These are the 8 portrait drawings I did for an event in St. David’s a few days ago. BBC1’s ‘The One Show’ filmed over two days and will eventually edit all that footage into a couple of 4 minute items. I worked with Faber Castell Pitt drawing pens, sizes S, F, M and B into my A5 Steampunk sketchbook. I was based inside the Goat Street Gallery while other artists (11 of us in all) worked outside in the glorious garden below, with the backdrop of the cathedral.
Between us we managed to do a hundred and twenty six paintings and drawings of the people who queued around the block. It was a fascinating but intense experience. None of the people I drew had posed before and it’s difficult to get a decent drawing and credible likeness the first time you draw someone, well it is for me anyway. I found that I put a lot of pressure on myself to do a good quality sketch that the model would like, pressure that isn’t there when I work with professional models. And it was very public, with people milling around and looking over my shoulder as well as a film crew. But it was also excellent practice and really pushed me forward. I feel far more confident about tackling portraits now. I’ll make sure to get the word out when The One Show decides to broadcast the two short films.
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The wonder of talent – you find it hard on first meeting, I find it quite impossible, period. I can only imagine understanding form in such detail. I see the same thing you do, you’d think, yet clearly your version makes mine look rather crude. It’s fascinating.
Thank you so much. It’s practice, drawing every day, no matter if it’s just a few seconds. In fact, those quick ones are possibly more useful because they train you to home in on what’s essential. ☺
That was an excellent plan to get you past some blocks in your portrait drawing. Nothing like doing it in public (repeatedly!) to get those nerves to just chill.
Oh it was a brilliant experience, invaluable 🙂
Very good. 🙂
Thank you
Those are really good!
Thank you 🙂
You are very welcome. I wish I could draw or paint, but it’s not my strong suit. As such, I guess I’ll stick to painting with words in my short stories.