Self Portrait Part II

And so the tedious work of underpainting begins! I already started blacking out my hair, but not just with black. I also added greens and reds into it to make it look a little bit more interesting. I also started adding the tones and shadows into my face, using the complimentary colors of purple and yellow. I will continue this process until I begin the stage of actually painting in the skin colors of my face. I really like how this is turning out, and I applaud myself for using gouache, one of the mediums that I don't normally use. 

Self Portrait Project

Since yesterday, I decided to take it upon myself that I wanted to create my self portrait, paint and all. I have been wanting to do this project for quite some time now, since first semester, and now that I have some time on my hands I say, why not?
I prepared the illustration board yesterday, gessoed it and taped the edges, you know the usual. So today, I put down the basic drawing, added some darks and lights to indicate where the shadows and the lights are and all. I'll probably  tweak a few things on my face and hands. However, I think that by tomorrow I will be able to put a wash down and start on some underpainting. Can't wait!

The American Girls

I'm telling you, I am really starting to love this walnut ink! I'm trying to stay away from just outlining the figures or whatever, by creating mass with washes and all that. Again, I'm merely practicing drawing figures and people in general from pictures and photographs from magazines, so that I can draw the life back into it. It has been pretty good exercises so far. And a good sign that I have been seeing a lot lately is that thanks to this blog that I have created, I have been itching to draw every day, and have been trying to keep my word as well.

The Backyardigan

Yup, today I decided to draw my backyard. It still is a beautiful day outside here in New York City, and I am enjoying every minute of it. I also decided to change it up a bit, instead of drawing portraits, today I wanted to do a landscape painting. I also used that walnut ink, and I'm getting the hang of it, too.

Ohh Firefly, Ohh Firefly

Fireflies are a few of the only bugs that I mostly adore. They also have a very symbolic meaning, the beginning of summer. I saw one today and it just absolutely made my day. I'm looking forward to seeing more, but I don't believe in keeping them in jars with holes on the top. Fireflies are bugs and are meant to roam free.
With this thought in mind, I decided to draw a sketch of a girl on a typical beach day. Oh how I would love to go to a beach around here in New York City, but just the sight of one just brings me shudders throughout my whole body. Not to mention public pools, ugh! Maybe when I'm out in Long Island or somewhere MUCH more cleaner, I won't mind jumping into the water.

Say Cheese!!!

For starters, its gloomy out in New York, and to me that means laziness for me. Too bad I have to go work tonight, but hey I have to keep drawing. For that, I kept it simple today. I simply drew from a Walmart ad, and instead of posing for a picture, I felt that this was a more natural pose. I want to keep practicing facial expressions. At first, I used a pencil to sketch out the face, and then I used a china marker to add in the shading and tones.

Going Green!

I know its a bit late for Earth Day and all, but I don't know what drove me to pick up a GREEN Sharpie Marker. It's weird, sometimes I get these urges to try and do stuff out the of ordinary, and express them through my artwork, but I went with it this time. You may never know what results might bring with these risky chances that you take. I highly recommend it!!
At first, of course, I didn't like it, but I pulled myself through with it and started mixing in different mediums. First I used a regular pen, one that you write with, then I started using a GREEN Sharpie Marker, and then I finished it off with colored pencils. Somewhat satisfied with the end result, but we'll see what happens later....