Back again .... Finished - Page 22

**SparrowHawk7** · #**316** 05-12-2012, 08:56 PM

Gosh Terri ... you are very kind. How much did Katie pay you to say all that? Sounds like her as well ... Nice to see you back here. Did you get all your personal stuff sorted?

Thanks Peggy. Woman of few words today, eh?

ArtbyPeggy · #**317** 05-13-2012, 12:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SparrowHawk7

Thanks Peggy. Woman of few words today, eh?

Sometimes

The depth in the eyes is just wow!! Your work is so fantastic, I'm speechless!

Peggy

**SparrowHawk7** · #**318** 05-13-2012, 02:32 AM

I wasn't trying to get you to say anything Peggy .. just joking. But thank you. I do give a lot of emphasis to eyes but that's because they are the most important thing in any portrait - human or animal, I've said it before a number of times, but it's worth repeating. They are generally what the viewer looks at first and what they return to while looking at the rest of the image. There is a saying that the eyes are windows to the soul. With a human portrait, the viewer tries to connect to the subject and get a glimpse of who they are through the eyes ... it's the same with an animal though the connection is different. So I spend a great deal of time on the eyes so that my drawings feel almost alive - at least that's what I hope the viewer comes away feeling. If someone tells me my drawing looks like a photograph, then I haven't accomplished what I am after. I want something intangible .. but more than that.

This image is a bit darker than the actual drawing.

ArtbyPeggy · #**319** 05-13-2012, 02:54 AM

No Worries Ken! I knew that

I agree the eyes are the windows to the souls and especially in animals. You capture the reality more so than a photograph. I want to reach out and pet your signature line

Especially the first kitty in the line because he looks a little sad and also the beagle type puppy

**SparrowHawk7** · #**320** 05-13-2012, 03:13 AM

The first kitty is Cassie ... she's VERY sweet and curious .. a little flakey but she's a female AND a calico. One of my early tries at a cat.

http://www.heritageartstudios.com/ga...179&fullsize=1

The beagle I nick-named booboo because he sort of looks like he had an "accident" but also thinks he's about to get clobbered for it. A very amusing expression.

http://www.heritageartstudios.com/ga...294&fullsize=1

So many artists draw animals - primarily cats and dogs - without much of an expression. In reality they always do have some sort of expression ... curiosity, intensity, amusement, guilt, love, aloofness, shyness, surprise ... much like their human counterparts do. I try to find references that show various emotions and then enhance those or at least bring them forward in my drawings. I want people to react to my art on two levels. First, the desire to touch them or at least expect them to move in a moment and second to get some sort of emotional bond. If I've done that with any drawing, I have accomplished my goal.

Kathrin G. · #**321** 05-13-2012, 05:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SparrowHawk7

Gosh Terri ... you are very kind. How much did Katie pay you to say all that? Sounds like her as well ...

great minds think alike

Kathrin G. · #**322** 05-13-2012, 05:38 AM

Let me say this first .... I love this slightly darker version

It pops even more that way

Gorgeous kitty eyes Ken, wow !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Love the depth in them

**SparrowHawk7** · #**323** 05-13-2012, 06:52 AM

The problem with the darker version is that it isn't accurate ... I retouch my photos in Photoshop and among other things I try to adjust values to reflect the reality of the drawing ... I had thought I was about right with this one until I saw how it looked once posted ...too dark but of course, it was too late to change it then as I'd already changed the original. I will get it closer when I post my next update.

The secret to depth in eyes as I've said before is layers. I have no idea how many layers might be on these. I have put down a bunch and then erased them nearly entirely then put more down .. erased a lot of that area and put it all back again. The erasing isn't because I made a mistake though .. it's to build a more solid base of graphite to build upon. Doing eyes this way takes a lot of time .. and they go through some very ugly stages but perseverance pays off in the long run. I still have a bit more work to do on the far eye but they are quite close now.

Kathrin G. · #**324** 05-13-2012, 03:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SparrowHawk7

The problem with the darker version is that it isn't accurate ....

maybe its not accurate to the way you have it and possibly not like the ref photo demands it ..... but I like it that way

Just me being me Ken, thats all

**SparrowHawk7** · #**325** 05-13-2012, 03:27 PM

OK ... Katie ... I will allow you to be you. I just don't want people to look at this and think I intentionally darkened it artificially to make it look better than it does IRL (I did adjust the values but going this dark wasn't intentional) or think that I can get those darks with graphite alone (remember I have mixed charcoal with graphite in this a little which makes a HUGE difference). Just me being honest.

lorriecc · #**326** 05-13-2012, 03:35 PM

That is really good just like a black and white photo

yeticatcher · #**327** 05-13-2012, 03:54 PM

That's some really fine pencil work, Ken. Not only this piece as it progresses, but on your website as well.

I look forward to seeing more!

-Tom

**SparrowHawk7** · #**328** 05-13-2012, 04:03 PM

Thank you Lorraine .. I am trying for something a bit beyond a photograph. I want people to expect the cat to move or want to reach out and pet it .. in other words, to put the illusion of life in the drawing. That's the goal .. perhaps I'll reach there by the time I finish ...

Thank you also Tom. I enjoyed your illustrations as well.

**SparrowHawk7** · #**329** 05-13-2012, 04:45 PM

Enough for today. I reworked quite a bit of the fur on the bridge of the nose and added more to the nose itself. Cats all have wild hair patterns in their noses that are notoriously tricky ... this one is no exception although it's getting close to right. I'm not finished with any of it really .. but it's starting to get to the right place. I've gone a bit beyond where the scan leaves off but not much - the end of the nose is just below where I am. It's looking somewhat better now that I have some of the cheek in place and the nose begun. It still lacks the proper shading on the nose so it feels rounded .. but the texture must come first. Shading is relatively easy from there.

**luicre** · #**330** 05-13-2012, 06:40 PM

Wow, Ken, If a cat would be looking at me like that I would give him whatever food I have . Fantastic eyes!

Saludos

Luicre

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