Portraits

Single line drawing in pencil of a friend

A pencil sketch of a larger than life character, sitting happily reading a book

This is one of my favourites. Think it started our as my partner, then looked more like someone in our choir. In pencil

Painted by a member of the art class I was attending at the time (I'm sorry I cannot remember her name), I like this because it makes me look much younger than I am. The hair is a give-away, though. I think it is watercolour on paper..?

Pencil drawing of Church of England hospital chaplain

I mentioned in Drawings that I taught myself how to draw better during an art quarantine challenge. I found myself going from straight and wavy lines to drawings that really looked like people and objects. Then, I left it to paint. But now, the zoom art group I am a part of has just started on drawing portraits. Each of us in turn will sit as the model, while the rest of us draw and paint the subject.

I know the sketches of my poor tutor I did today are not so good. I don't think at the stage I am at that that is the point! I'm learning to observe closely and portray tones and ow shapes on paper. This, under year-long lockdown conditions, is even more challenging than normal. I enjoyed it. There are elements of each which appeal to me and give me reason for optimism it will be alright. I'm learning you have to create an awful lot of 'rubbish' (it's called practice!) to get to the good stuff.

And I found it strangely calming, indeed, meditative.

Today's portraits of Sarah do not look anything like her. and yet, I am really pleased with drawing 3-D characters. I started with waiting and looking, having taken a screenshot of her smiling, just in case my zoom link or connection disappeared. Then, I thought it might be useful, even refreshing, to do a quick sketch. And I did notice more, particularly the shading around the eyes and across the cheeks. Unfortunately, all this close attention was starting to give me a headache and I cheerfully left it to make a cup of tea, do the washing up, walk round a bit. I'd thought I'd draw for about an hour today, It was already past that when I started on the main study, version 3. And you know what?!? It was the most calming and relaxing experience, and also a lot of fun. I won't share Sarah's photo, partly to shield her identity, but, mainly, so you won't see how different she is from my sketch. I think they could be a family - father, mother and daughter. My third drawing looks like a real person, an expressive human being, with life experiences and laughter. Plus a double chin! Note to self: must pay closer attention to chins next time!

With John's portraits, I started to understand more clearly the effects of different pencil grades. On one, I used a 6H pencil. On the other, it was 5B. The results are striking. The other insight was a passing comment by my partner. "Learn to use the flat of the pencil", she said. And what a difference it makes. I am liberated!

Oh, Val, what can I say!?! I wasn't quite 'on it', after celebrating my birthday a couple of days before! Getting old! I did look at the photograph for 5 minutes but in a distracted manner. I struggled to focus and only realised I'd used the wrong pencil (B) at the end. I'm exploring starting with a high H pencil, before filling in with a darker B pencil. Even so, on Val (v1), there is something about the eyes I like. It was meant to be a starter to establish proportions. On to Val (v2). This is much better. It is recognisably Val, which is progress, indeed, for me. I used H and B pencils. In reality, her face is a little longer than drawn here. And the nose is not so good. It is not really there. But I am learning. And again, the time flows evenly, calmly, while I'm drawing. I am seeing. It feels mindful. I hesitated a bit to share my worse drawings, but why? You have to show the bad stuff too. And that too is strangely liberating. Not being bound by your mistakes (or successes)! As for Val (v3), less said, the better! A ten minute sketch, when I should have stopped, before I drew Dominic Cummings!

Version 1 of David is the closest to how he actually looks. I think it is a 3-D face. I've caught quite a stern look. For the first time, I used a laptop, so was able to pin David to zoom and draw live rather than from a photograph. Hats off to him! It is not easey sitting there for two hours. Noses are getting a bit better. Ears are hard. After looking for several minutes, I started with a HB pecil, using the flat of the tip for much of the face, not the point. This first version was meant to be a tester. It is, but I spent about 45 minutes on it. The second, 5 minute sketch was really just a shake up; a way of freeing up the observations and strokes without worrying about getting it right. I've done a few of these odd sketches and they sometimes pick up on something you can miss. In version 1, drawn on A4 paper, the head was a little squashed. What if I used a double page (A3)? I was surprised at myself for even thinking it! The result is a David, aged twenty years, perhaps. The proportions work, so the scaling up went well. All by eye. As you work on a sketch, often I can't see how it will turn into a recognisable face. Keep going, I tell myself. Then, maybe with the eyes, a face appears. I tell myself I can draw a face. Now, the challenge is to learn and do it better, if I can.

The next day, I took a phone call from my friend and art tutor, Gordon. Less is more, he told me. And zigzag lines are good IN THE RIGHT PLACE but not everywhere. The 5-minute sketch of David revealed to me that my default mark is the zigzag. Shadows on a photograph needn't be reproduced exactly on a sketch. It is an interpretation, not a copy. And sketches, drawings, studies... Sketches are completed quickly. They help referencing the shapes of the face or landscape together. Drawings and studies are made carefully. They take time. They show in detail what is there. So, as I went about my daily washing up, suddenly I had to return to the drawings and adjust them, lighten them. I'm glad I did. And so is Gordon!

It is a small step from drawing friends' portraits to your own. I took several photographs at different angles. At this session, I had been having fun working on a separate project. With 30 minutes to go, I decided to do a quick sketch of me. It had been a couple of weeks since I'd last picked up a pencil and it felt good to be at it again. It was rushed. I didn't take enough time to study the fac. And it doesn't look like me! If does look like someone...someone quite angry, it seems. Perhaps, it is me? The page says open on the page during the week and we look at one another, getting acquainted.

My sister recently asked me about painting her portrait. Well, I could try, but I can't do 'noses', so we left it there. But what if I could? Something else for me to work on, going forward...