Drawing Technique

...based on line drawings and realism

My drawing technique is based on realism and the basics of line drawing. The degree to which I enhance my drawings varies from the simple line drawing, to textured drawings (using light and shade), to charcoal drawings which are so elaborately enhanced that they look like black and white "paintings". In the latter case, I see things in areas of light and dark much like a painter.
The immediate simplicity of the pencil affords me the ability to create spontaneously lifelike portraits. I often use the pencil on portraits of older people because it is conducive to creating soft, smooth drawings. As in all my portraits, I achieve a strong likeness of my model, but I often smooth out the wrinkles in older faces.

I often use charcoal for dramatic drawings. The power achieved in many of my jazz portraits comes from the strong black lines and heavy black tones provided through the use of charcoal. Click here for a charcoal lesson.

My pet portraits have color in them. In these cases coloured pastel was combined with charcoal.

All of my ink drawings are clearly based on the spontaneity of the correctly drawn line. They are combined with ink-washes, which vary in degree of grey tones. An ink wash is created by dipping a brush into black India ink and then mixing the brush with water before applying it to the paper.

My watercolors were approached with the same spontaneous attitude with which I approached my ink washes.

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