Stef
 

My school final exam's coming up in 2 weeks time, have to study more now. But I won't let exam stops me from drawing altogether. I came up with a new solution this time. During the day, I'll study at my college library till 8-10 pm, then, I'll come home to draw for 2-3 hrs at night. I also brought a sketch book to the library , so that I can sketch something whenever I feel too bored to study.

Here's a drawing I started at school and finished at home yesterday. This is a lot looser and smaller than my other work, only took me a couple of hours as opposed to 50-100 hrs I usually spend on a life size graphite portrait. I enjoy both styles nonetheless.

Stef is an Australian-Italian, one of my classmates from College. We did a marketing research project together last month. This is a study for my up coming Pastel painting (it'll be my first pastel portrait, I'm so scared), I'll be doing a few more sketches of the same model in the next couple of days. Thanks for looking!


2B graphite and Cretacolor Nero Pencils on slightly grey toned stonehenge paper.

Approx. 11" X 14"

Beautiful work Isabel! :thumbsup: :thumbsup:

Thank you very much, Mary!!! I'm glad you like it. :)

Fantastic work!

It's great to see you try different styles and your willingness to do so at an early stage in life. I was very stern about doing detailed, more photo-realistic work for many years after college, and would'nt allow myself the freedom of working loose. Keep your mind open, don't stop working, and I believe you'll reach a level of maturity in your work well beyond your years.

If you ever decide to take time off from your art, PM me and I'll nag you and scare you with my own regrets to keep you working!!! :o

It's a WOW!
 

All I can say is , "OH, WOW, ISABEL. BEAUTIFUL." THIS MAKES ME WANT TO DRAW WITH GRAPHITE! Thank you for posting.
Carol Norton
:thumbsup:

I certainly like the life it exudes, with your looser lines now. You've definitely taken the next step up for yourself! :thumbsup:

Thank you Jimmie, Marcus and Carol! :D


Jimmie, Thank you for your kind words. I'm a huge fan of yours. Although I didn't comment a lot , everytime I look at your work, I'm in awe. The energy and life in your drawings are just amazing! It's so refreshing to see them. Let's say, you're my inspiration for this type of looser style, so Thank you! Have to say I really enjoy working on this one and will be experimenting with this style a lot more in the future. That said, it doesn't mean I'm giving up " tight realism", I hate to use the word "photorealism" because photorealism itself doesn't interest me in the least, my real goal is to go beyond the surface, capturing the soul, the spirit, the life and emotion that others fail to see, cameras fail to capture. In my opinion, tight portraits are like novels, this type of drawings are poems.They convey different things, even contradictory at some point. Both fascinating but different. While tight portraits are intense and haunting, this type of work gives a sense of life and freedom. There's no pressure, very relaxing. I truly enjoy both styles immensely. Perhaps in the future I might experiment some more and find a way to combine both styles in a drawing. In the meantime, I'll just draw, draw, draw and draw some more....


PS, I did take a 4 year break from art because of my study, only picked it up again in late 2003. I can't tell you how much I regret it. Nothing can make me abandon art now, not even my parents, my future job (if it's not art related) or my future husband. This is the true love of my life. lol ;)

I love the drawing, and I love this allegory.

Keep up the art, Isabel! I can't imagine us losing you to an accounting firm! I find your art far more gratifying than columns of numbers. ;)

Gorgeous! I can't believe it only took you a couple of hours.

I also loved your comparison of loose drawings to poetry, as opposed to novels.

Thank you Rob and Michele!

Well, artists are story tellers, aren't we? I consider myself a novelist who loves to write poems from time to time. I just admire poets!!!! ;)

I really look forward to seeing new posts by you and I am never disappointed. This one is stunningly loose but as lovely as your others. You really know what you are doing. Are you sure you aren't really about 60 years old and a famous artist? It is the Internet after all.;)

Isabel, this wonderfully and sensitively done! I like this looser approach for you too. Can't wait to see what you do with the pastels. . . :)

Isabel,

This portrait is extremely well executed and very entertaining to view for its energy.

Very, very appealing! Keep up the good work. And I applaud your devotion to your art. It is definitely paying off by these beautiful portraits you have been posting.

Lisa,

Darn, you got it right! How did you do it? but I'm not 60, I am 59 this year. The girl in my icon is in fact my grand daughter! :sunnysmile

hehehe..... Just kidding. Thank you so much for the good words, Lisa!

Terri Thank you! I wanna try a pastel portrait for so long. Even got everything set up now but I'm so scared....to be honest. That's why I'm doing these studies to warm up first.

Pat Thank you as well, I love your new drawing! btw, I also like your name. (I have 2 close friends in Hong Kong, one named Patricia and the other one named Joyce :D you have both names... how wonderful! )

I am a fan of yours and enjoy following your threads/posts. Don't know how you find the time to draw and study but keep up the art work! This piece is lovely.

Thank you Virginia. I have time to draw because I don't study very much during the semester.....

That's why I'm always stressing out before exams. Such a BAD student I am. :P