Third time's a charm

Claudemir Bonfim · 03-22-2006, 07:17 PM

What sort of pencil and paper did you use?

Patricia Joyce · 03-23-2006, 10:45 AM

I just returned from the post office. Does anyone else get the feeling of lettin go of a "child" when they send their work out to the client? I have a sort of ritual before sending, saying a little prayer as it goes on it way! My family accuses me of being too emotional but for portraiture I think it has great value...

Thank you for your great compliments Alexandra and Terri, they mean allot to me. I haven't figured out how to post a small pic here where you can click to a larger view.

To answer your questions, Claudemir, my favorite graphite pencils are Staedler Mars which I have to order from Dick Blick because can't get them in Cleveland. The paper is a light gray Mi-Teintes, on the smooth side. My approach is a snails pace but I put in very light washes of graphite, slowly building with softer pencils, going no softer than a 6B (advice from Juan Martinez). And I learned from Jimmie Arroya that is softens and make a portrait more cohesive to do another light wash with the harder lead at the end. Currently it takes me over 30 hours to complete a drawing.

Enzie Shahmiri · 03-23-2006, 05:08 PM

Hi Pat,

I just saw this and wanted to chime in as well. Very nice! I like the soft feel and their expressions as well. The client is very lucky!

Patricia Joyce · 03-23-2006, 05:50 PM

Thank you, Enzie. I tweaked it a bit this morning and took a better ref photo, attached. Now it is on it's way!

Heidi Maiers · 03-23-2006, 06:54 PM

VERY nice Pat!
Funny, they look like they could be your own kids (sort of resemble your little thumbnail image). I'm sure their mother is thrilled with it! Who wouldn't be?

Molly Sherrick Phifer · 03-23-2006, 08:29 PM

Stunning Patty! I can't get over how deftly you handle these challenges. I'm really envious.

Patricia Joyce · 03-24-2006, 10:47 AM

Thank you Heidi and Molly,
I always get so nervous when I send the commissions out to the client (this one lives in Ct). I don't know about you but by the time I am finished with a piece I question every little nuance and have no clue what response I will be getting. So the encouraging remarks here in unveilings always help me worry less!!! Am I the only artist who struggles with this? Will it get better the more commissions I do?

I just received an email from my last commission and she asked if she could post the image of her daughter on a parents email list -
Y E S, O F C O U R S E !