The attempts of March

Smaller size, about 6x4 inches, from a photo:

Vine charcoal practice on newsprint:

The final drawn from a photo.  This had several versions and a spectacularly failed first attempt over several days.  Still copying what I see and working at getting comfortable with the materials.  9x12 grey toned strathmore paper.  Cine charcoal underdrawing with charcaol pencil darks and nu-pastel hi-lights.  Next time would not outline shadows of hair with dark line and would simplify the shapes.  Although true to the reference, would reduce width of the back and re-compose the image for more head room.

Below is the series of attempts/studies to get to the above.
Planning: 

First failed attempt.  What HAPPENED HERE!?:

Back to planning and studies:

Quick mid week practice from photo:

Practicing some Reily abstraction:

Attempt at Fowkes stlye portrait from a photo  Following the process, trying to simplify, and still feel like I'm just making it up as we go along.  Made some improvements with parts of it, but as a whole, this is confusing, unclear and unbalanced:

The planning and studies done first:

One of our co-workers had started up a weekend figure drawing session on the weekends at the local community college.  The below is a longer pose at the end of a live sessons on 18x14 toned grey paper, blue carb-othello pencil with nu-pastel hi-lights.  Drawing from a live model is WAY harder then from photos.  The journey continues.

Portraits, Caricatures and Master studies

Another Caricature of a co-worker.  Still struggling to be pleased with all the line work.  Usually I like parts for 3 different versions, and never should they all be on the same page, literally.  Another figure drawing attempt, another Kollwitz study, this time in charcoal, and finally some shorter 10 mins drawings from photos on charcoal paper with carb-othello paster pencils.

 

A Christmas Card?

Tried to do an inked and compose christmas card for next year, featuring out cat.  The goal is to compose and finish something to the best of my ability.  Thus far I'm discovering I like my pencil thumbnails the best and things seem to fall apart the more finished I try and make them.  I get too focused on details.  Started off with some gestures of cats using a nib and ink.

Portraits, Figures, Portraits, demos and Master Copies

Tried a few more portraits and figures from photo's, a draw along with a Karl Gnass demo and a master study of a Käthe Kollwitz ink drawing.  Studying Kollwitz was recommended by Minerva at Spring Studio NYC years ago.  Better late then never.  Kollwitz says so much with such subtlety, her work is still beyond my comprehension.  Here is the work.

Co-worker Caricature

Gathered reference photos, tried to find what felt right, then practiced some ink versions before committing to some watercolor paper and inkin' it in with brush and nib.  The "final," is below.  A clear version with no smudge mark was given to said co-worker.

The process: