Sandra Bullock - slowly making progress

Yesterday and today's offering is Sandra Bullock. I'm certainly a lot happier with my results now but after I've left them for a bit I come back and all the flaws jump out at me. I may just have to have another go as I've just spotted a few more. Some times I just need to make the mistakes to develop the picture. I'm really happy with the hair and most of the face. I need to work on the back ground, ears, placement on the page, skin colouring. and the feet, and probably a whole lot more besides.

Success

I think I've cracked it! A much more pleasing result than last time. I need to work on refining the techniques now!

More Markers

This is more like it! I still need to work on the facial shading and background but I'm much happier with today's effort. As you can see my new markers arrived so I was able to finish Richard Hammond. I think I'd prefer the sky to have been slightly lighter or a different shade but I'm pleased with the water effect. Not sure about the thick black outlines on the water droplets, need to get the touch lighter. I also prefer people with Tidy Hair!!!!

I started a drawing of Russell Crow last night. I'm a bit stuck on what to draw in the background. Nothing is inspiring yet but hopefully I'll get some ideas soon.

Reese Witherspoon

I've decided to leave her as is. I like it this way!

Time to try some new faces

Googled a few celebrities to find more subjects today. I've drawn Reese Witherspoon in black marker and I'm very pleased with the likeness. I love the clean lines of black and white. Sometimes I think colour detracts from the image. I also need to decide whether to put a body on or leave her as a disembodied head- I quite like the effect of the latter. It has a simple charm, but a body and background could add more, decisions, decisions. I'll mull on it and decide later before I post the image. I've ordered some more copic markers, hopefully in the colours I need. Then we'll see how I get on. I'm determined to master them, even though my first attempts have been depressingly bad. Still, if we didn't make mistakes, we wouldn't learn. I know I can do so much better than that!

Back to Black

I've been playing with the markers and can get a decent finish now, I just need a greater selection of colours so until they come I'll go back to pen, watercolour and pastel. Today's offering is Richard Hammond AKA "Hamster" from Top Gear. The plan was to complete it with markers hence the fine lines. I'll post it again once I've colour it in, but for now, here he is. The funny point on his head is going to be a mountain!

Experimenting with markers YUK!!!!

My yesterday/today contribution was Noel Fielding, I'm really pleased with the likeness but not at all happy with the colouring. A bit too orange and blotchy for my taste. (I've decided to remove it, I was cringing every time I saw it on the blog.) My first attempt was better than my second attempt but still not as I'd like it. I think I may have found out where I've been going wrong I'm letting the edge dry so the streaks appear. I'm going to play for a bit longer before I make another attempt.

I went to look at an art exhibition last night. Enjoyed it and felt up to the competition. All very civilized.

I have now created some flyers which I handed out on Sunday and have been steadily handing them out since. So far only favourable comments but there seems to be genuinely interested so we'll see if anything emerges.

Just chillin'

Finally got Saturday's pictures to scan, so here's Keira

and here's Trevor. This morning I've been playing with some new Copic marker pens, trying to get used to the technique. I'm working on Noel Fielding and am pleased with the likeness. I'm hoping to finish adding the colour to him and post it later on today, but as I'm out tonight he may have to wait until the morning!

I did it

Well, today was the day of the Fete. Weather very dry, sunny and very very windy. We were supposed to be in a tent but I bailed out after my drawing started blowing across the field. The rest of the Art tent bailed after the tent blew down. We decamped to the school buildings. I managed 10 drawings all done direct in ink. Only 3 pages torn up where the mistakes were too bad, so all in all quite successful. I could have done a lot more though, which surprised me. I didn't get as many takers as I was hoping. Some of my lines were looking distinctly serrated at the start but I managed to blend them in so they didn't affect the final result. Everyone seemed happy with the pictures which is a result as far as I'm concerned!

Sadly no pictures again today as I can't get my scanner to work!!!!!!!!!!!!

Going live

No drawings today. Didn't have a good day at all yesterday, practicing quick ink sketches and only produced 1 picture which was mediocre. Today's efforts were better although I haven't had much time to practice today. Unfortunately my scanner is playing up again so the sketches will have to wait. I did a reasonable quick sketch of Keira Knightly and a live TV sketch of Trevor Macdonald which I'm very pleased with, both were direct in ink.

Tomorrow is my first major test, the live drawing at my son's school. I'm pretty apprehensive but, if I can stay calm, I think I'll be able to deliver the goods. If only I had six more weeks to practice in!

