I am so addicted to drawing people at the moment. I just cannot stop. These were all drawn on a block of post it notes, which I obsessively finished within a week. There are a hundred or more mini portraits all drawn from the TV. The challenge, I find, is not just a different subject matter, but the amount of time you have to draw. My trademark drawings are highly finished highly laboured pieces, so trying to draw something - someone - in a minute or two is part of the challenge but also part of the excitement.
Old politicians:
BBC news readers:
People from daytime TV:
and a couple of national treasures:
I still haven't plucked up the courage to draw real live people in real life. I mean, that would mean going outdoors, being in the company of people and all sorts of things that are alien to me. But that's the next step. So for now I'll keep drawing folk off of the TV.
Please don't mock me. These people are my only friends.
BBC news readers:
People from daytime TV:
and a couple of national treasures:
I still haven't plucked up the courage to draw real live people in real life. I mean, that would mean going outdoors, being in the company of people and all sorts of things that are alien to me. But that's the next step. So for now I'll keep drawing folk off of the TV. 
26 comments:
you've got some good likenesses!
You have lovely friends.
Brilliant! I can't believe how speedily you did them - well done! A whole block of post-it notes. That must look so cool. I like these faces. Is that Alan Bennett? Great work.
Cool characters!
andrea these are awesome....i have yet to find the courage to draw people from tv/magazines :)
i get their outline and have and empty head...awesome work!
What FUN and a fabulous exercise!
Andrea--
I think this is a great idea and I am going to try it. The drawing of faces and figures is what most of my students hate. I am going to pass on this idea.
These are really wonderful--I love the idea of using Post-its!
I tried to draw an actor in a film once (and didn't get far!), so I appreciate how difficult it is to do this, how quickly you have to observe and draw!
Amazing!! You must have a fantastic visual memory! You have terrific looking friends!
Your portraits are fantastic - and you manage to keep your personnal style, I'm awed (it seems so easy when I look at your clear lines, but I know it's not!)
Loved your drawing of the wine cork, it's amazingly realistic!
Andrea! You have all of US as your friends!! I come here every day to see what you have done. You have a wonderful talent!!
Great drawings!!
I love these post-it portraits. They have character.
I do this too, not on post-it notes, but on paper. It is very difficult, but such good practice. I love going out into public and trying out my "sketching" skills on the general public. Sometimes I give them away; but mostly I try to be very subversive and covert.
I like the idea of drawing people, but I know what you mean about drawing people in your life :-) keep showing us..
BTW - I'm so sorry to say I still did not receive the molezines :-(
I posted the bracelet on 1 Feb, they said if would take 10 days .. di you get it yet?
Hugs
Thanks, guys.
This was a fun project. I am now completley obsessed with drawing people and faces. I don't know where it came from but I like it.
I now find myself looking at everybody with different eyes. All day long, I'm thinking 'hmmmm, I'd like to draw your face'. I shall pluck up the courage to do it outdoors soon!
Pippa, yes, it is suppposed to be Alan Bennet. I'm quite proud of that one.
Terry, thank you! I'm so thrilled that you'll pass on this idea. I have plans to develop the idea, too. So keep tuned.
Thanks everybody.
These are wonderful - a great way to start. But they are also finished pieces and I for one would be delighted to keep portraits this loose and fast. I look forward to seeing where you take this....
Reminds me of an exercise Danny Gregory gave to us, his students:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/72694471@N00/4350565523/
Good for you! This is a great idea, and I think your portraits are terrific. Don't be afraid to do this in public. Just sit with your back to the wall in a coffee shop and go to it. No one will know what you're doing! nancy
Great job! Wonderful, quick little sketches and they have so much life and character in them. A problem that lots of portraits have is they look stiff and flat. These are wonderful studies. Good for you! Can't wait to see more!
You are great at this! A natural! I do what you said in your comment, too - I will walk by someone, see the lips, and draw them in my mind. I am totally taken with human faces. I have to force myself to draw the bodies.
Now, about drawing in public..Do it! Go to a place where you can catch them at an angle, so you have a 3/4 view. They won't be looking towards you, but you will be at the best angle to get an interesting drawing. Maybe target someone totally engaged in conversation. (The secret is that most people assume that whatever you are doing has nothing to do with them, and they couldn't care less about you anyway.) Warning: once you start, you won't stop. It's addictive..(and very antisocial) :)
No, I TOTALLY understand. It's like a fever that sets on you, and all you can do is turn into a people-drawing machine.
Great work, by the way.
I love the Post It Note People. Go ahead and draw people. I am drawing Heads too! Not from Magazines though and noone to be recognized. I am drawing Non-realistic faces and bodies right now. I had to get something to energize me. So glad you are doing faces-- Go ahead -- Go outside and draw faces. I have done so. No one cares.
What is funny the ones that catch are the Toddlers. One little cute boy - Just a Baby. He word Pencil, He could say Pen shuil. He just stared at my box of pencils and pointed at my marks on paper.
Wonderful time! So, draw in public.
Oh, If you want encouragement - to draw= to do faces check out Suzi Blu's blog and free videos. She is the most is stating -Do your Art- Practice Practice Practice! If you do not draw the Circle of the Face and give it eyes and find the hairline-- It is you must practice Your craft. So, using the 3 eye method draw your eyes and Ball nose and M lips and put a Circle a around them -- The shorter the face the younger it appears- The longer the face and nose - the older it becomes. Enjoy!
I would love to know: 1. How big or small are these post-its (great idea!). 2. What is your process--I notice a dark line around the head and all the heads have interesting shapes and angles. What do you get down first? The shape of the head, the features? 3. Do you pause the program or work as people move?
If you can do these, you can draw people out and about too. People will rarely notice and if they do, I guarantee they will say nice things!
andrea,
you are a good artist...
love the pictures and style of execution..........
"I mean, that would mean going outdoors, being in the company of people and all sorts of things that are alien to me."
Amen, sister.
Love,
your antisocial friend across the Atlantic
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