Jolanda 2
 

Here's another Jolanda. Not quite finished, but I was feeling lonely today. :(

David

I love this drawing. There is so much feeling and personality that comes through.

Beautiful!

Wow! Drawing, personality, sensitive tones.

This is one of those perfect images that looks like it was simply blown onto the paper by the spirit of the artist. Gorgeous!

This is so good, I had to go look for Jolanda1! They are both very beautiful, I have a sense like I know this girl through your work. I'm now experimenting with charcoal with many failed attempts, I will use your work as inspiration.

David,

What kind of paper are you using and is this charcoal? How big is it, and what tool do you use for blending? This is wonderful, like Yolanda #1. Lots of character in this face, and you've captured it so well.

Jean

Thanks everyone for your nice comments. You all really made my day. I don't feel lonely anymore!

Jimmie, I've seen your "failed attempts." You can't fool me. Actually, I've used you as an inspiration for my drawings, particularly how you fade out the image, the "unfinished" parts of your drawings. It's always been my achille's heel. The rendering part for me is the easy part. Time consuming, tedious - yes. But I always have trouble knowing when and where to "give it a rest." You do it beautifully.

Jean, the size is approximately 16 X 20." I'm sorry, I'm not sure what the paper is. I often just grab a color or tone I like and don't pay much attention to what it is I'm using. (I know I should!)
I use a hard (HB) charcoal pencil (General's) sharpened often to a fine point. I don't smudge it at all, I don't use a blending stick. I just render it by laying down values, a little at a time. I never mix the white with the charcoal (you know that :) ). I do sometimes smudge the white highlights, but never the charcoal. I guess I'm too much of a control freak!

Jean, I just saw you newly revised "Gary" and it is absolutely stunning, beautiful, gorgeous, masterful. Bravo. I really like it!

David

David,

I find it hard to believe there is no blending. It looks so smooth and effortless, could you post a detail (please) so I can see how you are laying down the charcoal?? I wouldn't be able to keep my fingers out of it. Jimmie finds his structure with line, you find it how? Both are wonderful and so different.

Thanks for the compliment, you've made my day!

Jean

Ha, no you have'nt!! I have several in the "botched" file at home, if they survived the trash can. I only have one charcoal that I'm happy with. My 'hacel' piece was originally a charcoal, but was very unhappy with the results. I'm gonna try it again soon, just need the right model and pose.

I agree with finding when to finish being a challenge. When I think I've found it, I sign it, then study it for a while. I tend to find the finish easier when it is signed. Steven Assael does a great of this and Ingres was so good at it, it looked planned.