[David Draime]

Hello! FINALLY, a website devoted to portrait artists who play musical instruments! I sing and play bass guitar (electric only as I don't go near instruments larger than me). So I think we have our portrait artist band - do we have a drummer? And to get the "Name That Band" contest going, my vote is for "The Alla Prima-donnas." But I'm not attached to it. Given our ages and instruments, how about starting off in a classic rock/polka vein? I'm so excited.

My name is David Draime. I teach art at El Camino high school here in beautiful So. Cal. I also teach courses at Palomar community college - Photoshop and portraiture. I've sulked around this website for months now (learned a LOT) and thought it only proper to introduce myself. I love working with charcoal and white pastel on toned paper. I'm now gearing up to do some portraits in oil (I feel like I am at base camp 1 looking up at the summit of Everest). The last oil portrait I did was like twelve years ago and not very good. My goal is to be a FT portrait artist in 5 years. My friends just laugh when I tell them this, but I'm sticking to it. I'll show them!

Anyway, I'm posting my latest, Jolanda, one of my former students (incredible face) just to show everyone what I do. It's charcoal, approx 16 X 20".

I love this site! You guys rock! -David