A friend

[Matt2584]

Hi Folks,

This picture here is a friend of mine.

It can be difficult to draw people over animals but I think this is one of the good human+drawings :).

[AndrewT]

Dear Matt2584,

From a 'Fellow Sufferers' point of view, this picture is brilliant. From an 'Artists' point of view....Maybe, the features, are a little- can I say 'Heavy'. The Proportions are, about right, the hair is Very well done, however she does look a bit Gaunt, Stark even. I can't quite, put my Finger on it, but 'Something' isn't Right somehow.....Sorry to be critical.

I, almost certainly, COULDN'T do better- so maybe I should 'Just Shut Up'...… Which I will.

Well done Matt and, thank you, for sharing.

AndrewT

[Matt2584 in reply to AndrewT]

Thanks Andrew and I know you were being critical but I can agree with you.

A bit gaunt is what I was thinking as well :).

The proportions are not perfect. If you were to see the original photo you would see that the shape of the mouth isn’t quite correct.

But as I say, it is a lot harder to draw people than it is animals.

But thank you anyhow :).

You say “From an artists point of view”... are you an artist as well?

[AndrewT in reply to Matt2584]

Dear Matt2584,

Am I an Artist, you ask? I think that you had better ask- my Tutor- Maggie that! Seriously though, I do attend an ART Group- on a Monday morning. It's fairly Free Form but books, other Artwork and Maggie's knowledge (along with 'everyone else's too) is available. So yes, in theory anyway 🥴, I Should know something!

As regards 'Proportions/ Size/ Perspective' I sometimes have Fun, with those..... I did one picture- a sketch, that I had coloured in really- that had Everything Full On, like you were standing by/ over it, irrespective of were you were looking (The House, Bridge, Road, and River, were Funny).

If ever you are Not Sure, where 'Things' belong, just 'pencil in' the Vanishing Points.... All Will become obvious, within a short time. I remember, some years ago now, Tutoring/ Helping, one of my, Nephew & Niece's with 'Perspective'. When I told 'Bernie' (not his actual name) that, by the scale of his picture, the man would be over Thirty Feet tall. He wasn't offended either, probably due to the Jovial Way I told him, and was soon laughing- at his own mistake.

Finally an 'Art Joke'.... yes they Do exist. Van Gogh's mates invite him out for a 'Drink'. "Sorry I can't come tonight" replies Vincent "I've got One 'Ear'"......🙄🙈🤢🙁.

Please DO 'Keep Up', your Artwork Matt2584, and DON'T let ME 'put you off'.

Warmest wishes

AndrewT

[Tudee in reply to AndrewT]

Well Andrew, if you are critiquing Matts portrait why not show us one of yours, only fair if you are setting standards don’t you think.

[Matt2584 in reply to AndrewT]

I lost a lot of confidence and motivation in the past but Headway helped me get that back.

In 2008 I started to draw once again. By 2010 I met some friends who are interested in art. They saw my work and liked my drawings and even introduced me to one of their friends (who is an artist too) and she tutored me on my art and made it a whole lot better.

So what you see now is partly her help :).

This lady that tutored me, she sees me as an amateur artist and I can kind of see why as well but I have had a lot of friends tell me that they see my art on a professional level.

You will have to post pictures of your art, if you want to that is.

Do you also draw using graphite pencils or do you paint as well?

[AndrewT in reply to Matt2584]

Dear Matt2584,

I, absolutely Promise, to 'Post' some, of my Art soon- not yet though, too many Hospital Appointments etc. I do 'All Sorts'/ Everything.... draw, paint, crayons, pastels- I have some lovely Oil Pastels, I'm experimenting with. I 'Discovered' them, in an Art Box, that I bought- on a Market Stall- some months ago.... quite a Find that Box, I can assure you.

I also like to just 'Freeform', often just putting Lines On Paper..... and seeing what I get. I did one, a couple of years back, that became an Old Stockade- against a crumbling brick wall. another Sea Creatures, another a Speed Boat.

I don't often 'Do' Faces, I prefer to do, Caricatures- they are more fun- picking out a 'Long Nose', 'Narrow Cheekbones', ' Untidy Hair' and so on. (Depending on 'How Well', you know the person, perhaps 'Huge' Pimples and Spots, or Birthmarks.) I can Caricature Myself.... Big Nose, Fat Stomach (Full length picture) maybe 'Wild' hair- yes perhaps I'll do that, no one to Offend then....Unless I get the 'A.se Hole', with myself!

I might try a 'Biro' pictures, using ALL my Colours- I have a Multi- coloured 'Roll- a- Ball' pen. ( I think ten, or twelve).

Anyway, leave it 'with me', I should be back- at my Art group- before long....I Hope!

AndrewT

[Matt2584 in reply to AndrewT]

Quite a jack of all trades when it comes to art then are you :).

