drawing on its own, too.  This is from a photo of myself on a boat on the way to or from Monhegan, a wonderful island off the coast of Maine.  If I could, I would move there and draw/paint all day, every day.  Jamie Wyeth does it, and look how good he is!  But really, if you're looking for a beautiful (in a rugged, Maine sort of way) island, hop on a boat and hike Monhegan for a few hours.  You won't be sorry.

As I mentioned, this is pencil on paper.  I don't really know my way around pencils.  I know there's a range from soft to hard, and I know how it feels to draw with them, but I don't know how to use a variety of pencils to my advantage--the soft lead for shading and the hard lead for details, or something like that.  I just grab a soft-ish pencil from my kit and start in.  I'll have to experiment and try to do more with them.

Seashells

EDM #61  Draw a grouping of two or more similar objects

This one was my mom's idea--seashells!  I chose three that she had sitting in a tray around a candle and drew them.  Shells are always on my mind when we're in Florida.  It's hard to avoid them, really, and why would you want to?  When I was little, I used to walk along the beach and collect shells.  I knew the names of all of them, and I found some very beautiful ones.  I'll need to re-learn all about these shells so I can share this pastime with Simon when he gets older.

I only brought charcoal and pencils with me to Florida, but I didn't want to draw black and white shells, so I brought out the trusty old Bamboo graphics tablet and Corel Painter Essentials.  I'd missed drawing with this program!  It's very different from doing art in the "real" (not digital) world, but I don't think it's less authentic (or...not much, anyway.  I'm still a traditionalist at heart, I suppose.).  It's true that I can do things on the program that I wouldn't be able to do in non-digital art, but if I think of this program as a separate medium, and not as a cheat, I'll be happier.  I did a couple of portraits on it yesterday, too, and found that quite satisfying.  I'll put one of them below the seashells picture.

Here's a portrait I did yesterday with the tablet.  I've been doing lots of portrait drawing, and I need to start posting more of them here.  I'm quite proud of some of them!

Ned

My step-dad died a couple of weeks ago.  Ned was a wonderful man, a wonderful step-dad to my brother and me, and a wonderful husband to my mom.  Everyone who knew and loved him misses him terribly.  I will always be grateful that he was such an important part of my life and my upbringing, and I know that he had a big hand in making me the person I am today.  I'm very glad that my son and I were able to spend so much time with Ned this summer.  I did a drawing of the two of them earlier this fall, and I'd like to share it here as a small tribute to Ned.