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| My mom as I didn't know her. |
Here it is nearly Father's Day and I'm sketching my mom, the lady who ran my life this last week from the grave. The likeness isn't quite there, but close. From the exercise, I've learned the points and planes and ins and outs of her structure; and that's what sketches are about. I love her hair! It's thick and luscious. I don't recall her looking like this. She went blond way before the gray set in. I do remember that I could recognize the sound of her walk yards away. It always meant things were going to be just fine. I think I'll be doing some more sketching of Mom. It made me feel close to the woman who chose me and gave me everything she could. I had a totally moving morning.
What a lovely woman. Her eyes are wonderful, here.
ReplyDeleteGood eyes, but not hers. I'm going to have to make another sketch (or two). Her friends thought she resembled Norma Shearer, a movie star from the forties(I'm guessing). Jimmy Leslie,in house artist at Windsor Newton, said, in his CD on portraiture, not to worry about likeness, first establish a well formed head which takes a bit of analysis of strategic points.
DeleteI can see the Norma Shearer resemblance in your drawing.
DeleteYes, I agree. Also, I am more and more moving away from portrait of specific person (likeness) to interesting picture, whether or not likeness is preserved.
This is lovely! What medium did you use? I love the almost pointillism look about it,
ReplyDeletexoxo
Charcoal/a bit of black pastel on charcoal paper, which I think is what gives it that pointillism look. Thank you.
DeleteThere is something intimate about doing a portrait, you get to know the person very well, every little distance from eye to brow to nose etc, and even if you already know the person you paint/draw, you discover things you never noticed before. I can totally relate to this being very moving, you did a fantastic job, she is so beautiful and looks so kind, love that little smile and her eyes.
ReplyDeleteVery! When I sculpted myself, I used calipers for measuring and was amazed at the differences between the right side and left side of my head, i.e. between eyes and nose, distance from eye to chin, weird stuff. In drawing too, there's the "rules of thumb" eyes middle of the oval, nose half way between eyes and chin, mouth midway between nose and chin, top of ear on line with top of eyelid, bottom of the ear online with bottom of nose. It's the "mathematical/spacial aspects of the head, the figure that attracts me to portraiture (even though I running short on time) and suggests that it's my cup of tea, the genre I should focus on. Spacial relationships, with regards to the human anatomy moving through three dimensional space, is what I did as a space designer (an inexpensive architect).
DeleteKnowing a person's gestures is important too. I spent a lot of time with my mother so I know her expressions and the way she moved, a commissioned portrait that would not be true. Some time would have to be stipulated with the client to chat and observe, plus an extensive photography session with controlled lighting (good chat time), plus a couple of sittings, (good chat time). It's not an easy genre. Not a knock off like this little get acquainted of my mom. I'm sorry I didn't recognize this ability sooner, but I was busy sculpting three men and bringing in some bacon. LOL.
What a wonderful loving and moving portrait of your mother, Linda!
ReplyDeleteThanks Judy. It was a fun exercise.
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