Sunday, February 3, 2008

Steppin Out

Today I took a big step out of my comfort zone and did a sketch of my daughter. The closest I have come to sketching people in the past hasn't been very close. But in my quest to be comfortable creating a travel journal of our vacation this summer, I am willing to sketch subjects I have never sketched before. I have also had the desire to capture my kids' images before they are fully grown or too cool to waste time sitting with mom.


charcoal sketch approx. 5.5" x 5.5"
Stacy L. Rowan

Now, for those of you who know my daughters, I realize that this really doesn't look anything like either one. At best it is an approximation of how my subject will look in a few years. I thought by catching her watching TV she would be pretty still. Foolish me. Actually I started sketching the other daughter first and two lines in she laid down. Maybe with more practice, I will get better at sketching and they will get better at being still. (I can hear you laughing you know - at least no one fell off the couch during this sketching session!!)

This sketch was done using an HB charcoal pencil in my spiral bound sketch book.

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

Great job Stacy. I suggest you look at some of the masters. Even Sargent was hounded that his work didn't always sit well with those that commissioned them. Remember you are the toughest critic. Grow with each experiment.
This is a lovely beginning, and a pose that is capturing many young people.

Anonymous said...

You did great here Stacy. The only way to progress, is just do a lot of it again and again! And like robin says, we are our own worst critics!
ronell

DALowe Artist said...

I so enjoyed your blog. The sketch of your daughter is wonderful and a memory you'll always treasure. I don't sketch my daughter nearly enough. Think I might do that soon. You've inspired me. I especially like your post of the pomegranate. My family thought I was completely insane when I bought a bunch of fresh radishes at the grocery store just because they were beautiful and I wanted to paint them. And I did. They're on my blog if you'd like to see - not sure the date - http://www.daloweartist.blogspot.com

Happy Painting!
Deborah

Mary said...

Stacy I think you have achieved goo expression in this, you will be sketching them so fast and precise once you do this often.

Stacy said...

Thank you for your kind words Robin! In this case, the finished work didn't sit well with my client and my client didn't sit well for the work. LOL

Thanks Ronell! I will definitely keep practicing, after all, I have to satisfy my other daughter's request to be sketched.

Thanks for visiting Deborah! Definitely make time to sketch your daughter. We all had fun even though the final likeness was off. And be sure to tell your family you are not crazy, you are just an artist. There is a difference, even if most people can't tell. ;)

Mary, I certainly hope you are right! They are growing up so fast, I will need to sketch fast to capture each phase.

Unknown said...

Very nicely done~!

Stacy said...

Thank you Pamyla!