29 FACES - DAY 18

I didn't use my ink pen this time.  I sketched lightly with pencil and then colored him in with Derwent Watercolor Pencils and applied some water to activate them.

Drawn from an uncredited photo on the front page of the 2-18-2014 Seattle Times in an article written by Lynn Thompson/Staff Reporter.

29 FACES - DAY 17

Drawn from an uncredited photo on the front page of the 2-17-2014 Seattle Times in an article written by Brian M. Rosenthal/Seattle Times Olympia Bureau.

29 FACES - DAY 11

[My challenge is to draw a face from the front page of the Seattle Times from that day.]

The Olympic Games are in the headlines and there was a big picture of a local gal, who had won a medal, on the front page.  She was screaming with joy and her mouth was wide open.  I couldn't bring myself to draw her.  I don't like doing teeth, they never look like they should.

But, there was a tiny little picture of this interesting looking guy.  I messed up one of his eyes... and with ink there's no going back.

This was drawn from an uncredited photo accompanying a story by Dominic Gates on the front page of the Seattle Times of February 11, 2014.

29 FACES - DAY 10

[My challenge is to draw a face from the front page of the Seattle Times from that day.]

This guy was at an odd angle.  I wouldn't have picked him, but I didn't get a choice.  I think it turned out okay.

This is a semi-blind contour drawing using a Lamy fountain pen with black Noodlers ink then colored with Derwent watercolor pens and left dry.

This was drawn from a photo on the front page of the Seattle Times of 2-10-2014, the photo is credited to Greg Gilbert of the Seattle Times.

29 FACES - DAY 6

[My challenge is to draw a face from the front page of the Seattle Times from that day.]

Yesterday was the big Seahawks Parade, so there was a huge picture of the huge crowd on the front page today, which is no good for me (although I must say, it's a great thing for the city, and maybe even the state).

On page 2 I found this interesting face.

I was looking at someone else's sketches yesterday, and I realized they used a pencil first...hmmm.  I've always just started right out with the pen and if I made a big blunder it was just 'oh, well'.  I always hated that part of it.  It made it almost too stressful (not fun).

So, I used a pencil to sketch out this face and get the basics down first, then went at it quickly with the ink pen.  Then I colored it with the watercolor pencils and added water.  Now that I've posted it here, I can see the streaky-ness of the strokes where I went back into the wet paper with the watercolor pencils to add more shading.  I don't like that way that looks, so I'll try harder to get it more even next time.

This was drawn from an uncredited photo on page A2 of the February 6, 2014 of the Seattle Times.

29 FACES - DAY 5

[My challenge is to draw a face from the front page of the Seattle Times from that day.]

Like I said, I live in Seattle.  Other big news today is the new CEO of Microsoft.  His picture was on the front page today.  

This is a pen and ink drawing, kind of a little semi-blind, colored with Derwent watercolor pencils which I did not apply water to.  I discovered that unlike regular colored pencils, these don't like to many layers of color.  After I had gotten the skin color sort of like I wanted I was reluctant to add water for fear of ruining it, so I didn't.  (I don't like it as well as the watercolor ones though).

This was drawn from a photo on the front page of the Seattle Times February 5, 2014.  It was credited with Microsoft.

29 FACES - DAY 4

[My challenge is to draw a face from the front page of the Times for that day.]

Today's Seattle Times still has football coverage on the front page (see yesterday's post).  There was a big picture of a group of people, so all of the faces are too small to draw.  On the banner was an uncredited picture of coach Pete Carroll with the Lombardi Trophy.  So, today's drawing is again of Pete.

This is a pen and ink drawing, colored with Derwent watercolor pencils with a little water applied here and there to activate them.

This was drawn from an uncredited photo on the front page banner of the Seattle Times of February 4, 2014.

29 FACES - DAY 3

I live in Seattle.  If you are tuned into American happenings, then you should know that yesterday was the Superbowl and the Seattle Seahawks won.  So, you can guess what was on the front page of the Seattle Times.  [My challenge is to draw a face from the front page of the Times for that day.]

Yes, it was a full page color photo of the Quarterback holding the trophy with the coach standing next to him.  There was confetti falling down all around them.  I chose the coach.  

This is a pen and ink drawing, colored with Derwent watercolor pencils, with just a little water here and there, mostly the background.  After I messed up the face of yesterday's guy, I didn't want to put water on this face.

This is drawn from a photo on the front page of the Seattle Times, Monday, February 3, 2014.  The photo is credited to Jon Lok.

29 FACES - DAY 2

There weren't any faces on the front page of the Sunday Seattle Times.  There were people, but most of them had their backs to the camera or were way off and too small to see.  There was one headshot of a columnist, but my paper had a smudge over him.  And there was a very small picture of the Fab Four, which I found just a little too intimidating.   

So, I found this picture on A3 and I liked the odd angle of the image.  I can definitely say I've never drawn anyone at this angle before.

This is a semi-blind contour with ink, then colored with Derwent watercolor pencils and water applied.  And, yes I overworked the nose.  I always do that with watercolors.  They take such a fine touch and I rush in too quickly.  Maybe by the end of the month I'll figure that out.

This is drawn from a photo credited to Hans Pennick/Associated Press that was in the Sunday Seattle Times, page A3, February 2, 2014.

29 FACES - DAY 1

Here I go again.  I've committed to the 29 Faces in February Challenge again.

This time the challenge for me will be to draw a face from the Seattle Times every day.  I'm going to try to do one from the front page, even if I don't like it.  

This one is a blind contour drawing of the face using my ink pen.  Then I looked while I filled in the rest of the drawing.  I used Derwent watercolor pencils and then applied a little water to blend it all.

This was drawn from a photo on the front page of the February 1, 2014 Seattle Times.  The photograph is credited to Mike Siegel.  (it doesn't look anything like the poor man in the photo).