Berty in Black and White

[Julie Deane]

Hi Patricia -

This piece is approximately 12 x 14, done almost entirely in pencils. The face is done mainly in 2-4B pencils.

The background was done with 8B pencil, but still looked too blotchy when I finished with it, so I took some hard charcoal - the stick kind, sort of like conte but a bit softer, and really went over it hard, then wiped away the excess. It filled in the grain. The downside of using dark pencils is that it gets things very shiny, so the background has a sheen I don't particularly like. I'm toying with either using fixative to help even things out, a nonreflective glass when I frame it, or both.

The paper is Stonehenge Cream. It's tough, which I needed, with a nice tooth. I don't have the (organizational skills? patience? I'm not sure) to do a beautifully worked up pencil technique like Jimmy Arroyo. I rub the pencil in at times as well as draw with the pencil tip, use kneaded eraser to get highlights, etc. - treat it more like a charcoal drawing.

Your comment about the neck is well taken. I tend to want to take the photo too literally, and am trying to wean myself away from that (when it is warranted). I'll post later with additional changes.

[Patricia Joyce]

Hi Julie,
Thank you for expanding on your techniques. I know you paint and this drawing feels like a painting to me, which is what I like about it. How long did this take? I used the Stonehange for some of my drawings as well and really like how tough the paper is.

Looking forward to seeing it completed. I think her eyes are very expressive and beautifully rendered, and your treatment of the hat is so good. It really has that light, see through-ishness about it!!!

Pat

[Julie Deane]

Hi Patricia -

Thanks for your encouragement. It's funny you mentioned it feeling like a painting, because I almost wrote in the last post that I treated this piece like one.

I didn't keep track of the hours, but I would estimate between 10 to 13 hours.

[Claudemir Bonfim]

That

[Julie Deane]

Thanks Bonfim.

Here is what I think is the final image. I softened the dress and darkened the neckline and neck.

[Patricia Joyce]

Very nice!! Nicely finished piece all the way through Has Berty seen it yet??

[Allan Rahbek]

Julie,

This is something more than a drawing, you really got under her skin.

Allan