My next post will be after the event, so PRAY for me!

Return to Doctor Who and a 70's icon

Thought I'd have another attempt at Billie Piper, I've had several attempts but none that I've been remotely happy with. I'm still trying to improve the quick sketches and develop a caricature style. I think it's coming.

The second image is Donna Summer, again a quick one concentrating on Cartoon facial features.

Lots of ladies

Didn't get time to post yesterday so here's yesterdays efforts. Emma Thompson and Marilyn Monroe. Both of these were quick sketches directly into ink-I had a lot of goes at Marilyn but Emma was the second attempt.

Today's project was to do a better pastel image of Drew Barrymore and I think I've succeeded, I'm much happier with this one!

Blues brothers

Another iconic image that really needs very little adding. I thought I'd give them a go, and here's the result. I can always pick faults in them but I think this will do nicely. Only one possible issue/niggle is the Elwood on Jakes hands. I'll probably find it ELW and OOD but I'm past caring. I also need to scan it on a higher resolution as it looks very pixelated!

Update, it's actually ELWO and OD never mind! Spent some time on quick inked drawing tonight, trying to loosen up my style.

A man in black

Today's offering is a pastel of Will Smith. Sorry, but I had to go for the obvious!! Any "Men in black" fans shouldn't pay too close attention to the weapon, which is entirely made up from my own, probably inaccurate, memory. If I was a man I'd probably remember it, but objects don't hold that much interest for me. Well, not when I've got someone like Will Smith to look at instead! Give it to Angelina Jolie and I'd have not problems. He has a bit darker skin tones than the original but I think the colour hues are accurate. I like the larger format, it's a pity I can't scan in A3 though, the photographs just aren't as good quality as the scanned images. Sorry, I'll stop going on about it and accept the limitations. Ha Ha Ha!

Return to Pastel

This is today's effort. I thought I'd try some pastels, haven't done any for a while. I think I should have done A3 as getting fine details proved difficult on A4. I think I have a likeness of Drew Barrymore but I'm not happy with the overall effect, it's a bit crude for my liking. I can do better so I'll probably have another go tomorrow.

More quick sketches

This was my third attempt at Helena Bonham Carter in the "Bellatrix LeStrange" pose. This was another ink only drawing so I'm quite pleased with likeness. It's still looking rough around the edges but the confidence is coming, slowly.

The second picture of Drew Barrymore was an inked up pencil drawing. I like the likeness but the background needs more development. Spent the rest of the time today working on backgrounds.

Back to the quick sketches

I decided to concentrate on quick sketches and backgrounds last night. The B/W sketch of the picture shown on right is probably the best. I was playing around with eyes and I think it works with this face. This one was straight to ink although I did go over it with a larger pen as the original looked too timid. Anyway, off to do today's contribution.

Update - She's Coco Rocha, apparently!

Hooray we have phone and broadband back!

BT have finally fixed the line - you know this because you are reading my blog, but I've had a few days of frustration!!!!!!! As you see this is my latest offering - Hugh Laurie. I've tweaked a bit since I did it but he looks young! Yesterday was another busy day

Siobhan and I completed Race for life last night, so not much drawing done other than this one. Still today is another day, as they say!

If you want to sponsor me for Race for life go to http://www.raceforlifesponsorme.org/catherineread

More technology meltdowns...!

I am unable to post at the moment, we have not BT connection so no telephone or broadband. That a mere 2 days after my laptop died a sudden and dramatic death, complete with curling plumes of the corner. I'm continuing to draw and blog, but it won't be published until the phone is fixed.

Monday evening effort was disappointing, although I like the overall premise. It is supposed to be Angelina Jolie but it all went wrong at the inking up stage. I realised her nose was too short and and with the eyelashes she seems to have morphed into Dusty Springfield.

The second attempt was better although I haven't caught the mouth quite right, there's a certain Simpsonsesque turn, especially on the right. I really like my jeep although any purists out there may find 101 faults it feels nice and solid. I could have gone darker with the hair but I really like the light layer effect which would have been spoilt by going darker. This is an authentic style from the picture I used but it's another reason she looks so Dusty like in the black and white picture. My eldest has found several faults so it's obviously not one of my best efforts, but he has assured me that I shouldn't quit!!!!!

Again, I've had to photograph these pictures as they are both A3 and won't fit onto my scanner bed. Hence the poor picture quality

An impression of Jeeves or a Gentleman's gentleman!

