Portrait of Kara

Jimmie Arroyo · 10-05-2004, 10:06 PM

Hi,

This is my first time using carbon pencils. Thought I'd give them a try as an alternative to charcoal. The brand is Wolff's. The white highlights are still done with charcoal, I don't think there is a white carbon pencil. Matter of fact, I believe they only come in four values, B, 2B, 4B, and 6B. This is 18x12" on 'celeste' colored Ingres paper using a B and 4B. I enjoyed working with them and like how they look so I'll be using them again. Thanks for looking.

Terri Ficenec · 10-05-2004, 11:54 PM

Another beautiful piece Jimmie!

Kimberly Dow · 10-06-2004, 09:37 AM

This is beautiful Jimmie. I like that you are doing a nice fully round girl.

Linda Brandon · 10-06-2004, 11:00 AM

This is another sensitively rendered drawing, Jimmie. I love the sense of mystery you bring to all your work.

I used to work with Wolf carbon pencils and I think I used a smoother surface, maybe Bristol or illustration board, instead of Ingres or Canson.

Jimmie Arroyo · 10-07-2004, 09:10 AM

Thanks Terri, Kim, Linda.

Quote:

I like that you are doing a nice fully round girl

I just wish more of them would be willing to pose. Most of them say "I would, but I'm too fat." Of course, none of them are. Voluptuous women rock. Anna Nicole Smith lost too much weight, but that's another topic in another forum! sorry.

Quote:

I used to work with Wolf carbon pencils and I think I used a smoother surface, maybe Bristol or illustration board, instead of Ingres or Canson

Whenever I think of Bristol, I picture bright white paper which I don't like working on. I need to look into it, to see if they haved any toned paper and not very smooth. I used to airbrush on Frisk CS-10 illustration board. VERY smooth, it had a layer of wax which was great for lifting highlights. Thanks for the tip.

Patricia Joyce · 10-07-2004, 04:02 PM

I like it Jimmie. Again, lots of emotion being expressed. And I agree with you wholeheartedly about rounder women. Aesthetically I do believe bigger women and men (at least bigger than what our society dictates) are much more interesting AND attractive. Especially women over a certain age. Roundness, softness, is much more appealing than hanging flesh and bones sticking out. I believe many artists would agree with us.

It's just a guess, but I'll bet you got into the flow with this one - it seems to come through the piece. Or am I totally wrong??

Jimmie Arroyo · 10-13-2004, 09:27 AM

Sorry Pat,

I did'nt notice there was a newer post to this.

Quote:

Roundness, softness, is much more appealing than hanging flesh and bones

Quote:

It's just a guess, but I'll bet you got into the flow with this one - it seems to come through the piece. Or am I totally wrong??

Only up to a certain point. I was concerned about the size of her chest. I made it a little smaller and tried not to attract attention to it. I did more erasing than usual. I could'nt go much smaller because it would not be a true portrait of her. I had other pictures of Kara, and this was, I felt, the easiest pose to have her chest blend into the picture.

Thanks.

Patricia Joyce · 10-13-2004, 09:48 AM

Good Morning Jimmie,
This must be a picture of your daughter in your "Profile Pic"? She is adorable. When are we going to see a portrait of her???

Carlos Aleman · 10-14-2004, 10:58 AM

Beautiful! I love your work!!!