"Ingrid, Concentrating" #33 in a series of 50 faces

image: 6"x6"

graphite on bristol board

$50 plus $10 domestic s/h

click here to ask about purchasing this drawing

Ingrid is in one of the drawing classes I'm teaching right now and graciously allowed me to keep clicking away until I had a photo somewhat in focus that I could work from! She's been in alot of classes I've taught and it's been neat to see her grow--plus her presence is always a plus.

It is time to stop doing everything else so I can concentrate on finishing up the remainder of the drawings for the bible illustration job I've been working on since October. I have 19 more drawings to do and need to ship them on February 9th! So, I am going to stop posting here until they are off to the publisher! See you in a week and a half!

"A Monk" #32 in a series of 50 faces

image: 6"x6"

graphite on bristol board

$50 plus $10 domestic s/h

click here to ask about purchasing this drawing

This is one of the monks at Our Lady of Guadalupe Abbey in Lafayette, Oregon. A gentle soul! Proceeds from the sale of this drawing will be donated to the monastery.

"Tom, the RadioShack Guy" (sold)

image: 6"x7"

litho crayon on bristol board

NFS

I was asked to do a drawing of this fellow to be used for an ad, so I did a couple from photos that were given me. I really liked working with the litho crayon. I got it because I get frustrated with the lack of deep blacks with the graphite pencils--at least the way they come out on my scanner. Also, though, they're fun to use because you can erase them and so the drawing feels more spontaneous.

This second drawing is with graphite.

"Joanna" #30 in a series of 50 faces

images: 6"x6"

graphite on bristol board

NFS

This drawing is a celebration of my mother who passed away19 years ago today. I found the photo I'm basing this drawing on after she died and it has remained one of my favorites of her. I believe it was taken sometime in the 70's, looking at her French twist and the wide collar of her blouse. I've really enjoyed doing this drawing, meditating on my mother in ways that I just don't do very often. I think that's one of the perks of doing this series--really "spending time" with the person I am portraying, getting past the quick "hi".

"Chris" #29 in a series of 50 facess

image: 6"x6"

graphite on bristol board

Chris, my niece's husband. . .works in a forge, is expecting his first child in March; a sweetheart of a guy.

"Danielle" (detail)

20"x10" image size

Oil on Board

$795 plus s/h

this painting is available from Tumalo Art Company

Well, I got to work some more on this painting and am happy with the result! It's a pretty close likeness, but besides that, I managed to capture the expression I wanted. Trying to get that expression was quite the process! It was trial and error for so long--and it just made me study her that much more closely. It's amazing how the smallest detail makes all the difference, just the most subtle line or color note can change it to a different person.

Here is a photo of the entire painting:

"Danielle" in process

20"x10"

Oil on Board

Not for sale yet

I've taken a couple of days to PAINT!!! It's been over two months since I've painted--can't believe it! It feel so good to do it, though it was kind of scary to begin with.

This painting, even though it is signed, is not finished. I've decided I'm going to work to see if I can get a better likeness of Danielle--then I can keep the title. Otherwise, I'll have to make something up! :-) Danielle is such a beautiful child and I really want to see if I can capture the wide-eyed and relaxed openness of her expression.

I am still working on the 73 illustrations for the College Youth Bible 2010 which is being published by St. Mary's Press. The plan was to be finished with them by next Monday, but it will be another two weeks, I expect. I wish I could post them! The publisher is purchasing the copyright, though, so I don't feel comfortable putting them out into the world myself. I am going to figure out how to watermark them or something at some point, though, so I can put some of them up here. Anyway, I expect to get back to the 50 faces and maybe even a couple more little paintings tomorrow!

"Young Dancer" #28 of a series of 50 faces

6"x6"

graphite on bristol board

click here to ask about purchasing this drawing

This young woman was waiting to take her turn dancing in a small recital when I took the photo of her and her sisters. I hope to paint them--when I can get back to the easel!

I can't help but to acknowledge the events of this day! Our nation has chosen for good and I am proud of it!

"Sondra" #27 in a series of 50 faces (sold)

6"x6"

graphite on bristol board

click here to ask about purchasing this drawing

This lady is a dynamo, one of those people who the description "a force of nature" is made for! She is an artist in many different mediums--collage, handmade books, writing, drawing. Definitely one of the more creative people I've met. I took this photo of her the other day in a drawing class I'm teaching. I really appreciate her patience with me taking all those pictures--I'm sure most people don't like it all that much! Anyway, I decided to work with the one in which she's moving, because that seems to fit her best in my eyes.

One of the things I love about doing these faces is the time it gives me to see past the surface. It's like a meditation on the person and sometimes it feels like I almost get a sense of their inner being, their true selves, maybe the child they are inside. Not sure how to put it, but it's a gift!

"Tracy" #26 in a series of 50 faces

image: 6"x6"

graphite on bristol board

click here to ask about purchasing this drawing

Tracy is a friend, artist and one of the owners of the gallery I show at here in Bend. It was fun to draw her but it was also a challenge because she is very fair-haired and fair-skinned. I didn't want to have the values too dark, but I also didn't want her to disappear on my paper! Tracy has begun a blog with her artwork on it. Her address is http://tracyleagjeld.blogspot.com/. She does amazing monoprints, mostly landscapes. Her sense of color is excellent and her technique is really unique. I hope you'll take a look!

"Woman at the Cafe" #25 in a series of 50 faces (sold)

Image: 6"x6"

graphite on bristol board

click here to ask about purchasing this drawing

This is a person I caught in a photo while at a local cafe. She makes me think of all the "ladies" (as we called any woman that was older and not a relative) that I knew growing up in a little town. Her permed hair, the combination of a man's t-shirt and beads with her fleece jacket just kind of speak of a particular place in our culture.

