First posting : child portrait
 

Hi,

I just joined, so it's my first posting. My English has often a strong French accent, so be indulgent. Mainly watercolour painter, I draw graphite pencils portraits from time to time. With the medias, I don't focus on these graphite portraits, as it's very difficult with journalists to succed to transmit two messages : animal painter and children graphite portraitist.

On a second hand, it's very difficult to have correct prints of a graphite portrait and medias thinks it's less beautiful in their pages.

Nevertheless the word to mouth works and I create enough to improve from a year to the next my technique . That is a "big" word as I 'm self taught and a rather young artist with just 8 years of practicing. I paint from photos that I have taken.

First , I want to avoid to my "subjects" the stress of posing that I have known when I was a kid.
Second, I know that after a while, they will become more natural with me and perhap's have fun playing to be the top-model of the day.

Last but not least, I think that creating the photo is a very important part of the artistic process. With years of experience, I developped a special skill in photo portraits, perhap's even a special touch playing with the light ;)

Drawing a portrait, I try to be as close as possible of my original photo, but I don't want to be photo-like. loll that seems a paradox but it's not. Being photo-like would be to show the grain of the skin, more or less blurred. I chose to always show the strokes of my pencils, I never blur them nor erase. It's supposed to be an art work not a perfect copy of a photo.

This portrait underneath is not my favourite, but explain my credo.

"a good drawing is better than 10.000 words".
Hum! I should have erased the word "good" :oops:

Lovely
 

I liked her smile very much. You used a lighting different from the usual ones, did you use a reflector?

Hi Claudemir,

Good question! I love to take photos against the light as you noticed :)

Here you can see the direct light of the sun on her shoulder on the right. I asked one of her brothers to hold a white sheet on the other side to bring a softer light in the shadow.

When you have the chance to have someone able and willing to give you a hand during the photo-reporting, it helps a lot. For a dog or a kid, you can ask your assistant to create a white reflection in the eye. It will enhance a lot the photo and the portrait.

Most of the time, I prefer that the "subject" look at someone or something but me. One of her brother looked at me if you saw that portrait (my favourite) and he was more or less defying me.

Hi Cyrille,

This is a delightful portrait! I love the impression of the high-key flooding of light, coupled with the crisp definition, and lively expression. It all goes together so well. Her family must be very pleased with your portraits. The execution is precise, direct, and masterful. Nothing is over labored or corrected. That's an enviable skill to have! Even in gray scale, there is a sense of color expressed.

Garth

I have browse the forum and read your critiques, Garth. So I know the weight of each one of your words. Thanks.
I read also that you have real groupies :) lol

I share your feeling.. a graphite portrait using all the scale of H and B is full of colour.

Dear Cyrille,

Thank you for sharing this charming drawing! It's obvious that you have a such a love and feel for the media. I love that lost edge along the outside of her right arm!

Very nice, Cyrille. I love the way you have handled the different textures of the hair, the skin and the fabric. Beautiful. :)

Wonderful!
 

Cyrille,

I realize this is a bit late, however, I will add my comments anyway. I appreciate this drawing for its linework, craftsmanship, detail and style. Your lines are delicate, expressive and precise. I am glad you have posted here. This is drawn in the traditions I appreciate. The use of linework in your facial shading is difficult to execute, and you have succeeded. I truly enjoy this drawing.

Glad you are here.

Lon