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.

Yellow Duckling (and a double caricature at the S.A. Rodeo)

"Yellow Duckling"  (pastel, 6x6 inches)  click here to bid

Finally! I was able to get a few minis done for my daily posts late last week while at the San Antonio Rodeo. This is one of my favorites of the batch. I like the severely formal pose contrasting with the severely cute subject! This one's from the Fry's Fun Farm Petting Zoo, same as all my bunnies!

Here are the couple of progress shots I managed to get, in between being distracted by paying guests getting their portraits and caricatures drawn...

Meanwhile, here's a caricature I was rather proud of on the weekend. It's been a while since I got a record of one of my better caricatures. (And I just love how these look in the Rodeo Barnwood frames!)

What a cute couple. Perfect faces for caricatures!

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)

A Wedding Portrait

"A Wedding Portrait" (conte and pastel pencil, 10x8 inches)  sold

One of my favorites from this Christmas season at the mall craft show. I enjoyed this one for the non-standard composition and the beautiful emotion in the pose.
Because the viewpoint was quite different from the 'usual' portrait, I drew a grid on some acetate laid over the photo to help me compose the drawing within the 8x10 size.

Visit my site ritakirkmandrawings.com for information about commissioning a pencil portrait drawing.

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The Quick-Sketch Portraits - day 16 and 17

(The portrait sketch: conte and pastel, 15x12 inches, about 15 minutes per face)

Today, the last Saturday of the San Antonio Rodeo, was our busiest yet! I did several portraits that I would have liked to photograph, but when I get in that 'zone' of busy-ness, I don't want to stop for anything that might delay the next customer in the chair!
For this one, though, I made an exception. This couple was so distinctive looking, the portrait almost drew itself. Now I wish the lady hadn't been half hiding behind the frame in this shot -- I loved her hair! It had a life of it's own, floating around her head in fluffy waves!

I've been proud of myself for being so consistent in posting through this entire busy event. I was sorry to miss posting yesterday, but my body demanded sleep instead!
So here I've included twin portraits from Friday, literally. These ladies are identical twins who 'like to look different,' evidenced by the fact that one sister had her moles removed. I recognized a family resemblance, but never would have thought that they were identical until they told me.

...and her sister:

Linus (and the Quick-Sketch Portrait - day 10)

"Linus"  (pastel, 6x6 inches)   sold

I finished this one this morning, and didn't quite have enough time to complete the next.  Another busy Saturday at the Rodeo!

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Speaking of ...  Here's today's last Quick-Sketch. I was exhausted and ready to go home, but this couple's contagious optimism gave me the burst of creative energy I needed to make this one of the best sketches of the day!