Marina, coming from a conte/sanguine master, your praise means a lot! Thank you.
Alex, I'm so glad you said this. Thank you. I really wanted to - as far as possible - de-emphasize the unusual brass coil and focus on her inherent beauty and personality. She's just an ordinary little girl, beautiful, normal. Beyond that, I just wanted to allow the viewer to project whatever they wish onto the unusual aspect of the subject, with as little commentary from me as possible.

Whispered beauty
 

This drawing whispers beauty to me. Very deftly handled. Now I am eager to try the Rives BFK paper with conte. Thank you for sharing your process and your travels. What a great experience you had.

Thank you Patty for finding the words I needed.

David,
I have looked at your drawing several times and found my self listening to the whispering from the sensitive, delicate nuances in the face, and every time wondered about the punch of them.

Beautiful :)

I love seeing your drawings, David. They are always so sensitive and your technique is flawless. I'm also eager to try the Rives paper, next supply order will include it. I also want to thank you for sharing your tips on technique.

This must have been an inspiring trip for you, as it would anyone. Seeing it through the eyes of an artist, (and through your interpretation of it) is a real treat for me.

Jean

Tom, as always, thank you for your feedback!

Patricia, I'm sure you will enjoy the Rives paper. Thanks.
Allan, I have spent the last few hours musing on what you wrote. I may be completely misreading what you intended, but let me try: I took what you wrote as a critique - a very insightful, valuable and welcome critique. As I see it, my strengths are all about capturing subtlety, the "delicate nuances" as you put it, but I wonder if I am missing or neglecting something that is at least as important, the immediacy that I see in work I admire, the "punch" as it were. I think this drawing has some nice aspects to it, but I feel - as I do with most of my work - that it lacks something, that maybe it's too refined, too polished. And I am guessing that the real problem is that I am - once again - copying a photograph. I think if I were drawing this girl from life it would be an entirely different experience - and result. So, I thank you from my inmost heart for your penetrating and insightful response to my work. Even if this is nothing close to what you meant! :) Thank you!

Jean, thank you so much. This trip I took certainly was an adventure. I have to say that my favorite place was Cambodia. I would love to spend three or four months there, going out every day doing plein-air watercolors, or just drawing. The landscape is incredible, and though it is usually oppressively hot and muggy, the sky is almost always crystal clear all the way to the horizon. Unbelievable skies. And all the ancient temples - and the people....just an amazing place.

David,
I had no intention to give a critique, I am just a foreigner that pick the wrong words.
I guess that I should have written that I am stunned in stead of wondering of the punch of the "delicate nuances".

Let me explain: I am impressed by the impact, "punch" of the content / expression of the subtle nuances in the face. You have done so little, with such a great effect.

One of the things that I admire is when painters express them self with economy, meaning expressing things with ( apparently ) ease. This happens often if a painting / drawing is made in a rush, things are not re don very much but painted by instinct.

A drawing can be done in any manner and I think that you have succeeded doing what you set up for.

This is incredibly sensitive. I am very impressed. Absolutely stunning. I agree with all that has been said here by others.

I got you. Allan, I always learn so much from you - even when I misread what you write! And you are not a "foreigner" - we're all one. Thank you.

Linda, thank you so much for your kind response.

David

I couldn't resist sharing this one. When I met this little girl she was sitting outside her village classroom holding this pair of funny glasses. She happily obliged me.