Catherine, charcoal on paper

Josef Sy · 01-19-2003, 08:51 PM

This is a portrait I did today of my girlfriend. It is charcoal on paper, size is 12 x 18. Comments are welcome.

Jeff Fuchs · 01-19-2003, 09:22 PM

I've become a bit of a bigmouth here, and I'm not qualified to critique your work, but I do think you've done a very nice job.

The reason I'm posting is to ask you to share a bit about your technique. Compressed charcoal? Vine? Charcoal pencil? I'm guessing it's a combination, but could you tell me about the process?

Josef Sy · 01-19-2003, 11:26 PM

Hi Jeff,

Thanks. I have an old tutorial page that I have not linked up with my homepage yet, but here is the link. Hope this will work. drawing tutorial

Mari DeRuntz · 01-20-2003, 12:03 AM

Josef,

This is quite beautiful -- in tone, line and mass. I get a sense of her sense of humor, and of her essence at the moment you drew her. Was this done from life? If so, you might move it to the "life session" category; although I do like to see the drawing category paid attention to as well.

I especially like how you used both mass and line in the treatment of her hair.

You've told a lot with this story.

One of Karin Wells' posts has me thinking more about composition in my own work. You might do the same even for one-day studies. Your subject is a little cramped on the page (if this image is not cropped). It would be nice to have more head room and more space for her gaze to move into.

Josef Sy · 01-20-2003, 08:31 AM

Thanks Mari,

I used a photogragh as a reference. Eventually I will do an oil painting of her and ask her to pose several sittings for me.

That is funny that you mention composition because this is the 2nd drawing I did. The 1st on was a lot bigger and I soon realized that the hair would not fit in so I restarted.

I am used to working on 14" x 17" instead of 12" x 18" but before I used to do all charcoals on 12" x 18". I also did not want to draw too small because it is a bit tricky to do the details. I will sure keep in mind the composition when I do the oil painting. Thanks.

Sharon Knettell · 01-20-2003, 09:14 AM

Joseph,

Lovely, lively, as good as any I have seen. It does not look timid or overworked. I love the movement of the hair.

One tiny thing. The eye on our right needs a little correction. Watch the drawing on the lower lid. The curve is a little off, Watch the drawing of the edge of that eye as it touches the edge of the face, again a tad off. The white on the bottom lid toward the nose is a bit strong and distracting. This is, at least for me, one of the trickiest parts of a 3/4 drawing. Otherwise a fabulous job!

Sincerely,

Josef Sy · 01-20-2003, 09:33 AM

Thanks, Sharon. I saw that too when I was posting it. I did the correction already but I have to take a picture again. I will repost the new one tonight. Thanks again.

Josef Sy · 01-20-2003, 08:10 PM

Retouched eye.

Jean Kelly · 01-20-2003, 09:51 PM

Hi Joseph, I think your correction worked very well. I like this drawing very much. She's very real and spontaneous.

Jean

Lon Haverly · 01-20-2003, 10:38 PM

Nice work, Josef, and I agree that the hair is particularly nice. I also agree that the eyes have a problem. They appear flat. The line on the right side of the eye on the right appears to be weak. The tear duct of the eye on the left appears to be too far forward. However, overall, the drawing works.