I drew this picture of my granddaughter from a photo taken on Thanksgiving Day 2006 when she was 6 months old. I used colored pencils on cream colored paper in a cahier notebook. The pencils are a new set that were included in a "palette" or pencil case that zips open to display an array of pencils arranged by color and shade. Although they are no-name pencils,  I like their feel as I draw with them and they blend pretty well with a stump. The point on the "flesh"-toned pencil broke frequently though;  now, that is the shortest pencil in the palette--usually a distinction reserved for my black pencil.







I've done a few portraits now, all in colored pencil. When I started drawing, I didn't plan to do portraits; I was fascinated by line--especially in old buildings, and I intended to focus on drawing architecture. My first attempts at drawing portraits were merely "flings" at fun and challenges to myself to see if I could draw mouths and capture the life in my subjects eyes. I'm discovering, though, that I do love doing the portraits.







I'm going to a family reunion next week in VT. I'm hoping to get some good candid photos of my family--especially of those of us who have been graced with "character" lines on our faces. I've been acquiring a collection of drawing pads and notebooks thinking that I would like to dedicate each to a particular subject. Perhaps I'll be able to fill a notebook with portraits. . . .