My estimate was low, for what it is worth. Over 500 strokes. Here is a 7 minute $7 pencil sketch. Good, bad or ugly, this is what I do. I call it a "Pencil Sampler." It is a paid demonstration. It illustrates the idea that I am an impressionist, and that the only thing overworked in my studio is me. These are drawn on printer paper with a 4B lead. No erasing.

Just an interesting aside...
 

My son, Kevin, whose portrait is posted here just emailed me from the Pacific Ocean (off the shores of El Salvador and Guatemala) from the Coast Guard Cutter Active with their newsletter. Seems my 22 yr old son has been a busy man as they rescued (some time in the past few weeks - security stuff disallowed me from knowing this earlier) a 40-foot boat adrift with 109 migrants, including a pregnant woman. The small boat had departed Ecuador nine days earlier with dreams of reaching the US. Five days into the voyage the vessel broke down and the food and water supplies were exhausted. The crew deserted the boat leaving the migrants adrift. They had been without food and water for three days when the Active arrived. The migrants were transferred to the Active and provided with food, water, blankets and critical medical attention, were watched over round the clock and delivered safely to another CG cutter.

No sooner had they finished with that rescue that they boarded a fishing vessel loaded with more than five tons of cocaine with a street value of over $98M. Two Go-Fast vessels were aprehended as they were disabled with .50 caliber sniper rifle fire. Kevin's crewmen detained six individuals and transferred the crewmembers and the evidence to another Coast Guard cutter.

Thankfully they are now heading up the Pacific Coast to the waters of the Pacific Northwest, to home in Port Angeles, WA. And in three weeks I will be out there for a visit. I'm sure Kevin will have great tales for me. He pilots's the Active and is an Officer on Deck in charge of 1/3 of the crew. Your Coast Guard hard at work and

A Proud Mama here!!

Mrs. Joyce, your second attempt is a great improvement over the first; much better likeness. Your technique reminds me a bit of Andrew Loomis -is anyone is familiar with work?

Matthew

P.S. - Your son sounds like he lives a pretty exciting life! I can amagine how proud you are!

Matthew, I'm certain that a number of members would find this matter of "seeing a project through" very thought-provoking and would be eager to comment -- but that's all going to get lost in this thread, which ought anyway to be focused on Patty's critique.

I'd very much encourage you to begin a new topic in the Cafe to get this discussion rolling. (If you'd like some assistance doing this, let me know.) We are even now looking into adjusting the Cafe a little to make it easier to find and participate in discussions of "artist's life" matters just like this. Just part of our Famous Ongoing Service.

Oh im sorry, forgive me for being rude. I didn't mean to ramble on to a different subject in someone elses thread. I talk more than I should im afraid :oops:

Matthew

Matthew,
Thank you for the encouraging words on my second attempt at Kevin! Please don't apologize for sharing your same experiences with working and finishing projects. I think Steven was making a helpful suggestion in that your comments are very valid to many of us and would make a good thread on it's own. Starting a new one, as Steven suggested makes it easier for members to find, enabling them to participate in the conversation. If your remarks stayed here in my critique, few would see it.

Again, I appreciate your input and hope for more in ensuing drawing I will be putting up for critique (see Brandon ...)