Self Portrait - 29th April 2006

19th May 2006

I did this one with charcoal, I think mainly because the last one came out so light. I think I wanted to see if the Bargue drawings had made much difference yet to my handling of charcoal too.

I've always seen charcoal as a paint-like, expressive material, and that's the common conception of it. Before I started doing the Bargue drawings and looking at some cast drawings on the web, I had no idea it could be used as a fine detail, precision drawing tool too. I suppose it makes sense because it's so sensitive, and has such a wide range of tone from blank paper to deep black. But I used to just slap it on and hope for the best, with pretty mixed results.

Copying the Bargue drawings in charcoal has been a real eye opener. I now sharpen my charcoal stick to a fine point, and like that it's as capable of as fine work as a pencil, assuming the person holding it is too. Not quite in my case.

But I must admit I'm still a bit amazed that this is a charcoal drawing of mine. I just couldn't have done this six months ago.

As a likeness I'm not sure about this one, I think the last one was probably closer. But I like the drawing for the way it was done, and for the fact that it proves to me that I've learned something. That's always encouraging.

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