Well I mostly stick to using pencils, much cleaner.

I use graphite pencils most of the time but sometimes colour pencils too but not so much as they can be harder to use.

On occasions I do like using watercolour pencils too.

I did use other mediums too when I was in college like oil pastels and pastel, clay and charcoal.

I like using air drying clay, I use this when crafting.

I really like charcoal but it can be very messy.

I like caricatures, I have done some of my own caricatures but they never really turn out the way I picture them in my head.

I always think that if I drew a caricature of a friend that it will offend them. Maybe I’ll give them a big nose or make them look fat. But the whole point of caricatures is that they have exaggerated features as well as looking very similar to the subject.

[AndrewT in reply to Matt2584]

Dear Matt2584,

I suppose that you are right, I am a 'Jack Of All Trades', when it come to Art. I'll admit, that I Do like, to Experiment. Have you tried putting Salt, onto Pictures? Some interesting effects Are achieved. I use Sea Salt Crystals, Ground- and Whole- Rock Salt, along with, Standard Table Salt.....To produce some, Very Interesting, effects. I use Felt Tips, Coloured Ink Pens, Highlighter Pens and Watercolour Pencils a fair bit too. There are some 'Lovely' effects possible, using Watercolour Pencils.

Mixing, approximately 50:50 PVA glue and water together, allows you to paint over plastics. In fact Any Glue- water soluble that is- and paint can give great effects- have you tried adding Detergent? I keep a Hair Drier handy, if I'm Doing 'Wet Work'. (a reasonable 'Drier' can usually be bought, quite cheaply, from a Charity shop.)

I have used Stencils to, mainly to make 'Letters', for clay work- that I haven't Done for years! I made, a few, Outside Plaques- I rolled out the clay, 'Stretched' it using a Rubber Kidney. I then applied, the Cut out Stencil shapes, that I had prepared earlier. I then covered, the whole 'Thing' in White Slip and let it air dry (but not completely). When Mostly Dry, the Stencils, can be removed reviling the Lettering, in relief. Having been 'Tided Up' it is then Biscuit Fired. Thereafter it is Glazed, and finally, Fired- at 16-1800 Celsius.

So yes, I guess, that I Have tried Many Media.... I could NEVER 'Get On' with Wood Turning though!

Have you, at least, tried Working in any other Media yourself Matt? It can be, quite good, fun.....and Messy! I Will 'Post', that picture, soon. Take care

AndrewT

[Zest]

Hi Matt2584

That is a lovely portrait of your friend.

Zest

[Matt2584 in reply to Zest]

Thank you Zest :).

[Hidden]

Hey Matt this is a fantastic drawing as it is very life like my self portrait would be more like this; 🎃

[Kai-- in reply to Hidden]

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😂 😁

[Ditto: 🧟 ]

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Well done, Matt2584! 👏

Beauty 🌺 shines ✨ through. 😌 👍👍’.

.

[Matt2584 in reply to Kai--]

Thanks Kai :).

[Kai-- in reply to Matt2584]

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🙏 😌 . . . You might enjoy art 🖼 🎨🖌 ( boredpanda.com/talented-art... ) of fellow artist 👨‍🎨 Terry Crews ( en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Terry... ), Matt2584. ___👤_✍️ giphy.com/gifs/7nHlWiLzdIzQ... , giphy.com/gifs/2t209ixnvGkf... ,

.

[Matt2584 in reply to Kai--]

Thanks for this Kai :).

I didn’t really know of Terry Crew’s before but looking at those links, he is very talented.

[Matt2584 in reply to Hidden]

Thank you Jerry :).

[Activity2004 Administrator]

Hi Matt2584 ,

You did a fantastic job with your picture of your friend.😀👍 Thank you for sharing it with us!😀

[Matt2584 in reply to Activity2004]

Thanks Leah :).

[zube-UK]

How beautiful, I could almost touch that hair, you are very talented Matt. 🙂

[Matt2584 in reply to zube-UK]

Thank you Zube :).

[Hidden]

That's a beautiful drawing. I love how you've made your friend look "other worldly" like someone from the past. You're very talented.

[Matt2584 in reply to Hidden]

Thank you very much Sammi :).

[Tudee]

A lovely portrait Matt, the hair is so life like, very hard to capture. Dee

[Matt2584 in reply to Tudee]

Thank you Dee :).

The hair did take a while to do as well.

[Callyv]

Fabulous! I’ve only just begun trying to draw/paint people and would love to have your skills

[Matt2584 in reply to Callyv]

Aw, thank you Cally :).

[Nugger]

Think her hair is the best, so life like, practice makes perfect!

[Matt2584 in reply to Nugger]

I agree, I like the hair the best.

It took some time to do but it payed off :).

Thank you :).

[whatgoingon]

Very nice.

[Matt2584 in reply to whatgoingon]

Thank you :).