Renewed respect for all portrait artists. It's the most difficult subject matter in the world! This is from a project that I've been working on (well, struggling with actually) and it's right out of my comfort zone. I gave up trying to do realistic and went for the old line-drawing-stylized type of thing. I still feel unsure about posting it especially as there are such great portrait artists out there. I feel like a bit of an impostor. This is a subject (portraits, not Freud) that I would really love to get better at. However I choose to draw inanimate objects as opposed to living breathing beings. I wonder what Dr. Freud would have to say about that.Monday, April 30, 2007
Dr. Freud, I presume?
Renewed respect for all portrait artists. It's the most difficult subject matter in the world! This is from a project that I've been working on (well, struggling with actually) and it's right out of my comfort zone. I gave up trying to do realistic and went for the old line-drawing-stylized type of thing. I still feel unsure about posting it especially as there are such great portrait artists out there. I feel like a bit of an impostor. This is a subject (portraits, not Freud) that I would really love to get better at. However I choose to draw inanimate objects as opposed to living breathing beings. I wonder what Dr. Freud would have to say about that.
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18 comments:
It's a fine drawing. Just because there might be some good portrait artists out there doesn't mean you should really feel it's competitive. We are like golfers - on handicaps - and only competing against our previous score - not against others - though Peceli does feel triumphant when he comes home with a trophy - a ball, a mug or dinner voucher!
Also, every picture we make doesn't have to be hung on a wall -lots are just exploratory, trying out ideas.
w.
Way to step out of your comfort zone... I really dig the stylized Freud.
Wouldn't he have had a field day with my art... ;)
He´s wonderful. And very diffferent from your usual style. :) And good nevertheless.
It´s a coincidence that my last blog post is similar. I´m no good at portraits either so I joined the portrait party to practice that.
This portrait is just lovely! You can draw me next...LOL!
I like the style you used to draw Dr. Freud. I have difficulty with portraits too and tend to stay with what is comfortable for periods of time. After all, in the realm of comfortabe things there is an infinite number of possibilities! But there is a constant pull to try the difficult. I think most artist are dissatisfied with themselves if they stay too comfortable. Even if I am never a good at portraits the "discipline" or excersize, I think, will improve my other art and I never know where a breakthrough to a new (to me) creative area will come.
Thanks guys,
I must say I agree with the comments, especially Molly, it is about stepping out of your comfort zone from time to time. I think that your work could become quite stale if you stayed with what you know you can do well. On the other hand I wonder if that just means that you have found your thing - your style?? (Here I go again far too much thinking!) But I agree too that it can only improve your art 'all round'. It's all about growth eh?
Ryan - INDEED!!!
Cheers everyone.
WOW, that is FANTASTIC Andrea. I love it. Now I am motivated to do something new.
This is great! I haven't had much success with portraits so far - I can draw something that looks human, but nothing like the person it is supposed to look like!
Cheers!
Thanks so much Bill, you made my day!
Emma, that's exactly what i worry about. Does it actually look like the person it's meant to be?!
Thank you both.
Wow - you've got those values nailed! A very powerful and enticing image.
Brave lady! I run a mile (very fast!) at the suggestion of portraits.Yes, it would be good practice, but I'm happier in the abstract world.
I think this is really great. The stylized line drawing works. Don't worry about how you compare to other artists. Everyone has their strong points and everyone's are different. If you want to do more people, don't feel that you have to be perfect. If you don't want to do people and you're more comfortable doing stiff lifes, then so be it. And believe me, portrait artists throw away bad studies all the time and start over. I really like this, it's bold and the clean lines. It's a keeper!
I do like this. It is original, interesting and well done. And even though it isn't your usual style and medium, I can still recognize you and your approach in it, which does make it you after all. It is great!
Ronell
Cheers guys,
Youare right of course. I guess all these issues come from comparing ourselves to others. It is never a healthy thing to do. It only keeps you in a place of 'not being good enough'.
This drawing is growing on me and the comments I have recieved have really been appreciated very much. Cheers!
This is wonderful! I agree, portraits are hard (for me, anyway). :)
Going with your strengths builds confidence and this style works well. I like seeing you try new things!
If you want to see some beautiful live figure darwings go here: http://annejarvis.blogspot.com/
I love this portrait. It is something very different than your usual subject/style, very beautiful. Also, I think you've managed to give old Dr. Freud an extra level of "cool": I can almost picture the mouthpiece of a saxophone coming in frame left for him to start his solo :)
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