Day 5 of 30 - Life drawing with the NODG

 

"Shadiya in the Mirror" (pastel pencil and pastel, 12x16 inches)

I was honored to be the guest artist at the New Orleans Drawing Group on Thursday evening, to have a Q&A after the drawing session. I was not required to draw, but I decided what the heck why not? It had been a VEERRY long time since I had done any life drawing so I thought it would be good for me.

I'm so glad I did! The model for the evening, Shadiyah Curione, had very imaginative and challenging poses. The long pose is above. I had to go in for dinner for most of it, but I caught the first 20 minutes and the last 15 or so. So this drawing took about 35 minutes. The light was from a candle near the hand mirror on the table (not drawn) The light was so amazing, it was hard to do it justice. 

See more of the other artists' paintings and drawings of Shadiyah on the NODG Facebook group page

Below (cringe) are my 1-minute (marker on smooth paper) and 5-minute (roll-point pen on sketch paper) drawings. I really needed the warm-up!

And by the way, in case you missed this message earlier, I need to tell you something!

The Feedburner team announced that their email subscription service will be discontinued in July 2021. As a result, Blogger’s email subscription widget, also known as FollowByEmail, will be turned off. Specifically, the email subscription system will no longer work and subscribers to Google blogs will no longer receive email updates.

SO! If you're receiving this post via email, I thank you for your subscription, but you will no longer be getting these delivered to you from my Google Blog after next month. 

But don't despair! Here are two ways you can still get my (almost) Daily Paintings in your inbox!

#1 - Sign up for my website's New Art Alerts. I basically have been pasting the same info into my website art posts as I do here, so you won't be missing a thing. CLICK HERE to get my New Art Alerts from my website at RitaKirkman.com.

#2 - Follow my public Patreon Posts. Sure, Patreon is a subscription-based creative support platform, but you don't have to pay anything for my public posts, and just about all of my new work gets posted on my Patreon page, usually with cool little extras like progress pics or short speed videos (like the one linked above!) CLICK HERE to go to my Patreon Page and right below the membership levels, next to a button that says "share" is a button that says "follow". It's that easy! (Browse around my other free posts while you're in there..)

Thanks so much for liking my work and following my blog. Here's to many more years of following my Website or my Patreon, and to many more years of creating!

Day 25 - Mya

"Mya" (conte and pastel pencil, 10x8) sold

Day 25 of my 31-in-31 for January!

Well, I wanted to paint today, but instead I had a severe case of the Wells Fargo QFX Download Blues. (sigh).

So, here's another cute puppy from last month's commissions.

See more pencil portraits at RitaKirkmanDrawings.com.

.

Day 9 - A Graduation

"A Graduation" (conte and pastel pencils, 10x8 inches, from client photo) sold

Another commission from last month. One of my favorite challenges. Her photo was actually printed on a metal diploma, in one of those dot matrix prints that are used in newspapers. I took a photo of the photo so you could see what I mean...

Your monitor or device screen might play havoc with the patterns on this image, but click it and zoom in! Weird!

My client was super happy to have this portrait more clearly drawn. It was the only photo she had of herself at that age.

See more of my pencil portraits at RitaKirkmanDrawings.com.

.

Day 6 - A baby commission

Baby Sisters (conte and pastel pencil, 8x10 inches, from client photo)

Day 6 of my 31-in-31 for January.

Pressed for time today so here's a commission for last month. Cute little baby sisters, 10 months apart!

See more of my pencil portraits at RitaKirkmanDrawings.com
.

A portrait commission and a New Goal for a New Year

"Bible Study" (16x12, conte and pastel pencils, from client photo) sold

Well, another year is gone and a new year begins again.

I was thrown off my usual rhythm in November when my schedule had me in Montreal for a workshop and various other things kept me away from doing my annual 30-in-30 November challenge. Then I was largely offline most of December, immersed in portrait commissions at a Holiday craft show that I've been doing for decades.

It's strange and powerful this hold that the creative urge has over an artist. It's too easy to let it all slide and get caught up in other daily routines, errands, paperwork, dinner chores, and then another day is gone and nothing new has been created. But the urge is still there, like a craving.

Commission work is wonderful and is awesome for paying the bills, but when 99% of it is from client photos, it's not creation, it's copywork. It takes skill, yes, and occasionally one gets to copy a lovely image with exciting light and a decent composition, like the one above, but what the client still wants in the end is an accurate copy of their photo.

After a month of commissions (and more yet on my schedule) I'm dying to dive back into my own ideas. The distractions and excuses are still loud: my database broke, the paperwork is overflowing, one of my hard drives is glitching, and the master closet is scary. But I have decided that the only way I'll be able to really get back to work is to tell someone I'm going to do it! (Because I'm a woman of my word.)

So here it is: I'm going to jump start my 2020 with a 31-in-31 month of posts!

