Sunday, August 30, 2009

Day One of My Challenge - getting started


Great start!! Today I finished a portrait I started a couple months ago and have been procrastinating the completion...it is a family portrait of my nephew, wife, and son. I am counting it as 3 portraits. As usual, it has turned out to be a challenge in itself. I seem to take on monumental tasks, get frustrated, and many times not finish! (Like my writing attempts at novels and screenplays)

This particular portrait is my first attempt at doing 3 subjects in the same work. Done in a relatively new technique for me "trois crayons" (3 colors) black and white charcoal, and sanguine conte'. I did the original photography myself in my studio with natural light coming from the only window, which thankfully is on the North side of my house. It is a composite of 2 poses, basically I copied and pasted a better facial expression of little Eugene. The size is 18"x23" done on a grayish beige Canson Pastel Paper. It is also the largest portrait drawing I've ever done.

I have to say I am proud of myself for finally getting into the studio and finishing this!! :) Now onto the next assignment...not sure yet which one it shall be, I have several concepts in mind.

Days to go: 364
Portraits to do: 347

Saturday, August 29, 2009

My Challenge to Myself

Well...I got the greatest idea from seeing the new movie "Julia and Julie". If you don't know the movie, it's about a woman who starts a blog, challenging herself to cook through Julia Child's French Cookbook in 365 days. Great movie and Meryl Streep deserves another Oscar for her role as Julia Child.

It got me to thinking...Earlier this year one of my artists friends (Linda Tracey Brandon) gave a talk to members of my art group Portrait Artists of Arizona on starting a portrait business. She said to really be accomplished at portraiture you need to have done at least 500 portraits!!! Wow! I remember saying to myself..."I've made barely a dent in that in my whole entire life!"

I've decided to challenge myself to draw or paint 500 portraits. Actually only 350, because I've estimated (on the very low side, since I'm not sure exactly) I've done between 150-200.

So follow along with me, while I challenge myself to draw or paint 350 portraits in 365 days!!! I might do 1 in a day, or 5 in a day who knows...but I am very excited about this project.

I better get going...huh?

Getting With the Times - - Blogging

Welcome to my Blog!! I may be a little behind the times in finally starting a blog...but, better late than never I always say!! I plan on using this blog as a way to verbalize my thoughts on Fine Art, Portraiture and Graphic Design all of which I have been doing for the past 30 or so years...gosh, can I really say that? Any posts will be responded to relatively quickly. I'm pretty much addicted to the web...I have Facebook and Linkedin profiles too and two websites...now if I would just apply some of this energy to my studio!!??