Captain Max
 

I just had to post this because it was so much fun! This was a two hour drawing done with my Wednesday night group. The model was an elderly Slavic gentleman who was hard of hearing and difficult to understand because of his thick accent. He kept commenting that he liked how I captured his sexy lips. He also told me to show it with the title of Captain Max, so here it is. This was my first attempt with the caput mortum pencil and the velvet gray strathmore paper. Please feel free to critique. I think I could have punched the darks out a little more and the top of the head may not be correct, but I had a good time drawing him!

Vianna Szabo

Vianna,
Other than the skull being too shallow (as you mentioned) this is a wonderful drawing!!!! What fun it is to draw from life . . .

Thanks, Pat. I definately prefer working from life than from photos.

Vianna

So do I Vianna, that's a very nice head! Keep on working from life, you're doing a good job.

Vianna,

Beautiful lighting and sensitive form.

There is a Sargent head that could use a few more mm. on the noggin.

Lovely drawing.

Vianna,

Nice drawing and I agree with your self assessment. Go ahead and expand the value range a bit, add a little more height to the head and you will have created a very credible drawing.

PS - I don't know what sexy lips are, but I question whether or not he has them. Eyes of the beholder!

Hey Sharon, if Sargent can screw up so can I. It's ironic that I just finished teaching a portrait class where I was always correcting for the cranial mass verses the facial mass. Oh well, do as I say not as I do.

Richard, as far as the sexy lips go, those were his words not mine. Thanks for the critique. I think I will work on it a bit more. Perhaps really punch in a few whites along the rim of the profile and deepen some darks. Thanks, Vianna

Hi Vianna,

Very sensitively handled value transitions! I look forward to seeing your next one!

PS Try to nag Diane into posting:)

Hi Chris,

Thank you for the compliment. I have been nagging Diane quite a lot lately. Matter of fact I threatend that I was going to write you if I heard she was taking on any more commitments that cut into her time for art. We are planning on pooling our kids together this summer and painting from a model out doors. I'll have her post her work from those sessions. Wish me luck!

Vianna

Vianna,
If one has fun executing a particular work, it is always evident in the work...it certainly is in this drawing. Very well handled values and very credible expression. I can almost hear his accent. I wonder about the placement of the ear, though...perhaps a bit too low? Unless he really has it that way ( I personally have very low ears myself), then forget my comment. Very nice drawing.
Carlos

Thank you for the kind words, Carlos. I think the element of fun and excitement occur when I paint from life. Working from photographs lacks that immediate response. In defense of photos, however, they do sit still.

Vianna