Fine print: I will be using the Leslie Saeta set of rules for my 31-in-31, so if I don't paint a new painting every day, I'll be able to fill in with some of the portraits I did last month (starting with this one.) But I will be posting something that has not been posted before, every day this month!

Thanks for following along with my journey, stay tuned for more, and let me know what you think!

.

PS: see more Detailed Pencil Portraits on my drawings site RitaKirkmanDrawings.com.

.

Roxy - a Quick-Sketch Portrait

"Roxy" (pastel, 16x12 inches) sold

This is one of what I call my "quick-sketch" portraits. These are very popular in the Holiday Season and throughout the year as a lower-priced gift option, at $75/face.
I use burnt umber and white pastels, and sometimes sepia conte pencils (more of the pencils on human faces.) These take about 30-40 minutes from a photo, or 15-20 minutes from life (mostly with still-sitting humans for that kind of timing!)

This is one of my portrait options at Rolling Oaks Mall in San Antonio during their Christmas craft show. The dates this year will be December 6-24, 2019. If you want to order early and beat the rush, just send me an inquiry through my pencil portrait site, RitaKirkmanDrawings.com, and mention "quick-sketch portrait".

Roxy's photo

 I can get one of these done by mail usually within 4-6 weeks, but in December it's quicker, as the portraits are all I do then. But if you need it shipped back in time for Christmas, don't wait!

.

Sir Duke - a Pet Portrait Commission

"Sir Duke" (conte and pastel pencil, 10x8 inches) sold

This beautiful 7 year old Scottish Rough Collie was adopted from a kill shelter in
2014 by Bill and Arlene Wimp.

Sir Duke is now a certified Comfort/Therapy Dog with the PAWS for Service Comfort/Therapy dog organization. He is also a San Antonio Airport Ambassador with the Pups and Planes program.

Sir Duke spread's doggie joy and love to all he meets!


See more portrait samples at RitaKirkmanDrawings.com.

.

Buster - a Pencil Pet Portrait Commission

"Buster" (conte and pastel pencil, 10x8 inches) sold

One of my favorites from the Christmas season. I've been hibernating most of this month with paperwork and pecking away at some brand new award-winning (knock on wood!) pastel competition pieces for some looming show deadlines, so meanwhile I'll post a few of December's drawings.

See more pencil portraits at RitaKirkmanDrawings.com. (Good time to order for your Valentine!)

.

Taffy

"Taffy" (conte and pastel pencil, 10x8 inches) sold

Another adorable pooch from the Holiday Season. See more samples and ordering info at www.ritakirkmandrawings.com.

.

A Tender Moment

"A Tender Moment" (conte and pastel pencil, 16x13 inches)  sold

One of my favorites from the Christmas Season.  It's not too soon to be thinking of Valentine's Day!

See more samples and ordering information at ritakirkmandrawings.com.

.

Chloe through the years

"Chloe" (conte and pastel pencil, 10x8 inches) sold (commission yours for $150!)

I've drawn Chloe every year since she was two. Some years I've drawn her two or three times. I think she must be about 18 now, but I don't like to think about it because it makes me feel old, lol! No, really I think it's wonderful to watch a beautiful girl grow up!

Here are some other portraits of Chloe through the years...

Chloe and her mom

And last year Chloe's mom Clover added an album to Facebook, showing many of the portraits I've done for their family, including some of the cousins and others... See it here! (if it's public)

.

A Classic Wedding Pencil Portrait

A Classic Wedding Portrait (conte and pastel pencils, 8x10 inches) sold

A beautiful memory of their love! - What a wonderful gift for your favorite loved ones who already have everything they could want!

I'm in the midst of my annual Holiday Craft Show, at Rolling Oaks Mall in San Antonio Texas, every day til Christmas Eve, drawing these Detailed Pencil Portraits from your photo!

Stop by and see us (upstairs across from the food court, open all mall hours) or contact me through my Drawings website, RitaKirkmanDrawings.com, where you can see more samples and ordering info. There's still time to order for Christmas, but if you will need your finished portrait shipped back to you don't wait past this weekend!!

.

"ChiChi" a Detailed Pet Pencil Portrait

"ChiChi" a Detailed Pet Pencil Portrait (conte and pastel pencil, 10x8 inches) sold

That time of year again! I'm back in the craft show at Rolling Oaks Mall in San Antonio Texas, every day til Christmas Eve, drawing Detailed Pencil Portraits, Quick-Sketch Portraits and Caricatures (pets and humans too!)

If you're in the area, come on by and see us! Upstairs across from the food court, open all mall hours.
Or contact me through my Drawings website, RitaKirkmanDrawings.com, where you can see more samples and ordering info. There's still time to order for Christmas, but if you will need your finished portrait shipped back to you don't wait much longer!

.

A Puppy Pet Portrait Commission

A puppy pet portrait (black conte and white pastel pencils on gray paper, 10x8 inches) sold

Day 20 of my 30-paintings(drawings?)-in-30-days of November.

