April 2009 - AgAiN

This portrait is but a moment in time that is warmed by the life of my daughter Denna. Her gifts of love and joy are given ecstatically. Though I gave life to her one summer day, she has given me back many fold ever since. I have come to appreciate a life more vibrant than I ever could have imagined.
This pencil portrait was done all in pencils ranging from 4h hardness through 2h, hb, 2b, 4b, and 6b. The picture was taken from a 3×5 photograph, enlarged manually and completed on an 11×14 bristol board. The entire picture was first layed out with the 4h lead and then subsequent layers were added in lesser amounts taking shadows and light areas more into account. I took about 15 hours to do.

This drawing was created January-June 2008.

Deep in the heart of a forest two friends that have been together for a very long time and through many things share a drink of life, while the elders and many friends scattered throughout the forest look on.

Walking through woods is one of my favorite things to do. When I am quiet and peaceful I feel I am a witness to many events that do occur while we run around with our busy lives, unaware of other lives and worlds. Groups of stones or trees that seem to share a space give a view of something more that would be otherwise overlooked if one were in a hurry.

In this picture I spent a lot of time visiting this place and feeling many wonderful things as I move forward with it. The pencils sort of walk with me and let me know when something is happening. Time passes and a new place is born. Ann whenever I return it feels like I am home again.

I used pencils for this picture. 6h,4h,2h,hb,2b,4b,6b. I first learned this technique in a commercial arts course in Florida as an approach to making portraits. Applying it to my drawings brought a reality to my drawings coming from my consciousness. It is such a thrill to see something come alive.

AgAiN

Denna Portrait

Two friends