Tuesday, January 05, 2010

Study for a portrait




While I wait for both supplies and muse guidance and cooperation from the weather for larger projects, I continue to sketch and draw.

I can hardly begin to describe the pleasure the act of drawing brings.  It is so different than painting or any other form artistic creation.  Its pure comfort to apply graphite to paper and I haven't done enough of it in the last year, so I need to add to my list the production of several pieces in graphite or charcoal.

I have done a sketch of my mother in graphite in a small square sketchbook.  I started this in bed last night, from a photo I had taken of her a couple of years ago.  My mother does NOT like to have her photo taken or her portrait drawin either for that matter, so this image of her smiling is a rarity as she wasn't aware of me taking it at the time.

I like creating a study before a drawing.  Its my 'warm up' before I get going and gives me time to work out placement, values, likeness, etc. From here I will enlarge it onto a sheet of ...Stonehenge perhaps.  I haven't used that for some time and love the soft surface.  Then graphite?  Charcoal?

The muse will decide.

10 comments:

sue said...

Holy schmoly, Jeanette--what a glorious post! New header, fabulous portrait...you are an artist in the true sense of the word, in my opinion. I always think that of you...you live, eat and breathe it. I'm just sayin.' This is beautiful. Sigh...

Diana said...

When I saw this portrait, it reminded me of my beloved, great aunt "Tante Ria". It is how I would have liked to have remembered her, although I was too young to have done a portrait such as this one, before she past.

Besides your mom's beautiful smile, you captured her essence, ...it's perfect. How I would have loved to have remembered my Tante Ria this way.

Pamela Stirling said...

I am sure she will be happy with this - it is beautiful!

Jeanette Jobson said...

Sue, yeah I guess I am kind of addicted to art, aren't I? :) I'm glad you like the study.

Diana, perhaps if you have a photo of your great aunt you could do a portrait of her now. I'm sure you would enjoy it.

Thanks Pamela. My mother will likely never see this or the full size portrait that will come from this study. She hates images of herself.

Elizabeth Seaver said...

You really captured what seems to be a genuinely unselfconscious moment in your sketch. It is lovely!

Leslie Hawes said...

It is a wonderful drawing!

Jo Castillo said...

Jeanette, so lovely. I feel better when I sketch with pen and ink. Your graphite work is amazing. :) Your Mom would like it, I bet.

Jeanette Jobson said...

Thanks Elizabeth, its nice to do something in graphite again.

Leslie, thank you. I'm getting a start on the full size portrait now.

I'm glad you like it Jo. I like pen and ink a lot too, but graphite's always my first love. I don't think my mother would approve somehow, no matter what the drawing is like.

Gary said...

Graphite was my first love, so it holds a special place in my heart. I too do not draw enough and maybe this year I will fill my time gaps much better than I have in the past. How large do you consider a full sized portrait. Does graphite on Stonehenge take a concerted amount of control?

Jeanette Jobson said...

Yes, I miss drawing Gary and each time I do use it I remember just how much I enjoy it.

A full sized portrait is a full sheet 22 x 30. I love using graphite on Stonehenge paper. The surface is forgiving and has a softness to it that works well for portraiture I think. I don't think the control is any different than most other paper types.