Wish I could post what I did yesterday in charcoal, but three-quarter of the way through the drawing my sleeve swiped across the drawing and you guessed it – much was destroyed. AND, if you can believe it – I did it twice more! Okay so charcoal at some point is not recoverable, I discovered the limit was lol. Lesson learned.
Young and Fresh was done while on my December break – it was real hard to resist having a go with this island girl and her fabulous braids. This charcoal drawing (9×6) was done on Strathmore paper using vine charcoal and charcoal pencil, a stump and a kneaded eraser.
The braids were surprisingly easy to do using the pencil and eraser for highlights, but the eyes well they were another thing entirely.
Thank you for checking in ~ have a wonderful weekend.
The reference photograph was taken by a wonderful photographer Li Newton of pmp and wetcanvas.
MY ART IS COPYRIGHTED.
PLEASE DON’T COPY OR USE MY IMAGE WITHOUT RECEIVING MY PERMISSION FIRST – SEE DISCLOSURE ON THE RIGHT PANEL.
Oil Pastels by Mary 
It was so lovely to catch up with you today after a hectic holiday season, Mary! I chose to jump in and comment on Young and Fresh because your drawing is stunning and because January calls us to be young and fresh! Hope your 2015 is as lovely as you and your art ❤
Wow Angie, thank you for such a fantastic comment – love it! This young girl caught my attention from the moment I saw her, was a great portrait to do. Best wishes for a great 2015!
Beautifully done!
Thank you Patrick, means a lot.
Mary I heard the screams up to here…. now I know what it was all about… It is a pain! I hate losing anything and in this world of painting it is often happening. I smudged a few and even managed some time to go one step beyond with other mediums that I am afraid to say was one step too far.. But it is great to see that for that odd one you always have great work to show. Great portrait 🙂
Such a generous and lovely note Doron, thank you. We all go through these little episodes right, good learning experience for me. Have a great week and happy painting.
Very nice indeed despite your mishaps. I apologize for not coming around on these latest posts…been busy painting. I’m catching up today though! 🙂 Also, having trouble leaving a comment. Even though I’m logged in it seems I am to fill in name and email address before I can post?
Hi Rhonda, thanks so much for your nice comment. Can’t wait to see what you painted today. No one else has mentioned the problem of commenting, is it only on my blog? I haven’t had any issues leaving comments on other blogs – let me know if it’s only mine and I’ll see what is up. Thanks again ~
I have never done charcoal. Well done, Mary!!
Thanks Christy for your lovely comment! Hope you try it one day, it’s challenging but fun (except for the messy dust).
I’ve done this too;) But you’ve recovered well. The expression is marvelous.
Thanks so much Elena – I so admire your incredible portraits and could study the precision and fine qualities you are able to produce. This young girl was a lot of fun to draw, the camera caught her at a perfect time. Have a wonderful weekend.
It is always hard to capture youthfulness and you just did that perfectly, her face has that freshness even do at this age the features are not developed entirely. Her eyes are the focal point, it certainly tells a story, beautifully executed! I love your determination and will Mary, it is a good quality to have! Have a wonderful weekend!
Hi Eva, love your beautiful description of what you’re seeing. Thank you so much, for taking time to understand what the young girl is all about – there was so much about her that captured my attention. So glad you enjoyed the piece. I better have some determination right? Because portraits I’m finding are a very difficult subject to draw (I’ve yet to try painting one, lol – long time coming on that goal!).
I dabbled in Charcoal in another lifetime 🙂 sorry about your mishap when you were getting into all the creativity 🙂 HUGS
Hey Eunice – Happy New Year to you! Hope you are well – not sure why I haven’t seen your latest posts in my Reader (but I’ll head on over to see what you are up too). Thanks very much for your fun comment!!
Under your name it says following and I have missed yours too 😦 had to go hunt you down 🙂 Happy New Year!
Thanks so much for taking time to find the blog – I think when we are off from WP for a while, things in our Reader kind of disappear.
Oh nooo … but glad we didn’t miss out on this young lady Mary . Just the merest tiniest hint a of a smile on her lips .. enigmatic .
Cynthia mentioning Georgia O’Keefe like that made me smile !
Hi Poppy, thanks so much – had to smile, you guys are just too funny w/Georgia! Glad you liked her, this little girl had that oh so familiar great attitude. Have a wonderful weekend.
She is lovely, very nicely done Mary.
Hi Beth, great to see you – thanks so much. Happy New Year.
This is such a lovely drawing. She is a sweet little girl! Charcoal can be so extremely frustrating. I have done some in the past, but it definitely never became a favorite medium of mine. I don’t really have the patience for it. Although, I have done some drawings in charcoal and pastels, but just haven’t posted them on my blog. 😉
Thanks so much Patsy. Charcoal is still a pretty new medium for me, I like the whole discovery process of figuring out how to draw with it and obtaining some interesting effects. Looking forward to seeing your charcoal drawings, maybe you’ll post some?
You’re welcome, Mary. Good luck with your experimenting. I hope you enjoy it. I will have to dig them up and post some. I did a dog that I copied out of an art book that turned out pretty good, but I don’t remember what else I did! Funny! 😉
Excellent work, Mary! [I see someone has been busy during Christmas Holidays! 😉 ] 🙂
Thanks Marina! I have a few more pieces to post. Hope you have a lovely weekend, we’ll be outside cleaning up the yard from fall debris – good exercise, but not a lot of creativity.
This looks fantastic to me, Mary. It is beautiful and so well done.
Thanks Kerry, great to see you. Happy New Year. I was thinking about you I found another blogger who does beautiful digital art – I’ll go find her site and pass on to you. Take care.
Here is the blogger I mentioned below, http://firstnightdesign.wordpress.com/ Sarah also has disabilities and have found digital art a great create avenue.
Thanks so much for the link. I love discovering new digital artists.
What a lovely face she has, Mary 🙂 Have a lovely and productive weekend!
Thank Jo! Most of this weekend will be spent outside raking up leaves and cleaning the garden. Don’t mind, but it takes me away from painting ~
Mary
a definite case of all’s well that ends well..Cynthia has given a key about Georgia..are you going to try? Make sure you let us know.
Work of the first order as usual.
john
Ha John, you make me laugh – I’ll leave the memories of Georgia’s painting techniques to others imaginations. Thank you very much for always being present – have a lovely weekend.
you’re gifted Mary, but above all, you are a gift to us 🙂
You are very kind. Thank you so much for your beautiful comment, very humbling and appreciated.
This is really good, Mary. How frustrating to have your drawing ruined by a sleeve! Is it too cold there to go sleeveless? 😕
Thank you – appreciate it! Oh I learned a big lesson, but it’s very cold out now so sleeveless isn’t an option – I’ll have to tie my sleeves or something like that.
So beautifully done, Mary!
Thank you Amy!
This is beautiful!!
Keep up the great work!
Best Wishes,
Isabella
Thank you Isabella – very nice to meet you
The artist Georgia O’Keefe used to paint in the nude…maybe you should do that, Mary, to avoid the smudging danger of wayward sleeves….as usual, a beautifully rendered portrait here….
So funny Cynthia, she was onto something! You know the tenacity in me just wouldn’t give up and darned if I’m still going to see if I can’t salvage this to a certain degree. Thanks so much!!