fine art | alecia goodman blog

Posts Tagged 'fine art'

Mubusu #3, Made it Out of the Rabbit Hole

Published August 9, 2012 illustration , portrait 5 Comments
Tags: art, black and white drawing, characters, charcoal, chimpanzee, chimpanzee drawing, drawing, figurative, fine art, illustration, journal experience, jungle, light, new, pencil, portrait, rabbit, rabbit hole, sketch, smile, wild

Its been quite a busy summer, with trips, and commissions (mainly graphic design and hats). I finally emerged from my metaphorical rabbit hole and to find my drawing board, which I sorely missed. Here is the latest update for Mubusu, two year old chimpanzee, it is coming along though I wish it was faster. He is still up to a toddler’s antics, I am lucky enough to visit him regularly. Since its been a while I hope that I am still working the same on the piece as earlier in the project.

Chimpanzee #2, the cute face

Published May 20, 2012 experience , illustration , journal , portrait 2 Comments
Tags: art, baby, black and white drawing, characters, charcoal, chimp, chimpanzee, chimpanzee drawing, concept, design, drawing, drawings, fairy, figurative, fine art, graphic, illustration, journal experience, light, myth, pan, pencil, portrait, progress, sketch, sketch book, smile, soul, soulful, space

The Genus for a Chimpanzee is Pan. Which is also the name for the mythic faerie figure who protects nature most often pictured playing a flute.

I am making some progress. His personality is really starting to come through.

Monkeying around with a Chimpanzee

Published May 19, 2012 illustration , portrait 1 Comment
Tags: art, baby, black and white drawing, characters, charcoal, chimp, chimpanzee, concept, design, drawing, drawings, fine art, graphic, illustration, journal experience, monkey, new, pencil, portrait, progress, sketch, space, toddler

This cute little guy is about 2, my monkey and him see to have a lot in common. I have been so busy haven’t done a personal piece for a bit unless you call P.G. personal since it was a gift. I have started this little guy 4 times though. I was really excited about some Derwent Tinted Charcoal I picked up this week. So far I am not thrilled with it hence the 3 previous drawings. Sad I know, so to keep a possible artist’s block from hitting me square in the face I am moving on to charcoal, Generals (the orange ones). I have another idea for this chimpanzee, pastels hmmm… we will have to see when I can work that one in.

Here’s my start, the fourth one… hope to get more done tonight.

P.G. Is Completed… Finally!

Published May 12, 2012 illustration , portrait 20 Comments
Tags: art, cat, characters, children portrait, color, concept, custom, design, drawing, drawings, figurative, fine art, gift, ginger, ginger cat, graphic, illustration, journal experience, light, new, painting, pastel, pastels, pencil, pet portrait, portrait, progress, sketch, sketch book, space, tabby

I want to apologize for my hiatus of the past couple of weeks. I actually went on vacation, a first in a very long time.

Yeah!!! I am so elated to be finally done with this one. The hope was to finish this one quickly, oops (someone forgot to give that memo to my toddler).

It was smaller than the portraits I completed as of late, 8.5″ x 8″ approximately. Media was Oyster Canson Mi Tientes. I think the colored paper complimented the colors in P.G. well. I had some difficulty working on such a smaller size, keeping with my usual detailed approach. I think larger pieces though challenging at the same time may be easier for detail. As with most of my work a sharp point is extremely important and with a smaller size even more so. I did find that I had to slowly build up the media and do some mixing of colors mainly through pencil application. This was tedious but the result was well worth it.

I hope that this gift goes over well; surprises and thrills all at the same time. What do you think?

Back to P.G.

Published April 13, 2012 illustration 9 Comments
Tags: art, cat, concept, drawing, drawings, fine art, fur, ginger, ginger cat, graphic, illustration, journal experience, light, new, painting, pastel, pencil, portrait, progress, sketch, sketch book, smile, space

I am back to P.G. hoping I can finish this soon and begin work on an adorable baby chimp. Having some difficulty getting the correct mixes of oranges and creams. I am amazed by all the colors that are browns in my pastels… some are gold, rusty or just gray. I wonder if its taking longer since its a gift whereas a commissioned piece seems to fly. The good news: It looks like I am closer than I am to finishing if you look at it from further away. So maybe I am getting close, though I still have a ways to go.

Wrap Up: Sweet Success With A Touch Of Sadness

Published April 2, 2012 illustration 6 Comments
Tags: art, baby, baby girl, black and white drawing, children, children portrait, concept, design, drawing, drawings, figurative, fine art, graphic, illustration, Illustration Friday, journal experience, light, new, painting, pastel, pastels, pencil, portrait, progress, sketch, sketch book, smile

I am happy to announce that my customer loved their portrait, “Renna”. I am a little sad that I won’t be seeing her adorably cute face on my drawing table any more.