Well I managed to get past the "Cher" block last night and moved on the Stephen Fry. Not the most flattering of facial expressions but I thought it was an interesting one to do. I couldn't resist the "Jeeves and Wooster" reference. I'm tempted to have a go at the pair, but maybe not today. I think this ranks as a "very pleased with the results", on my rating scale.

Yuk

This is last night's attempt, I'm not happy with it at all, doesn't look like her. I've concluded that I shouldn't try drawing whilst drinking! As a result I've spent a while today trying to get a better likeness but the picture I've been working with was too old and small - it really emphasises what all that cosmetic surgery has done for her image - the nose is quite accurate for the picture I had. After a while looking on the internet, I came up with a better likeness, but she isn't smiling as I found it hard to find one of her smiling, then I remembered she tends not to! Anyway my best result, so far, today is this one seen below.

I think I'll try a few more later, but without the alcohol.

Heroes and Desperate housewives

Spent some time on Hayden Panettiere The picture is A3 so I've had to photograph it to upload to the blog. Hence the grey colours. I really want it to be in colour which will have to wait until I can afford more marker pens.

I also completed a watercolour of Eva Longoria, I did the image some time ago but hadn't finished the painting, I'm pleased with the skintones on the face. I haven't quite finished her wineglass but otherwise it's finished. Quite a good day all in all.

A runner for a change.

Not a great day for drawing today, not much time to get down and draw but I managed a couple of pictures of Paula Radcliffe. Spent the rest of the time working on a promotional poster. Should have a better day tomorrow.

Playground drawings

I managed to do 2 caricatures at the playground today. Reasonable likenesses and completed in under 15 minutes each. Still on the slow side, but it's my target rate for the school fete. I've got to carry on trying to improve the speed in which I capture the likeness and focus attention on backgrounds and cartoon elements. Still, I'm pleased with today's results and feel much more confident that I'll be able to deliver the goods on the 22nd. I can definitely see progress since starting this venture at the beginning of April.

More colour

I fiddled with the Graham Norton image, still not sure about the mouth so I think I'll leave it and go back.

Below are last night and this mornings efforts, the lovely Johnny Depp as Captain Jack Sparrow. This is definitely a portrait, I'll try a caricature later but I really wanted to work on a finished portrait drawing. I could work more on it but I like the impressionist style. I had to scan the unfinished one this morning as it looks so bizarre with the blue under-painting. It started out as watercolour but I decided to use some acrylic ink to add some depth to the colour. I had fun with the hair but nearly had to discard the whole thing when I removed the masking and it took half the paper around the right eye with it! The ink also bled under the masking quite badly in one place, fortunately it was in an area that was going to be made darker, so it can't be seen. I must learn to be more patient and allow the layers to dry before later painting. I think I've managed to rescue it? Will probably concentrate on some quick sketches later on and try taking my gear up to the school this p.m.

Colour!

This is yesterday's attempt. I thought it was about time I started using colour again. I'm a little rusty but at least he's not green! I thought I'd better include it at the state it is in. I don't think it's finished yet, still some work to do with the shadows around the nose and ear. They make his nose look too square. His hair is darker on the photo but I quite like the colouring I've got so I'm tempted to leave it. Hopefully you can recognise it as Graham Norton, it's more of a portrait than a caricature but the funny expression does tend to make it slightly comic. I think I've kept it too portrait like by using the fine pen. I'm trying to keep the watercolour washes light so they don't turn into mud - an effect that is fine in the right place, but I don't like it on faces.

There's a theme here!!!!!

No posts yesterday,out for most of the day and wasn't too happy with my drawings. I did some of Julie Walters as Mary Whitehouse which were reasonable but messy. I also spent some time drawing from live TV but no decent likenesses. The wine probably didn't help the live drawings though!

Today was much better. I'm really pleased with the likeness of Christopher Eccleston here. I managed the facial likeness in about 10 minutes, spent a bit longer on the body. The whole drawing was ink first draw. I'm feeling pretty confident about 22nd at the moment, until I remember it's only 3 weeks away...

I've noticed there seems to be a theme developing here, or rather, I should say, a theme has developed, Doctor Who. I admit it, I'm a fan! I think it might be time to upload some pictures of other celebrities from now on...

Having said that, there are a lot of people who've done guest appearances, I might have a go at some of them, wait and see.