Digital portraits

I have been producing fine art portraits for a few years however I hadn’t tried out using digital software. Since using adobe illustrator for a few months, I gave myself a few projects to push my skills. I felt going back to basics such as landscapes, fruit and faces were a good place to start!

To get started I used some references and created my own clothing, background and styles, I found a lot of the magic comes through the lighting and gradients.

I re-started a few times while I was gaining a process, I didnt know where to start! I found producing a preliminary base was a good approach, it is just like drawing a portrait with pencils or paints. The strategy is easily transferrable, especially since these visuals are built through layers and tonal values. Once I had discovered these key points the next hard part was knowing when to stop. Light, shadows, reflective tones are endless so the real challenge is finding what is worth the layer, less is more therefore its about simplifying the visual.

SELF PORTRAIT

After producing 2 portraits, I felt it was appropriate to try out a self portrait, this time i wanted to try out a different perspective, lighting and shadows. I found it was challenging making sure the result held a likeness to myself and my reference image. Usually I dont try to make anything look exactly like the reference, since its just a source of inspiration. I am quite pleased with the outcome, I feel it really does look like me! I have been enjoying exploring a new creative realm! This practice has inspired me to get painting again so I have a new sketchbook decidated to funky fun portraits, doing both keeps my perspective fresh and open to different mediums.

Portrait Commissions

PETS

Over the last few months, I’ve had the pleasure of producing pet and family portraits; this was especially busy around Christmas and birthdays, It’s been very special creating personal artworks for all kinds of people, particularly those who come to me through word of mouth, creating new relationships with wonderful people and having the special job of making something meaningful for them has given my practice purpose and meaning, I will definitely be open for portraits full time!

Starting out, I had been asked to do a few portraits but I felt I wasn’t good enough to accept portrait commissions, after some practice I managed to fulfil a few pet portraits and soon I was being asked about family drawings, I am looking forward to taking on more and improving my skills! I plan to do some self-portrait and celebrity drawings to keep up my practice, stay tuned!

FAMILY

Lovliest email ever!:

I feel very humbled and lucky to meet and work with such lovely wonderful people, this really is what life is about! Thank you to all my clients so far, I hope to work with you again in future!

Portrait Drawing

I have been keeping a sketch book to practice figure and portrait drawing for some of my commissions, i had never been much good at drawing faces or people but I’m pushing myself to learn new techniques, I recently got the book “Drawing Perspective: How to See It, how to Apply it” by Matthew Brehm, Its tough getting your head and hand to act as one so I am looking forward to applying some of Brehm’s teachings.

I enjoy producing portraits, especially capturing expression and moods. The challenge is identifying key features, lines and shapes that cultivate a likeness of the individual. I have been returning to this practice for the past 6 months and I’ve been lucky enough to have 3 portrait requets so I am able to practice daily.