Ian the Cool Bagpiper

[Darla Dixon]

This is my working title for this portrait of a modern-day bagpiper. I am preparing examples of my work for a large Celtic Festival in Atlanta.

[John de la Vega]

Excellent drawing, Darla! I like the clarity. Strong, simple treatment of edges. Dislikes? His nose, the hole in his ear. yeah, I know, I'm being picky. The background appears a little too 'tentative', it could be the scan. With backgrounds, whether in a drawing or a painting, make a statement, or make it blank. Literally (blank of course can be a statement in itself).

All in all, a 'cool' (I abhor that word, as I abhor anything in vogue) drawing of a cool dude!
Cool pipes, too. Good design. You probably didn't need anything in the background behind that cool pattern.

[Darla Dixon]

Thanks John, I think the nose and ear are pretty 'blah' too ... I need to bring more to those parts.

The background in person isn't as evident as it is in this scan. I usually go with plain white background, but more and more, I hear 'give it background to give it depth!' So, being fairly unknowledgeable about backgrounds, I just try different things. This one was made by smudging pencil in and then swooping into it with kneaded rubber eraser.

I'm planning on taking an oil portrait painting course in February 2002 (taught by Deborah Kepes) and that is pretty exciting! I hope the pencil drawings have given me a good base from which to work, but I know I have plenty to learn and I have not worked from life nearly enough.

Thanks again!

[Karin Wells]

I'm starting to sound like a broken record Darla, but you need to pay attention to a single source of light for your subjects...more than anything, your inconsistent lighting will hold you back.