Commissioned Portrait - Part 2

Above is the final portrait. It is a fun and positive portrait. Not too serious. It is a portrait symbolizing growth. The background is abstract compared to the main subject of the portrait. I did this for contrast and to create a playfulness in the piece.I deemphasized the jewelry. Below are the steps I took to get there. 

 

Above is my 1st layer on the background. I ended up doing 2 layers of paint and 3 layers of color pencil. 

 Then I began working on the butterfly background parts. 

Initially I had the hair very dark, but after a few more photos were provided and we had a discussion about various times when her hair was dyed I came to this color. 

 

Commissioned Portrait Step 1

Commissioning a portrait is great fun. This is a portrait of a young lady that I also completed a portrait of her when she was a baby. First determine the full design of the portaint. I initially thought of a large pair of butterfly wings. I thought this distracted from the face, so I tried several smaller butterflies. This is better. 

After that, I did a few sketches of how I wanted the butterflies to look. I wanted a botanical back ground as well. 

Here is a drawing of the entire composition full size. 

Here is my desk with the reference photographs, sketches, and color pencils. 

Next I did a sketch of the face to make sure I liked the coloring of the skin correct. 

Below is the final portrait with one layer of color on the face and hair. 

Here is a second layer. 

Here is a third layer on the figure. Then I started the shirt and background. The 1st layer of the background of watercolor paint. 

More to come! 

Commissioning Art Part 5: The Final

 

Here is the final drawing. The bark had such a variety of textures that different parts of the drawing have very different feels. The centerpiece of the drawing is the smooth bark in the center with several key marks. 

Below are several close ups. 

Here are some close up details of the final Drawing. This is drawing 13 in my Tree Series. This is one of the focal points of smooth bark. 

I am balancing the large tree trunk with the small delicate branches to the right. 

The edge of the tree is important to the feeling of the drawing. Here is some of the bark peeling off. Also on the left side are many cuts into the tree. 

 The final drawing is done! This is drawing 13 in my Tree Series. 

Commissioning Art Part 4: The drawing process

Above, I began by using a very light silhouette of the entire tree to set the composition. Next with a very soft dark pencil I put in the big textured areas. I used 120lb paper size 24 x 18. I use a wide range of pencils from 8H to 8B. H pencils are hard and light; B pencils are soft and dark.An 8B pencil is almost charcoal. 

Next I added the large areas of 50% gray. I put in the big shapes of the branch on the right. As a put in teh values, light and dark, I rub them with a paper towel. 

One of the focal parts of this tree is the big section of smooth bark in the middle. I used 8H, 7H and 6H pencils to put in some of the very light areas of bark. 

When I am working on a drawing, I refer to the photograph and also the initial sketch. I added many of the distinct cracks, scars and knots to the tree. All trees have multiple patterns going on, many are cross current to the mail bark pattern. 

I try to work on the drawing as a whole, bring up all the different areas together. 

 Here the drawing is about 90% complete. I added many of the small branches and bark shapes. 

Commissioned Tree Drawing Part 3: Thumbnail Sketches

 After looking at the trees in person and doing a few rubbings on the actual trees. I return to my studio and draw some small sketches of the trees that seem the most interesting. 

The sketch above is the one she likes the most. 

I was fascinated by the texture of the cherry branch. 

Commissioned Tree Drawing Part 1: Tree Safari

The commission process can be a mystery. I hope to take some of the mystery out and show you how I do it.  Here are the steps I go through when I do a commission for someone! For a Tree Drawing it begins with a tree safari! My friend Lou would like a drawing of the tree she and her husband see out of their front window every morning. So, Lou led me around the property looking at various trees in her yard. Here are a few photos. 

Smooth and rough spots. 

Great texture and branches that are thick and thin! 

Knots.

Dead branches. 

 Possible lightning strike. 

Now onto the next step in part 2. 

Commissioned Tree Drawing Part 2

 

I am working on a commission for my friend Lou. I traveled to her home and we looked at all the interesting trees on and around her property. Then I got out my paper and a graphite stick and completed some rubbings of the trees' textures. 

This is an uncovered stick of graphite! Like a pencil but not wrapped in wood. 

Here is a photo of the tree and the rubbing from that tree.