Guitar Practice - original graphite portrait drawing

 Although I hardly ever use graphite, I had a great time doing this one on Strathmore marker paper that I had to buy for a landscape course.  Maybe y'all have used this paper before, but I never had and was surprised to find it such a delight to draw on.  Even though there's a slick finish - it's great for graphite!  Drawing is my first art language - not painting, really - and I will be doing many more pencil drawings  (used HB, 2 and 4B) on this paper - a great find for me!  Plus, even though the weight is only 50.5 lb, the paper feels much more sturdy. This drawing is 7 x 12".  Thanks so much for stopping by!

Morning - original graphite portrait drawing

I started this drawing from life, but as often happens, I eventually had to rely on a photograph, which isn't as good, but I was grateful for at least a little time with a model.  Not usually a fan of drawing with graphite, I loved doing this one with a set of General's woodless graphite pencils in HB, 2B, 4B and 6B - also comes with a sharpener - I just love kits!  This drawing is about 11 x 12" on Strathmore mixed media paper.  Thanks for stopping by!

Gina At The Bar - original graphite portrait drawing

I got busy with a graphite pencil, which I seldom do - I guess because charcoal is more forgiving - and drew from an old sketch on tan toned paper.  It's about 8 x 5 1/2".  The white accents are General's Primo white charcoal pencil.  Thanks for stopping by!

Three Apples - original graphite still life drawing

Now for a total departure.  This is a drawing I did about 20 years ago.  Most of my older drawings - hundreds of them - have ended up in the garbage because I had way too many.  I took photos on my iPhone and will work on paintings from them.  I did keep this one, though, even though it's a bit of a mess with a crease here and there - but the drawing itself is in good condition - because I enjoyed the dry wash technique.  I LOVE black and white drawings and spend more time at exhibitions with the prints and drawings than looking at the paintings.  Hope everyone's having a nice weekend - thanks for looking!  PS.  please check out my oil pastel blog here.

Jivin' Crazy - original soluble graphite figurative drawing

Gotta get this posted  - soluble graphite on Yupo, 9 x 12" - thanks for looking!

On My Easel - Landscape Pencil Drawing in Progress

This sketchbook work in progress is one that I started while out in the country.  I ran out of time so took a photo in order to complete it when I got home, but just haven't gotten around to it.  Am working on some figure drawings that aren't even finished enough to post.  Thanks for visiting my blog!

A Bow in Her Hair - original graphite pencil portrait drawing

This drawing began from life, but, alas, what young person wants to sit for a portrait - not many.  And I tried letting her watch a movie while I drew, but the pose kept changing, so - thank goodness for cameras!  You know, of course, that I'm not much of a photographer, but I did the best I could, and here we are - 11 x 14" on Borden and Riley Paris paper for pens.  I love that slick surface for drawing.  Thanks for stopping by!

Jivedoodles Again - original graphite figurative drawing

This drawing is not only drawing practice for me, but  practice for my little dancers, as well.  I've developed some characters here that I will use again in my next drawings.  After I do these, I go over them and question why I put this one here, that one in that space, and so on.  Never satisfied with the arrangement, I'll do it again tomorrow, just slightly different.  This drawing is done on Borden and Riley's Paris Paper for Pens, 9 x 12", and I used General's Woodless Graphite - 4B, which is pretty soft.  I love using this fairly slick paper for graphite and charcoal - charcoal is especially interesting to work with because it doesn't adhere very well to a paper without tooth (the roughness that helps dry media cling to the surface) and you can just smear to your heart's content.  If that's your thing - and I guess it's mine. 
And if you haven't worked with woodless graphite, it's also a delight.  All that luscious graphite - plus, it smears well, too.  I guess I shouldn't say "smear" - not too sophisticated - maybe "soften" is better.
I hope everyone had a lovely Easter - thanks so much for stopping by!