Blink.

When you need a great photo of an eye to draw from, just ask your friend the Eye Doctor. I regret only that I didn't use colored pencils on this one because her eyes are the most beautiful colors. Think Paul Newman. Overall this turned out as I hoped, but the lines in the iris should have been blended more. I would add charcoal then take it off... add it again and erase it. Sort of like, "Does this look better? Or This? This ... or this?" : )

A Weekend With My Dad.

Well, kind of. This is my dad. I spent the weekend scratching pencils on paper to render his likeness. He is a handsome man with a wonderful smile and I only hope I did him justice. This is a small piece 6" x 6" so each tiny mark made a big difference. I am happy with the end result, but truth? Spending the weekend in person with him would have been oh so much better.

Ear Ye! Ear Ye!

Like a landscape of hills and valleys, that's the ear. I tried using graphite powder as a fill in for medium values on this drawing and it was a good thing. Not using color is both, confining and freeing but it teaches me a lot about the value of good values. The value of the ear? The older I get the more I realize how useless they can be. Huh? What'd you say?  

Kinda Nosey.

This nose taught me a lot about pencil marks, eraser do's and don'ts, shading, but mostly, it taught me that noses are boring. Dull. Mind numbing. The Zen-full white noise from yesterday was replaced with thoughts of what seeds to plant this year and what's for lunch? and did I put that wash load in the dryer? I grew restless with it's nosiness. I owe this nose an apology. Sorry nose. 

Gettin' Lippy.

Nothing is more "Zen" than making 2 bazillion small circles in pencil. My brain goes radio silent after awhile and I kind of like that. A whole face is the goal but, baby steps brought me to just working out the lips. They are not mine... don't I wish. And I think they look lip like. Now on to, who knows? The nose maybe.

Gingham Eggs.

A little bit of country feel in this piece. It looked like a challenge and I was not disappointed. Each little square. Oh yes. Each little square. I think the rendering is good for the most part but the upper shadow is a wee bit wonky ... so don't look there and we will be fine.