updated picture - jimmy on the train

okay guys -- after several great suggestions and ideas on what to do to make jimmy's picture better, here's what i have to show for it. i darkened in the background and created it over completely behind jimmy's face. that seemed to make a huge impact on seeing exactly where his nose and chin ended. overall, i'm MUCH happier w/ this picture now that the change is made.


i've also included the actual reference photo used for this drawing. not so much so you can see how well i did compared to the photo, but to show how "tied" i was to putting the background in just as it was in the picture. in the real photo, it truly does look like the tree and shrubs have "allowed" room for jimmy's nose and chin to interfere in their space. i also added a little more shading behind his jaw line -- maybe too much -- but i'm going to wait and see how i like it and if others comments on it.



summer took this picture on the way to the pumpkin patch, but i've alwasy been drawn to it as if there were some ethereal feeling to it. trust me, though, there was nothing any more angelic about this little demon today than there was any other day -- making him fit right in with the other little demons present!

jimmy on the train

i drew and colored this picture of jimmy, riding on the train to the pumpkin patch w/ us, w/ colored pencils. the picture is actually darker in person, but colored pencil seems to lighten up during the scanning process. that's what happened on the last picture i did, too -- the one of jerry leaning on the porch railing.

anyway, the pictures was taken of jimmy as he watched out the window on the train, so just the side of his face (hardly even any silhouette of his facial features) is visible. i had a hard time doing his skin, as he is so pale-complected that i didn't have pencils that light to work with! i even added in some shadows that weren't really there in the picture, just to show that he does have a jaw line.

i was happier w/ some sections of the picture more than i was the overall picture -- but it was definitely a learning process. i'm still working on trying to force myself not to draw every tiny detail -- so this picture w/ the blurred background helped me to focus more on the focal point of the picture and then blur the background in. it's coming a little easier to me now to do a picture w/o drawing in all the little details. maybe someday . . . . .

feel free to comment or make suggestions. i'm always open to learning more and getting better.

this drawing was done in a 9 x 12 sketchbook w/ 70# white paper and prang colored pencils, sprayed w/ matte finish sealant to keep it from smearing.