Baby Sleeping....In Graphite

Geary Wootten · 08-19-2004, 06:43 AM

Hi All,

It's been quite awhile since I posted anything on SOG. Been busy with two new endeavors. After my heart attack 7 months ago.....I never got my graphics job back. So, I started my own business. Got a new website going a couple of weeks ago...(It's still in demo mode). I've done a few commissioned pieces since then and this latest piece is the subject used on my new instructional video I'm doing.

It's still in progress, and this shot is just after I've finished pulling out highlights.

My method is quite layer intensive as I rub down graphite several times starting out with soft graphite being used to draw on with fingers, chamois, stumps, and rubbed or "buffed" out with tissue.

I then come back with sharpened click erasers and BluTack to bring sharp highlights and smooth tones back by controlling the light exposure underneath. Sort of like sculpting. Giving and then taking.

This reference photo was one of 6 I took while on vacation to visit this little guy.....he's my grandson, Scout, at age one.....born exactly on my birthday, incidentally.

-Geary

Graphite on Bristol Smooth 11x14

Cindy Procious · 08-19-2004, 08:00 AM

Geary,

I'm sorry to hear about your heart attack, and glad to see you're still among us.

I like this portrait very much - your handling is very soft and appropriate to the subject matter. I should like to see, however, a bit more of his body, those beautiful hands, and some of the sofa cushion to explain his position a bit more fully.

I understand that you're still working on this - I do hope that as you bring it to finish, you don't strive for a photo-realist look, but rather keep the interpretation soft and emotionally charged, as it stands now.

Congratulations on a beautiful drawing.

Patricia Joyce · 08-19-2004, 09:31 AM

This is incredible. You must put in hours upon hours on one piece, your attention to detail is astounding, achieving all the different textures we see in the piece. What I like the best, however, is the softness which which you rendered your sleeping angel! He's adorable!

Michele Rushworth · 08-19-2004, 09:57 AM

This is really magnificent, Geary.

Heidi Maiers · 08-19-2004, 11:13 AM

Excellent Geary,
This is a great reference photo and a fantastic detail so far. Can't wait to see the whole thing finished. You really have a nice touch. You don't need no stinkin day job...

Jean Kelly · 08-19-2004, 11:26 AM

This is lovely, Geary. It just glows, I'm looking forward to seeing the completed piece.

Jean

Mike Dodson · 08-19-2004, 11:47 AM

Geary,

Beautifully rendered drawing. I like the overall mood the soft edges have created. Nice!

Linda Brandon · 08-19-2004, 06:22 PM

Geary, I love the softness of this drawing. It's beautifully drawn. Please post more.

Chris Saper · 08-19-2004, 07:50 PM

Geary,

What a wonderful drawing! It is so very difficult to show the soft round forms in an infant's face, without either over modeling them, or losing them altogether. Very, very beautiful.

Geary Wootten · 08-19-2004, 08:38 PM

To CIndy, Pat, Michele, Heidi, Jean, Mike, Linda and Chris:

Thanks for the generous compliments. I'm just so glad to finally get to the point in my life where I'll be able to spend more time on drawing and painting. These truly are the best days of our lives. (why did I have to have a heart attack to remind me of that? .....Ha!

)

The better news being I'm getting more commission work. The BEST news is.....I don't CARE if I get any more commission jobs. HA! I'm in LOVE again with my true art form. Sign work is just there now to support my Art habit.....instead of the other way around. (right Heidi?

)

Update in a day or so....

-Geary