A boy and his dog

Mike McCarty · 12-22-2003, 06:14 PM

This was done on a Bartner lavender sanded paper, ArtSpectrum I think, it's about 12 x 15 (bordering on too small). I used a soft black Rembrandt stick exclusively combined with tortillions, kneaded eraser, hard pencil eraser, paper towels and occasionally a soft brush.

Michele Rushworth · 12-22-2003, 11:30 PM

Very nice and soft! I wonder if perhaps his features are a bit askew, though. The eye on our right seems to tip up a bit too far on the outside and the mouth seems a little too far left. Do you have reference we can compare to?

Mike McCarty · 12-23-2003, 12:05 AM

Here's the photo...

Linda Nelson · 12-23-2003, 08:50 AM

Hi Mike,

When reading your intro on this, I kept thinking how amazingly clean it is - by that I mean I can't see how I would accomplish what you have here without the whole thing turning into a smudgefest.

My only comment is that in looking at the artwork, I had a desire that the young man was looking at me, especially since the dog is. Then I noticed that in the original, the man IS looking at the viewer. So I'm not sure if you intended to draw him as if he's looking off to the left or if you intended to draw him looking at the viewer, but right now I view him as looking off to the left.

Happy Holidays,
Linda

Linda Brandon · 12-24-2003, 05:47 PM

Hi Mike,

You've done a wonderful job with values here. I can't imagine how you were able to do it on such a tiny drawing. I agree with Linda Nelson - maybe just fiddle with the direction of those eyes a bit more?

Mike McCarty · 12-24-2003, 08:51 PM

Thanks Michele and Linda(2),

I will take a look at the direction of his eyes. As I look at it on the monitor there are several aspects that look too light. The white of his left eye, his left ear, also the lit side of his left hand. However, it doesn't look like that in person. I'll diddle with it a bit more and then photograph it with the light coming straight on instead of having it come from the side the way I did above.

I like using the black soft pastel. I think I can get a wider range of values that I can using charcoal. It looks to me the way I imagine a "sauce" drawing would be.

Mike McCarty · 12-29-2003, 07:32 PM

I have taken this as far as I can and have delivered it today. I think there are certain things I could have executed better had I created a larger image but I tried to accomodate. All things considered I'm pleased with the way it turned out.