I am very excited to tell you that my pencil portrait Pixel and Colin is featured in Artists And Illustrators magazine. This is the November 2024 issue, and I am one of four invited contributing artists this month.
Step by step portraiture
I was invited to write a step-by-step article where I take readers through the process of this drawing. There are eleven stages in total. Follow along with me as I explain my drawing process from the sketched beginnings to the precisely poised end.
A man’s best friend in pencil
You will see how I block in the early tonal values, then develop this into richer shading. I share the thinking behind the decisions I make on the page. And you can see how each stage changes not only the area shaded, but also the overall feel of the artwork.
Two pencils and a putty rubber
Something that I really love about my art being published, is that it enables me to reach many more people. This means I can share what is possible with this simple kit – my beloved Stonehenge paper, these two mechanical pencils, and my rather tatty looking old putty rubber.
You really don’t need an expensive or complicated kit to draw beautiful pencil portraits. Personally, I favour the simplicity of a limited range of tools. Plus I love showcasing what can be achieved with the humble pencil, and the beauty of monochrome art.
Published in Artists and Illustrators
I am delighted to be published in Artists and Illustrators. It is a consistently excellent magazine which I highly recommend for anyone who enjoys viewing or making art. You can pick up your copy in the shops, or order back issues here.
This is the second time my portraiture has been featured in A&I. Previously my pastel portrait Bonny Miss Bonnie graced the front cover in 2022. You can see this beautiful cover star and my six page ‘In the Studio’ feature in this blog post.
Pixel and Colin – a devoted duo
Pixel and Colin, the stars of this portrait share a special bond. So much so that Colin’s wife commissioned this portrait for a personal birthday surprise. I go into more detail about this handsome pair and how their portrait came about in this post in my Sketchbook blog.
If you are interested to learn more about commissioning an original artwork of your own, take a look at my commissions page. Then drop me a line and I will gladly talk you through your options, and help capture your perfect moment on the page in beautiful fine art portraiture.