I have a great little story about my post from the other day, "Deborah". A fellow happened to see the drawing on the Daily Painters Gallery (as best as I can tell) and recognized her as a great friend of his wife. They live in southern California, quite a distance from central Oregon! He forwarded the drawing to Deborah. He then contacted me and told me of his connection with her and then Deb contacted me and told me that the person that was with her when I took the photo was his wife! Kind of a double surprise. And then to top it off, this fellow is a daily painter/blogger, also, and does wonderful work and we are trading the drawing for a painting of his. I am so excited! Please visit his blog http://raymondlogan.blogspot.com/.

"Nathaniel" #24 in a series of 50 faces

image: 6"x6"

graphite on bristol board

This is Nathaniel, my grandson. I wish I knew how to show the creaminess of his child's skin with my pencils! Speaking of pencils, I received a note from someone wondering if these drawings were all midtones as there aren't alot of deep darks that show up here. I am using 2B, 4B and an ebony pencil, so I am not getting a full range of values. In some of the other drawings I do, I use black color pencils because I love deep blacks. Also, I've mentioned before that I do think that these all appear a little lighter than in reality. I haven't been able to get either photos or scans that show the subtleties and the range of values I see in the originals. If anyone has any suggestions, I'd be glad to try them!

"Deborah" #23 in a series of 50 faces (sold)

image: 6"x6"

graphite on bristol board

click here to ask about purchasing this drawing

I've known my friend, Deborah, for about 12 years or something. We don't see each other that often, but it's one of those relationships where you can just pick up where you left off as if no time had passed. She's had that beautifully striking silver-white (and luxuriously thick) hair ever since I've known her--know what I mean? And I'm not sure she knows what a good photographer she is. She is a daughter of this high-desert country and does wonderful black and white photography of real cowboys and Indians and this landscape we live in.

"Masai Dancer" #22 in a series of 50 faces

image: 6"x6"

graphite on bristol board

click here to ask about purchasing this drawing

Today's drawing is of a member of a group of Masai tribespeople that brought performed here in Bend last winter. I wish I'd taken more pictures!

"Sarah" #21 in a series of 50 faces

image: 6'x6"

graphite on bristol board

NFS

This drawing is of Sarah, my "step-daughter"--hard to know what to call her and her sister Laura as they aren't my birth daughters, but much much closer than friends!!

She's a wife, a mother of two little ones (there will be three in May!), a talented designer and just a lovely person!

I think the beautiful things about both Sarah and Laura show in their faces--their intelligence, sensitivity, openness to life and growth. I'm so fortunate to have them in my life!

"Barbara" face #20 in a series of 50

image: 6"x6"

graphite on bristol board

click here to ask about purchasing this drawing

Note 5/23/90: I was asked by Barbara to remove her image as she does not like to have it on the internet, so am honoring that request.

Today's drawing is of a new artist showing at Tumalo Art Company here in Bend, Oregon, Barbara. She exhibits encaustic paintings which are wonderfully textured and carefully composed. I don't know alot about the technique, but what I have learned from her makes me realize that it is a difficult one to master. Click on Tumalo Art Company to see her work.

Just a note to clarify this series of faces--it came to me to do these drawings as a way to be able to keep posting 5 days a week (about!) while I am deeply involved in an illustration project. The project is going well--it is about 100 pieces and I will be finished with the bulk of it by the end of this month. AND THEN I CAN PAINT AGAIN!! Meanwhile I am enjoying this.

"Self-Portrait" #19 in a series of 50 faces

image: 6"x6"

graphite on bristol board

My friend Janice Druian (www.druianstudios.com), took me to task after my last self portrait about how NOT like me it looked! Well, I have heard that often before when I've done a self portrait and my thought is that alot of it has to do with the fact that people usually see me more animated and smiling. So this time I tried to hold onto an expression I slip into alot. . .I think it's a little closer!

What do you think, Janice?!!

"Bruce--with a good idea"

image: 6"x6"

graphite on bristol board

click here to ask about purchasing this drawing

Today's "face" is that of Bruce Jackson, friend and fellow artist. Bruce does large-format landscape photography that is striking in its clarity and detail. His website is http://www.brucejackson.com/. He's one of those photographers that looks for the right light and conditions for the photograph he wants and has been known to wait for hours knee-deep in water until everything comes together to create a beautiful vision. Alot of his work is of areas around Central Oregon. A visit to his website would show you just how varied the area is, and how beautiful for the one who "sees".

"Danielle"

image: 6"x6"

graphite on bristol board

click here to ask about purchasing this drawing

Danielle is the 6 year old granddaughter of friend and fellow artist at Tumalo Art Company, Dorothy Freudenberg. Click on the gallery to see Dorothy's creative work in digital photography. Danielle is simply a sweet, beautiful little girl and I could spend days painting her I think!

Thank you to the people who have left me notes and comments on this series that I'm doing. I really miss painting, but am enjoying this "50-face" project more and more as I get into it. Your comments encourage me to keep at it until my illustration job is completed and I can put the time into painting again.

"Woman With Beaded Earrings" #16 of 50 faces

6"x6"

graphite on bristol board

click here to ask about purchasing this drawing

A friend of mine took this photo of a woman she saw at an opening of an art show. She really reminds me of the ballet teacher I had when I was 5--Miss Moldovon.

"Denise" #15 of 50 faces

image 6"x6"

graphite on bristol board

NFS

Meet my friend, Denise. She is amazing--teaches Spanish, Russian and German, travels extensively and writes articles and books about it, is a poet, writes essays on spirituality, a mom and a grandma, goes on pilgrimages where she walks miles and miles to Santiago de Compostela. There's more but besides all that, she is a humble and loving person with whom I am grateful to share friendship. Happy New Year, Denise, and all of you who read this!