Some tips and things from working on this project. I used Derwent 9b pencils (recommended by Blue Bird Art House), Sanford Design Ebony (Jet Black Extra Smooth) and White charcoal pencils on a mixed gray paper. I always start with a very light sketch, if you go too dark fixing or shading later could be impossible. From there I focus on the eyes, then the nose and mouth. Eyes catch a person and the facial expression holds them there. It also shows more of the personality of the person. From there I work all over the place, holding to the idea that I am working on the project as a whole. Keep your pencils extra sharp. I try my best to never smear or smudge things, I think it ruins the drawing and you lose a lot of contrast and detail. On that note, when using white try to pull it through shaded areas of graphite so that it looks continuous. At the end of every project I use a spray fix to keep the drawing from smearing or smudging (especially during transit). And of course I take a picture for my records.

Frustration: I had another pencil sharpener die, lasted 1.5 drawings which is an improvement over the last. I purchased another electric this time a Stanley® Bostitch® Executive Electric Pencil Sharpener. Hoping this lasts longer. I know with really soft pencils, hand sharpening is recommended. However, since my car accident this is near impossible. You should never absorb the impact of the air bag with your drawing/sharpening hand. Just for the record, not my fault either.

Here is the wrap up from sketch to finished drawing, “Renna”. Sorry for the lighting issues, I started using my new camera. What do you think?

IF-Return, If you saw Renna from start I hope you returned for the finish.

: Portrait Update #1, “Renna” ©2012 alecia goodman to present

: Portrait Update #2, “Renna” ©2012 alecia goodman to present

: Portrait Update #3, “Renna” ©2012 alecia goodman to present

: Portrait Update #4, “Renna” ©2012 alecia goodman to present

: Portrait Update #5, “Renna” ©2012 alecia goodman to present

: Portrait Update #6, “Renna” ©2012 alecia goodman to present

: Portrait Update #7, “Renna” ©2012 alecia goodman to present

: Portrait Update #8, “Renna” ©2012 alecia goodman to present

Less is More Creed and a Smurf

Published March 28, 2012 illustration 3 Comments
Tags: art, baby, baby girl, black and white drawing, children, children portrait, concept, creed, design, drawing, drawings, figurative, fine art, girl, illustration, journal experience, less is more, light, new, pastel, pastels, pencil, portrait, progress, sketch, sketch book, smile, smurf, space

Well I think I am done. I always reach a point on a drawing where I have to step back and realize if I do too much more I will destroy the beauty I created. Hence the less is more creed, it does hold true more often than not. Still I am not going to hold my breath, I don’t think I could pull off the smurf look. Besides its my customer who makes the final call so I am hoping my customer likes it as much as I do. Once its approved I will sign it and I will post one final update on Renna. I will try to move through my process and provide some tips on drawing a portrait and/or working with this particular media.

Precious

Published March 27, 2012 illustration 4 Comments
Tags: art, baby, baby girl, black and white drawing, children, children portrait, concept, drawing, drawings, fine art, girl, illustration, journal experience, light, new, pastel, pastels, pencil, portrait, precious, progress, sketch, sketch book, smile, space

I am really excited that I have this portrait almost done. I know I have some more tweaking to do here and there, but it is getting really close. One of my biggest challenges is to make sure I don’t get too much detail going on in her shirt, but enough to show its there and allow the baby to pop.

I am a little sad to be getting ready to saying good bye to this sweet little face and not seeing her beautiful smile as I work daily; so precious. What do you think?

“Oh my goodness you have hair”

Published March 25, 2012 illustration 1 Comment
Tags: art, baby, baby girl, black and white drawing, children portrait, concept, design, drawing, drawings, figurative, fine art, graphic, illustration, journal experience, light, new, pastel, pencil, portrait, progress, sketch, sketch book, space

So here’s the latest portrait update. I am starting to render in the hair and clothes. I am just awe struck, she is coming to life before my eyes.

Crazy Time, Sharpening Frustrations, & Bracket Madness

Published March 18, 2012 portrait Leave a Comment
Tags: art, baby, baby girl, black and white drawing, characters, charcoal, children, concept, drawing, drawings, figurative, fine art, illustration, journal experience, light, pastels, pencil, progress, sketch, sketch book, space, white charcoal

Its been a crazy week. I have barely had time to work on my current project til today. I am still excited at where its going. I have to say this drawing is the highlight to my week and of course my new sewing machine. I am still struggling with soft pencils and my sharpener, I think it is sanding one side down more than another… not exactly sure why. So hoping I won’t be needing a new one. If anyone has suggestions it would be much appreciated. I feel like crying when I lose a pencil due to faulty equipment—just so frustrating.

The low note, bracket-wise Wichita State lost…. Sad to say the least. And even Kansas State lost today. The upsets are making things interesting (with so many #2s losing out).

Hope I get some more drawing time in tomorrow.

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alecia goodman blog

Posts Tagged 'fine art'

Mubusu #3, Made it Out of the Rabbit Hole

Chimpanzee #2, the cute face

Monkeying around with a Chimpanzee

P.G. Is Completed… Finally!

Back to P.G.

Wrap Up: Sweet Success With A Touch Of Sadness

Less is More Creed and a Smurf

Precious

“Oh my goodness you have hair”

Crazy Time, Sharpening Frustrations, & Bracket Madness

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