Mother and Child

I love the feel of graphite pencils in my hand.  The smell of them takes me back to my childhood and the sheer joy of mark making.  The tactile way they glide over the surface of my paper, meeting resistance with the vellum texture of my Bristol board.  With stumps I blend my masses now, where once I used little fingers for this job.  I have quite a selection of pencils and tools, but I only use the 8B.  I love the softness, and rarely choose another.  The pink eraser from childhood is still my favorite, those other fancy ones are just not for me.  I really love spending time with my old friend graphite, especially when a mother's love is my subject!  Painting number 2719 in 2719 days.

Faithful Friend

Today finds me working on entries for the upcoming "Art of Kindness" gallery show at the Buttonwood.  My brother and his family just left this morning, so I am taking this day to regroup and take care of some art business.  A lot of things are put on hold during the holidays, and that is especially true this year.  It is so healing to center myself with my ink and watercolor, and dive into the theme of kindness.  Looking forward to a very meaningful year.  Painting number 2662 in 2662 days. 

Best Friends

sold

I have always loved horses - and the special relationship between this girl and her horse has been a joy to paint!  With so much on my plate recently, it took me a while to find the quiet I needed to really focus on this work.  Even settling down with my oils took discipline.  Once I started, the rhythm came naturally, albeit slowly.  As I worked, I found myself leaving more brushwork loose.  Is it too loose?  When in doubt, I walk away, to return with fresh eyes tomorrow. A special painting with a special story deserves only my best.  Painting number 2529 in 2529 days. 

A Father's Love

A Father's Love
graphite on bristol, 11x14
sold

This drawing has been a labor of love.  Tyler is our second child, our first son, and this little darling is the first Dickerson grandson.  Little Nolan has had a challenging start in this world, and I have drawn this from a photo taken in the NICU at Children's Mercy in Kansas City.  So many hours we spent here, with the turmoil of the unknown around us, and the very real joy of a new little life filling our hearts to the brim.  Life is sweet, and these special moments are to be cherished and clung to.  Every day is special, and each child is a gift.  I pray that we have a lifetime to shower little Nolan with love.  Drawing number 1292 in 1292 days.

Saundra and Grandbaby

Saundra and Grandbaby
Graphite on bristol, 11x14
sold

Some pieces of artwork are sheer joy to complete, and this is one of those pieces.  During the very hectic holiday rush, picking up my pencils is like escaping from reality.  Deadlines loom, family heads my way, and the graphites are there to offer sweet release from real life.  Drawing this for a very special friend, it made the joy all the sweeter.  The love between grandmother and baby is so special, and with wisdom comes the knowledge of how short this time truly is.  It was a little tricky to get this drawing finished and delivered - without Saundra's knowledge!  But, the stars were aligned, and all worked out perfectly!  Using my favorite 8B watersoluable graphite, all is sketched, and filled in with just this one pencil.  Being watersoluable, I can take a gently wet brush and darken the areas I want. Once this is done, it is very hard to erase, so one must make sure you use this tool sparingly and with a steady hand.  Pressed paper tortillions are the finishing touch for smooth blending of all skin areas.  This drawing makes 756 in as many days, and Day 25 of the 30 Day Painting Challenge.

Falling Asleep - in progress

Falling Asleep
Graphite & ink on bristol, 14x18

I started this today for an upcoming drawing competition.  I found this photo on my son's old ipod - which he gave to me to use.  Instantly, I knew I must draw it!  I want to do this one in oils at a later date, too.  This is my youngest daughter putting little Alastair (my second grandson) to sleep.  I love the peaceful expressions and the natural positions of both.  I still have some work to do on this, but am posting this one for today's work.  The shadows are very dark in my reference photo, and I still have a ways to go on that.  My 8b water-soluable graphite was not getting the job done, so I added a black intense pencil to the mix.  These pencils work well for small dark areas, but are hard to get even in a large shaded area.  So, in just a while, I will add black charcoal in the deepest shaded areas - hoping to bring them to the desired depth.  This is my 265th artwork in as many days, and Day 25 in Leslie Saeta's 30 Day Painting Challenge.

Undiluted Love

Undiluted Love
Graphite on bristol, 12x16
not for sale

What is more sacred than the love for a child?  This drawing is of my oldest daughter with her first child, Alan.  Drawn from photo reference, this was truly a labor of love.  I can feel the warmth of those chubby little arms and the baby softness of those sweet little cheeks as I laid kisses upon them.  It is something one never forgets.  The smell of their skin, the wisp of their hair against the face as they are drawn near, each sweet moment is unforgettable.  When I work on something like this, time just fades away.  I lose track of all things around me, my focus is on the paper alone.  I could simply get lost in the work - and not resurface for days!  Well, I guess the kids would be bothering me for food - eventually.  Why does everyone expect to be fed?  This is my 198th artwork in 198 days.

