Pastel drawing

William Whitaker · 12-01-2005, 01:08 AM

After a recess of more than two decades, I

William Whitaker · 12-01-2005, 01:09 AM

My subject has a rather interesting asymmetrical face that is both charming and challenging. I use a fairly smooth paper - only a subtle texture. I cannot work very small in this medium. This work measures 30x36

Linda Brandon · 12-01-2005, 10:49 AM

This is a gorgeous drawing, Bill! The closeup especially is a treatise on beautiful drawing technique. The subtle variations in line and your decisions regarding level of finish are things I'll study carefully.

Garth Herrick · 12-01-2005, 11:42 AM

Dear Bill,

Ditto! I second Linda. This is a gorgeous and elegant drawing that has me captivated. The choice minimal color, and the perfectly chiseled translucent abstractions are truly wondrous. I love it!

Garth

Chris Saper · 12-01-2005, 12:12 PM

BIll,

How marvelous to see this drawing, as elegant in its execution as is your model in her pose. I am so very engaged with the subtleties of your value control.

Could you please add more close ups of the fabric and hands?

Tom Edgerton · 12-02-2005, 11:09 AM

Mr. Whitaker--

Thanks so much for this...it's wonderful. It shows how simple, but transcendent, things can be. I do so much drawing in preparation for painting, and I'm always delighted when someone reminds me how great an activity drawing is for its own sake .

With highest regards--TE

William Whitaker · 12-03-2005, 12:57 PM

Tom,

I too find myself doing a great deal of drawing in preparation for my paintings, more so now than when I was younger. It seems the older I get, the more effort it takes to achieve satisfactory results.

I'm not particularly good at likeness and I've found that doing several drawings of a sitter helps me figure out what the person really looks like.

Chis Saper asked me to post more closeups. Here are two more.

Bill

Alexandra Tyng · 12-03-2005, 04:39 PM

Bill,

This is such a wonderful drawing! Thank you for posting the closeups. It seems simple, I think, because the values work together and the whole never falls apart into pieces. But as I look at it more closely, I start to see the richness and complexity under the surface. Her expression and the suggestion of her personality and soul grabs me at the same time as the variations of texture and strokes.

You say you are "not particularly good at likeness" and that as time goes on you have to work harder to get a satisfactory result. It occurred to me that you must be trying to get deeper into the person you are drawing/painting. Obviously you are not aiming for a fascile, quick, superficial likeness. So I think what you are aiming for is not easily come by and I admire your work because of that, and many other things, too.

Alex

Chris Saper · 12-04-2005, 01:04 AM

There is no better pleasure in art than the drawing part. (I believe that might be a

little poem)

Lacey Lewis · 12-04-2005, 01:19 AM

I echo what the other posts have said; this is a sensitive and elegant drawing. Thank you for sharing this with us!

I have been inspred recently by the drawings on your website to 'go back to it' myself. Possibly because of my youth and my rush to accomplish somehting in paint and build a portfolio, I often neglect the importance of drawing both for its own sake and for preparing to paint.

I'm getting my pastels ready! You are an inspiration.