Angie

[Richard Jones]

Michael, it's charcoal. It's ground charcoal applied with a sock or a large bristle brush. I "pulled out" the highlights with a kneaded eraser, and I used a 6B charcoal pencil for the darks and hard edges and a 2B charcoal pencil for the darker mid values. This might explain some of the mistakes that you've pointed out in your reply. I think I pushed the darks too much in this one, which might explain the darkness on the nose in relation to the shadow on that side of the model's face.

I really appreciate you guys responding and pointing out some of the shortcomings of this piece. There are things that I'm still not seeing that stand out to better trained eyes. I'm still new to charcoal, so with time I'll refine this technique as well as correct the basic mistakes made with the values and composition.

Again, thanks for pointing it out. This was very helpful.

[Michael Georges]

Richard,

One of the things I consistently notice while working from life - is what I don't notice until the next morning when I come in and look and say "ARGH!"

Seems to be something about it - at least for me, and I wonder if it happens to others as well - that while I am working, somehow I just don't see the areas of trouble. I wonder if we get too "close" as it were to the work and enamored of what we see...

Fresh eyes the next day show a lot.

[Chris Saper]

ROTFL

Richard, you've received excellent feedback - and given that you drew Angie from life, there's no going back, which is absolutely OK.

The reason I laugh is because what Michael describes happens to ALL of us. We finish a hard day in the studio and think "WOW! This looks just great!" Then in the morning,we realize that someone has let Studio Trolls into our studios who have RUINED our previously perfect work.

Good work, Richard,look forward to your next post!