A Father's Love

A Father's Love
Graphite on bristol, 16x20
sold

Once in a while, I will be given a photo to work from that completely takes my breath away.  This is such a piece.  From the moment I first saw it, I knew this one could really be amazing.  The light was perfect, a single moment in time captured flawlessly, and such a peaceful, tender moment between father and baby!  With graphite portraits, I often work in stages.  Especially with this one, it took time and patience to get all of the angles just right.  At each step, I would set it up on a separate easel (as I am constantly painting on my normal one), and live with it - to see what needed my attention.  Tonight, I will let it rest.  I will look it over in the morning with "fresh eyes" - just to make sure it is finished.  I love this intimate scene.  I have truly loved working on it.  Nothing is as grounding to me as putting pencil to paper.  It is such a true representation of fatherhood.  This is my 153rd artwork in 153 days (although this has been in progress for many days!).  I think this is one of my all time favorites :)

Precious Bundle

Precious Bundle
Graphite on bristol, 16x20
sold

Graphite on vellum bristol is one of my very favorite mediums.  The first medium I can ever remember using was little old pencils kept in a waxy old cardboard box about the size of a double card deck.  My Grandma Frank had these and a large tablet of Big Chief writing paper - red with a black line drawing of the profile of a chief - majestic with his feather headdress.  There was a small child size desk and chair in the northwest corner of the kitchen, my own personal cubbie for drawing and creating anything I could imagine.  I could look right out of the big window as I worked, listening to the cheerful voices of my mom and grandma talking.  So many happy memories of childhood. With the little art supplies always at the ready, my family was fostering a love of creating for me that has lasted a lifetime.  Life is all about the ties of family and I absolutely love capturing these moments in graphite.  This portrait of mother and baby is my 57th artwork in 57 days (although I have worked on this for several days and have only finished today) :)

Karl and Kaden

Karl and Kaden
16x20 graphite on bristol
sold

The bonds that tie are such a compelling subject for me.  This is the companion portrait to the "Kat and Chloe" of the last post.  I love drawing mothers and babies, but I also love the father-baby bond.  There is no relationship as tender as that of a parent and child.  This piece was also executed mainly with an 8B pencil.  I like to use a variety of paper tortillions to blend and shade the flesh areas of the faces and hand.  I additionally use a mechanical pencil for the lash and brow work - once I have shaded in the main areas.  Once I feel like the portrait is finished, I spray it lightly with workable fixative to prevent amy smudging of the graphite.  I also try very hard not to touch the bristol with my hands as I work.  If the oil from my skin gets onto the paper, it changes the way those spots accept the lead.  If I decide more work is needed, I simply continue drawing, always finishing with a fixative on top.

Kat and Chloe

Kat and Chloe
graphite on bristol - sold

It is so easy to draw someone I know - especially when she is one of the sweetest friends I have ever had the pleasure of knowing!  She is pictured here with her new little bundle of joy.  There is something about the bond of motherhood that draws me in like no other - almost as if I am compelled to capture it with pencil and paper.  I used my favorite vellum bristol and did the majority of work with my trusted 8B water-soluable pencil.  Perhaps as little as 5% of this drawing was executed with my other various pencils.  They are simply not needed.  When I reach the point where I can almost feel my subject breathe, I lay my pencil down, step back from the paper, and take a long look.  I let it rest until the next day, and look again.  If I am still satisfied, I sign it, and look towards the next piece.

No Greater Gift

No Greater Gift
graphite on bristol
sold

From beginning to end, this was an absolute joy to draw!  I have gently bumped up the contrast by deepening the darks, trying to keep   it all soft and balanced as I work.  If I apply too much, I simply pull it back out with my favorite pink eraser (yes - the one we used in grade school!)  I have many erasers - but this is my "go-to" one - always.  The very last thing I do is to take a small sable brush lightly dipped in water to the darkest lines.  I know it sounds crazy - but this is the real benefit of using water-soluable graphites.  It darkens the darks even more, for a more life-like result.  What better way to spend the day?

First Day of New Work

graphite on bristol - 11x14

It feels SO GOOD to pick up my tried and true graphites again!  It is just like slipping into a warm blanket with a hot cup of tea!  The "mother and child" subject matter is one of my absolute favorites - so this day has been very rewarding.  I begin with my line drawing, then I focus in on the most important facial features - eyes, lips, noses.  Once I am satisfied with this foundation, I spread out from there.  I use mainly an 8B water-soluable graphite pencil for this work.  I have dozens of others, and may pick up a different one for lashes and brows, but the creamy soft lead is by far my favorite.  Tomorrow, I will lay in the rest and start to deepen the darks for good contrast.

Windows of the Soul

Honorable Mention - HFAA 2012 Show

Sometimes, a drawing just flows off the tip of the pencil.  Other times, it is brought into this world like a hard fought battle.  I must say, this falls into the latter category.  Using new pencils AND changing up my normal methods was certainly the biggest drawing challenge I have had.  No resting in my comfort zone for this little darling.  After so much more work (i.e. blood, sweat, and tears...) I can lay my pencils down.  This one is now framed and ready to go to the HFAA show tomorrow.  I feel like I poured my own soul out on this one!

Windows to the Soul
tinted graphite on bristol, 20x16

Mother & Babe

I drew this in graphite on bristol of my oldest daughter and my first grandchild, Alan.  She was comforting him in the front hall when I captured the reference image.  Drawing is very natural to me, it is as if I don't even have to think while I lay down the strokes.  It is the first medium I remember picking up long before preschool.  By the time I was in kindergarten, I had been drawing for years.  I love the feel of pencil on paper, the way it blends into the best skin shades.  It is the root of where all art begins for me.  Each piece begins with a sketch, and blossoms from there.

See this one on display at the Kansas City Club at the Missouri Valley Impressionist Society Juried Show, Public Openings Sept. 21 & Oct. 9, 6:00-9:00.

Mother & Babe
16x20 graphite on bristol
Print Now Available

A Mother's Love

This portrait was just awarded 1st Place in the HFAA Spring Show.