[Jan]

Your drawings are very impressive! You handle so many different mediums well and you really capture individual characteristics. I especially like the last two posts. You seem to be drawing solids instead of lines which really emphasizes the structure. I look forward to seeing more of your work!

[Jan]

Obviously you are a very skilled artist! I really like your overall technique. The pattern on the head covering is especially eye-catching. You said this is a work in progress. I’d love to see how you complete the drawing!

[Jan]

I just found this thread and now plan to follow your progress. Your drawings are amazing. I feel like I could have written your comments about copying photos without understanding the forms. I always wanted to get right to the details before I had built a solid foundation. I’m not sure if my own drawings are showing it yet, but I completely agree with how exciting it is to start thinking in a new way. Thanks for the inspiration!

[Jan]

This is a great challenge! I’m also currently watching head instruction videos so I look forward to following your progress. I think you’re off to an excellent start with the studies you’ve posted! It looks like you are really trying to follow the structure of the skull with your rendering. Good luck with the challenge and especially with the goal of creating all the angles from imagination. I don’t know that I will ever get there!

[Jan]

I agree that this is a beautiful drawing. I definitely understand your sentiments that a self-portrait is very difficult and extremely humbling. I thought of a quote by the artist Kathe Kollwitz: “Don’t hide yourself – be the person you are, and find your essence.” I think you did just that!

[Jan]

I appreciate the tips! I just started the Reilly Method but will look into the Andrew Loomis method more. I had watched a few of the Proko videos before I started with NMA where he teaches Andrew Loomis’s approach but had not practiced it. I ordered a skull, too, and have been drawing from it a couple of times a week. I can tell it’s starting to help. It’s really instructive, too, to see the drawings on your Instagram. Thanks for sharing!

[Jan]

I really like your technique. You seem to have used tonal values well to describe the forms. Your comment that artists use detail to hide structural mistakes was eye-opening. “Less is more” is something I definitely struggle with in my drawings. I get so involved in rendering that it tends to take away from the bigger idea. I’m currently watching the basic head construction videos so I am constantly measuring since the concepts are not second nature yet. I like that you challenged yourself by not measuring and by doing so you seem to have really captured what I would call personality. If any of the proportions are off a little it doesn’t seem to distract from the spirit of the portrait. Nice work!

[Jan]

Thank you so much for taking the time to comment! I’ve been working diligently through the courses to improve my understanding of structure and anatomy. I’m trying to pay more attention to developing a full range of value, too, so it’s helpful to know that’s evident in the second drawing. In terms of proportion, I start out using the formula for a standard head, and then I try to adjust according to the individual characteristics. I realized when drawing my self-portrait that my face is definitely not standard, which you noticed! My eyes actually are too close together and my nostrils are wider. If it looks incorrect, though, maybe I need to deemphasize some of the individual variations in future drawings. Again, I really appreciate your input!

[Jan]

Wow. Your head study is outstanding! I’m hoping you were already very accomplished before you started with NMA! I’ve been doing the head courses since February but have definitely not reached the level you are at. You’ve inspired me to keep pushing myself!

[Jan]

Your work is very impressive! The rendering in your pen and ink drawings is incredible. I agree with Iliya that the graphite portrait is my favorite. The modeling of the forms is simple but so well done that no additional detail is needed. Iliya’s comments are very instructive and will help me in my own drawings as well. Keep posting! I’d love to see more!

[Jan]

I’m not sure if this looks much different than the first self-portrait I posted, but I can tell that I’m starting to think differently. I’m trying to focus on the concepts I’m learning in the NMA videos, but old habits (like outlining) have been hard to break. I don’t have the opportunity right now to draw from life so I’ve been using photographs. I had planned to draw a self-portrait while looking in the mirror, so that will be next.

[Jan]

Your piece is exceptional and you are obviously very accomplished. You have told a story with very few details which is something I struggle to achieve. The eyes are captivating.

[Jan]

I agree that your drawings are beautiful! I especially like Day 38. You have made a strong statement with a very small amount of detail. The drawing seems to combine characteristics of both Steve Huston and Lane Brown. The pastel and charcoal combination in Day 36 is also very striking.

[Jan]

Thank you for the encouraging comment! I agree with you that the courses are outstanding. I find myself mesmerized watching the instructors draw. I’ve learned so much by observing not only their techniques but how they make decisions. I’ll have to try the pen warm-ups since you said they’ve been valuable.

[Jan]

Your drawing skills are very impressive but what is most striking to me is how you’ve captured the spirit of your granddaughter. The drawing has a beautiful painterly quality and you’ve really pushed the dark values. I agree with Carlise that I would love to see more of your work!

• This reply was modified 3 years, 11 months ago by Jan.

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