Fun with senior citizens

[Chris Saper]

Dear Jeff,

Your drawing is lovely . Do not feel for one moment it doesn't meet the "standard". I feel so excited to hear of your project, please post more.

[Linda Brandon]

I love everything about this story, Jeff, including your drawing.

[Sharon Knettell]

It is quite a wonderful drawing.

If anyone wants to feel better, I should post MY drawing of kids at a barbeque fundraiser.

It is a great and original way to keep the eyes and hand sharp and develop a personal style.

[Mary Jane Ansell]

Jeff, what an admirable and wonderful project to undertake - more power to your elbow as they say!!

I can't wait to see more of your drawings - please do post again soon!

[Linda Brandon]

Hi Jeff, I spotted this thread today - are you still doing this project? What a wonderful project, I hope you are still doing it.

I just wanted to say that I think a full-faced pose with a single light source is easier to manage if you are doing multiple drawings of various people, especially if they aren't professional models and are very sqwiggly. In a 2/3rds face pose you have to keep that far orbital bone exactly lined up and the iris/sclera shape exactly right or else the eyes get out of alignment really fast.

(Just my opinion here, others may differ on this.)

[Ngaire Winwood]

Great work and idea Jeff!

I had the same idea at the beginning of this year, but each time the thought resurfaces I get cold feet and procrastinate as I am not confident in draughtsman skills yet.

Any tips how to put your foot in the door?

[Jeff Fuchs]

Ngaire,

I had serious performance anxiety, but went ahead and did it anyway. Give it a try.

As for getting started, all I did was place an ad in FreeCeycle. At the time, Craigslist did not have a local forum for my area. Now they do. They'd be another good choice.

FreeCycle requires you to place ads only for things that you are giving away, so I gave away portraits. I got a lot of responses, but most turned out to be tire kickers who sent an email or two, but probably felt uneasy about it, and didn't follow through. I think my senior citizens followed through because of the safety of their building. I drew them in the lobby, and other people were around.

Linda,

I haven't been back since that day. I need to contact them again. I STILL have that performance anxiety! Thanks for the advice, though the lighting is not easy to control. They have regular commercial fluorescents overhead. Not much I can do about it.

I'm currently doing self portraits in front of a mirror.

[Sharon Knettell]

Originally Posted by Jeff Fuchs

I'm currently doing self portraits in front of a mirror.

Great Jeff!

If I was going to do another self portrait; the last one looked like a was sucking on a lemon, I would be doing a senior citizen.

[Patricia Joyce]

Hey Jeff,
Don't think for one moment this is not SOG worthy. I love your style and your drawing is excellent. It is not easy to draw from life and have such fine results - at least not with me. And this is the FIRST drawing of yours I have seen (granted I have been away for a year) and was blown away. So stop thinking you are not good enough and start posting your drawings, PLEASE!!!!!

[SB Wang]

Jeff:
You might someday receive a message like this:
"would you please call or e-mail me. I want to
> discuss a possible
> portrait with you. My phone is ...
> will appreciate it.