Brandon, USCG
 

Brandon came to Cleveland with Kevin in December to share the holidays with my family. He was a pleasure to meet and we took pictures all week. I liked this shot because the lighting was so dramatic. I am going out to WA in two weeks and thought I'd like to give Brandon a portrait.

So, here it is after two days. I started this after finishing a sketch last week to "learn" the features. It is on light gray Canson Tiennes, graphite and white pastel. (Yes, there is definately some runaway white pastel, especially in the mustache - how did that get there??!!)

Please, critique away. I would call this still in the very early stages, still needing build-up in darkest shadows across the face and . . . HAIR! Not a bad looking man bald, though!! A big challenge will be how much to draw of his shoulders/clothing. Suggestions most welcome!! I have no composition experience and feel very lacking.
Much appreciated, as always...

Ref pic and close up (though a bit blurry)

Nicely drawn, though I don't see any difference in overall value between the parts of his face in the light and the parts in the shadow. I was surprised to see how the photograph was lit, given what's in the drawing. Squint at your photo and see how dramatically different the lighted and shaded areas are.

Be bold, go for it and shade in those shadow areas! The drawing will be much stronger for it.

By the way, if you have some time in Seattle on your way to Port Angeles, WA, let me know.

[ Ok, I'll be bold!! Yes, I would love to meet with you in Seattle. I will e-mail you re: details.

Thanks, Michele

Deepening the values

Looks much better with darker tones. The eyes look different, nothing wrong with that, it works. He looks very bored in the ref pic, like you're asking him too many questions. Your drawing, especially the cropped closeup, makes him look like he's thinking or regretting something.

Would you consider yourself heavyhanded?, just a feeling I get looking at the close-ups. It also could be the jpeg compression giving it that appearance. Did you also try cleaning the ref pic first? I'm taking my pics mainly with digital, but I also scan regular 35mm photos and adjust color or contrast. The pic has a heavy yellow hue which may be restricting your view of the correct or better values. Just a thought.

Hope you don't mind, but here's a different view in just a few minutes on Photoshop. I have limited experience, but I'm sure anyone good at PS could probably make it look even better, but it's just to give you an idea.

Thank You Jimmie,
Wow, that helps me so much. I have a digital camera and have not had a moment to spend on learning PhotoShop though I know I need too. These pics were taken in a restaurant under very weird lighting. They were not taken for reference for a drawing, but I liked this shot so thought it would be a good exercise. Your adjustments make it easier to see the tonal range.

Yes, I purposefully changed the direction of his eyes, thinking it would make him look more pensive. Me? heavyhanded?!! Guilty as charged! Also guilty of not keeping my pencil sharp. I know I have to work on that.

I do have a confession, Jimmie! When I started the drawing of Brandon I had printed out your drawings of your last portrait (Keri?) as inspiration!!! I would like to train myself to be as meticulous as you are. Looking at your drawings are like looking at a daVinci

Will post progression in a couple of days. Don't see where I will have more time to work on this before the weekend. So frustrating when all I want to do is work on drawing!!

I believe it all has to do with his eyes. In the reference photo he is looking toward the upper right- making him look as if hes examining the texture of the ceiling. In the drawing his eyes are looking forward, giving him a pondering look. I prefer the drawing to the reference.

Matthew

Thank you for the compliment, Matthew! That was my intention in changing the direction of his gaze, to make him look pensive. I finished the drawing late last night/early this morning and have posted it in Unveilings. After reading Jimmie's suggestion yesterday I was inspired and took off the whole side of his face in shadow and started over! I was much more meticulous and using Jimmie's reference photo (improvement) was able to be a bit more subtle with the tonal range, I think. Overall, I am pretty happy with this one!

I also tried to take better photographs. This is not reading as dark as it is in person. Guess I need to attach PhotoShop this weekend and start using it.