I finished an adorable puppy portrait today. This one is not it, as usual, I like to preserve the surprise for the client and so this is one of my favorites from last year (and is now on my business cards!)

With Thanksgiving right around the corner, I'm quickly jumping in to the busy Christmas Season of portrait commissions. If you like this one, consider placing an order for yourself or a special gift! Portrait drawings starting at $150. Visit ritakirkmandrawings.com for more samples and ordering info.

Portrait Commissions, and New Drawings Website!

"Family Selfie" (conte and pastel pencils, 22x12 inches) sold

One of my favorite commissions of the Christmas Season, this "family selfie" is the perfect modern portrait! The client was so excited to have me draw her daughter and grandkids from this candid shot that her granddaughter took. And what a shot! All smiles, no blinks, no blurries, and the composition is amazingly strong. Wish they were all this easy!

This is one of several new portraits I have on my newly-redesigned mobile-friendly Drawings Website for my pencil portraits, created on SquareSpace. Check it out! Same URL at RitaKirkmanDrawings.com.

"Granddaughter and Friend"  (conte and pastel pencils, 15x12 inches) sold

This was another favorite commission of the Season. Who can resist a pet pig?

To commission your favorite photo into a Detailed Portrait Drawing, see my prices and ordering info on my new drawings website!

Pencil Portrait Holiday Special

A Pencil Portrait commission, conte pencil and white pastel pencil, 10x8"

This Christmas Season I'm back at the annual fine craft show at Rolling Oaks Mall in San Antonio Texas, and I'm having a SALE!

50% Off All Pencil Portraits!*
(as seen on my site RitaKirkmanDrawings.com. You MUST mention this blog post when ordering to get the deal!)

This is an unprecedented special offer for this Holiday Season only and will very likely never happen again. Expires Dec. 24, the last day of the Craft Show.

Don’t hesitate to place your order now. When our schedule fills up before Christmas we will be completing orders at home in January. If we’re lucky we will fill up very soon, so if you want something for Christmas, order it now!

 If you don't need it for Christmas, order ahead for Valentine's Day, Mother's Day, your sister's wedding, your parents' anniversary, your partner's birthday, Aunt Jane's housewarming party, or just-because-you-want-it day! If I have your photo(s) and your deposit by Dec 24, you will get the discount!

See more samples and ordering info at

RitaKirkmanDrawings.com

(You MUST mention this blog post when ordering to get the deal!)

*Sale excludes caricatures, poems, framing and shipping.

Portrait of a Young Lady

commissioned portrait, conte and pastel pencil, 8x10, sold

Just finished another commission for a client's girlfriend's birthday coming up in November. To save the surprise, here's another pretty girl from a few years ago.

The Holidays are approaching quickly! You can see more of my pencil portraits and pricing info on my drawings site here!

.

Portraits at the San Antonio Rodeo

Double quick-sketch portrait (conte pencil and pastel, 12x15)

I know!! I haven't posted in a LONG time!

Well, January was way too short a month to take "off", trying to catch up with paperwork and taxes (which I still haven't done, lol) and now it's the middle of February and the San Antonio Rodeo! Can you believe I've been sketching portraits there since 1994?! How time flies!

I especially wanted to post this portrait because I drew this girl four years ago, AND took a photo of it! I do get various people back to be drawn year after year, but it's memorable for me to get someone whom I felt I drew well enough to want to photograph the portrait...

quick-sketch portrait 2012

Now she's married and had her portrait with her husband. Here they are with their portrait from yesterday!

The rodeo continues through February 28. You can find me on the floor of the Freeman Coliseum, right down the stairs from the front entrance.

For more rodeo info, see their website at www.sarodeo.com.

portrait - day 23

"Lexi"  (conte and pastel pencils, 10x8 inches) Example of $150 portrait drawing

Day 23 of my 30 Paintings (or drawings) in 30 Days of November!

I've had a few pencil portrait commissions due in November. I finished one today so I'm using it for today's 'daily painting'. This is not it; I like to keep the current portraits secret to protect the clients' Christmas surprises. This is one from 2012 instead, but it's a stand in, so it still counts!

I'll be quickly heading in to my busy Christmas season of portrait commissions in December. Visit my drawing site RitaKirkmanDrawings.com for more samples and info on how you can commission a drawing of a loved one this Holiday Season! Beat the Christmas rush and order soon!

Quick Sketch Portrait at the San Antonio Rodeo

Double Portrait Sketch in Barnwood Frame ($116.90 promotional Rodeo pricing)
(sepia conte pencil, burnt umber pastel, and white pastel, 15x12 inches, framed 20x16.)

Here's a sketch from Friday at the San Antonio Rodeo. It's always a joy to draw mature adults who know how to sit still (lol!) and of course it's better all around because the portrait comes out better too!

(Btw, my booth is in the coliseum, C-400, on the floor right down from the front entrance!)

Here are some progress shots, from the gent's face. (this was a frontal sepia portrait sketch, which took about 15-20 minutes per face)