This was a very difficult portrait to make. This is my first attempt, and it looks pretty good, but look at the ears. They are down by brother Dave’s chin. I show the original photograph below to show their true position. And yet the photo looks natural. The drawing does too, except when one looks at the ears.
I tried to puzzle this out in about a dozen sketches, none of which came closer to the photo than my original drawing. The face is foreshortened, tilted back and slightly turned. I need much more practice.
Quarantine Portrait Series: Brother Dave from More Than 50 Years Ago (from photo) 06162020
Pencil Sketch
12″x9″ 60# Drawing Paper
Original photo:
Vintage Vacation Picture – Brother Dave having Fun
Family Pictures
I sometimes have difficulties with forshortening. I found two things which help me in this situation: tracing a few forshortened images and drawing them upside down so there’s less abiliy for your brain to resolve the forshortening and “see” the non forshortened face. I must admit I find forshortening really tricky sometimes.
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Thanks, Jo. The ears on that photo…. too tough!
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