My Art

I can't just let this one go. I have applied some adjustments in photoshop. My intentions are to discover what I might need to do with the original drawing to get it to a better place. Currently I'm flattening the tones, adjusting the lips and slightly adjusting the jaw.

I had tons of trouble with this project. The main problem I had to overcome was a very small photograph as reference material. I was making most of this drawing up. It was much like playing fill in the blanks.
The original drawing looks much more like Cyndi than this photo reproduction. The camera doesn't see all the subtle detail and tonal range. Even so for all the work I put into this I'm pretty disappointed in the results.
I struggled so much with the mouth, the nose and just simple composition. I have discovered that my drawing skills need plenty of work. Thats all I have to say about this because the more I write the more frustrated I get. On to the next project.

Let me be clear, though I spend much of my professional life directing photography, I'm not a photographer and I'm not trying to be one.
Like a monkey with a camera I will occasionally capture a decent shot.
I personally like the purity of an unplanned on the fly capture that builds a narrative. The light of the sun and simplicity are two of my favorite elements.
My cheap little camera doesn't do me any favors but it's all I have.
I love the creativity and community that FLICKR.com inspires and I enjoy being part of it. Take a look here to see some of my best attempts at creating art through the lens of a camera.

When I’m busy it’s unfortunate but the blog is the first to suffer neglect in my succession of priorities. I am drawing though and that is what’s most important. Currently I’m working on a portrait of my wife a project that has been germinating in my mind for some time.
Portraits are difficult. On the one hand the likeness must be easily discerned or you just have a figural expression. On the other hand if the portrait is such a perfect representation of the subject why not just take a photograph?
A stylistic treatment and a sense of emotion must be present in any portrait. Projecting personality and depth of meaning is how to achieve a truly great portrait. Otherwise you are just showing off your drawing skill a novelty that will quickly erode.
So where am I in this endeavor? I think somewhere in between. Maybe a little closer to the pictorial representation than the expressive but I need the practice to improve my drawing skill. Note that when you draw a portrait of someone who is an important part of your life you experience much emotion, thoughts and remembrances and hopefully those contemplations and emotions wind up on the paper. I hope I hope. For now back to my drawing.