Head studies in pencil
 

I've taken a break from my oil painting to complete some drawings. Here are four of six head studies I've just finished.

Hi Christy,

These are lovely and very fresh! Are they studies for future paintings, or just for the sheer pleasure of drawing:) ?

Thank you Chris!

They're not studies for paintings nor done for the sheer pleasure of drawing. They're commissioned works! I suppose I should be posting them under "Unveilings for Professionals"?

Here are the last two. These are three sets of brothers and sisters. Two of the sets are cousins and are gifts to their grandparents for their 40th anniversary.

I am so happy to hear that these portraits are commissions! The appeal of your work is an artist's dream. Finding clients who really appreciate the aesthetic process is a rare and precious thing.

Congratulations!

Thank you very much Chris!

I know that I'm very fortunate to be able to get commissions. I think it has a lot to do with the local culture here. Child portraiture is big! I think the business is even bigger a little further south (I'm from Richmond, VA). I'm also very fortunate to get commissions in NC.

These are great, Christy!

They are all sweet and delicate, a treat !
Ilaria

I think it also has a lot to do with your talent and your particular choice of expressions, i.e. your take on what would make a good portrait. These are beautifully drawn and they have a timeless appeal. Just looking at them makes me want to get back into pencil drawing!

Thank you Alexandra. That is a really super nice thing to say! :)

I do enjoy the instant gratification and simplicity of doing these little pencil drawings.

Thank you too Julie and IIaria!

Yes, I think so! These are lovely, sensitive works and you have been commissioned to do them. As a professional portrait artist, your commissioned work deserves to be posted there.

Couldn't agree more. These are beautiful, exceptional drawings. They really don't get much better than this.

David

PS: I was in Richmond for 6 years, VCU alum. (painting and printmaking). Did you attend?

Thank you David and Enzie!

No, I did not attend VCU, though I wish that I had. My new studio happens to be just a short walk from the campus.

Lovely drawings. Christy!

Thanks Thomasin! :)

Just beautiful, Christy,

There is just one Portrait Unveilings section now.

Christy,
You saved the best for last, at least my favorite is the last one. They are all so delightful! You are going to have happy customers and I suspect you will be busy with more commissions.

Congratulations!

Sharon, thank you. It means much to me that you like them, since I'm such an admirer of your work. You're very inspiring and make me want to be more dedicated and to work more from life.

Thank you much Cynthia!

Joyce, I'm so happy you like them. I do have more commissions, even four more of four of these children, so you may see them again but in different poses.

I'm adding a few more drawings. The first one i'm especially fond of and was done shortly before Christmas. The last two I just did. Don't know how to compress images properly, so these are pretty small. If anyone is curious to see them larger, let me know . I'll provide a link to a better image. Thanks for looking!

edit: on second thoughts, here's a link to that first image:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/portrai...99354/sizes/o/

Christy, thank you so much for posting these additional pencil portraits. I can totally see why you have so many commissions lined up!

Beautiful drawings, Christy !
It's very hard to obtain this fresh feeling from a photo, and to resist to the temptation of overworking.
I like a lot the combination of line work and mass work, and also you're very good at choosing the right pose and expression.

Christy--

Love both the drawings and the bust! Very sensitively drawn...no wonder they're a hit.

Thanks so much for looking and commenting kindly Alexandra, Marina and Tom. Here's a couple others to add to the group. I'm providing links, because you can see them better that way.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/portrai...76674/sizes/o/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/portrai...n/photostream/

The second one was done on printing paper, because I had to match the color paper to the paper I'd used for his brother's portrait a couple years ago. It's a little difficult to work on.

You have combined very confident, bold strokes with soft values and expressions. Nothing wimpy here yet your subjects remain soft and emotionally powerful at the same time. Snap crackle pop.

Christy, this is very impressive work - you have a wonderful, fresh, sensitive touch and you really do capture that childhood aroma of vulnerability and hope. Keep them coming!

Salina and Linda, so glad you like them!

Here's Ben. It's the second one I've done of him on this thread.
edit- Of course, now that I've posted this I see I need to adjust that shadow on his cheek...

Oh Christy,

These are each breathtaking and so precious. What a treat and a talent, thanks for sharing all these gems.

Garth