More Portraits July 2012

12" by 16" Charcoal Portrait on Strathmore 500 tinted paper.

This is a portrait of three girls of basketball friend of mine from back in Kansas.   Below is the JPEG from which I drew it from.  I debated whether to include more of the body but with most portraits, the key element often revolves around the eyes.  If the eyes aren't "right", it's very hard to make the portrait work.  It's first thing I draw when I start and it's the last thing I check before it's completed.  Drawing the entire body would have made the faces smaller and given the eyes less prominence.   

If you are interested in having a portrait drawn by commission, please email me at markraleyart@comcast.net.  I am affordable and when in a good mood, you'll get a pretty good deal!  First time customers can get a 9" by 12" of a single person for $50.  Each additional person would be an additional $25, but the size can be greater.  Generally there's a two week span between a picture selected to draw and it's completion.