This is the beginning of the pyrography portrait of my boys. I started from a photo of them and a basic line drawing. Did I use the photo as a guide for the line drawing? Absolutely, yes. Do you like candid and real? Hope so, it's what I prefer...
And now - I digress - I spend much time working with the photograph to create my own line drawing, a final basic image that I feel best expresses the original. There are many possible ways that the initial image could be drawn and shown, each one will change what the final art piece looks like. Some would say that since I did not free hand sketch the initial line sketch, that my art is not original. I, of course, will be rather bold and say, I believe it is very original! No two people could wood burn the same image and come up with the same design in the end. Why? Because each artist will have his or her own interpretation of what he/she sees and how it is put down on the wood. Am I pursueing free hand sketch work? Absolutely! Do I respect those that use the free-hand method? Absolutely! Do most free-hand sketch artists always capture the true likeness of an image every time? Not always, at first. So as I work behind the scenes on my free-hand skills, I fully intend to continue growing my artistic abilities with my wood burner, and I believe that as I do both, I will only improve as an artist.
The central elements of each face and the hands, with thier basic shading started first. I wanted to start with the most expressive elements first. I think any time you are creating an image based in reality and especially a portrait, you seek to not only pull out the overall correctness of the image, but you want to capture something of that person's character and sole. Our sons love each other very much and their fondness for each other was something I really wanted to grasp.
No part of this portrait was rushed. To put it mildly, I spent much time on each little element or feature. Progress was slow, but then what is your definition of progress? If it is to simply get some surface area done, than I could have gone much faster; if it is to capture each individual element as you go, with as much accuracy and detail as you can along with keeping the emotion of the piece, than you're not so worried about time.
This is a real art form that I want to pursue and learn and grow in as I go, and so to me, the fun was and is the process itself. It's not a race, it's an expression, moving and growing as I will along with it.
OK, sounding flaky now, I know. I have never been one to really talk about what I'm thinking as I do my work, but these are the kinds of things I think about...
So here's post No. 1 of several as I moved through this portrait.
Feel free to contact me if you are thinking of having a custom protrait done of someone you know, if you would like to know more about details, costs, etc. I would be very honored to work on a pyrography portrait for you and grow as an artist in the process.
I hope this posting series will be as much fun for you as it is for me!
Cheryl
P.S. If you are a growing artist, I hope this blog will be an inspiration for you, keep doing what you love, push and challenge your abilities, let time pass as it should in times of growth, and you'll find you will create amazing things. God put that creativity inside you, He wants you to stretch it! And have fun, too =)
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