Monday, May 10, 2010

Portraits from the Past : :

I am going WAY back with this one ---Can you guess who this is? Well, long before I was a wife, a mother, a knitter, a toy maker, a sewer...I was a drawer. I loved drawing and always thought that I would be an illustrator of sorts when I grew up. While I was in high school I worked on a comic book and when I was 16-17, I started a little portrait business. It all happened by accident when I drew this portrait of Jewel. It was the late 90's, her Pieces of You album was super popular, and I suppose I was moved to draw her after listening to Who Will Save Your Soul, You Were Meant for Me, and Foolish Games on repeat. : ) I did a few others for school art assignments and several of my high school teachers kindly hired me to do portraits for them, word spread a little, and even after I moved away for a while, I continued to do commissioned portraits.I've always loved the look of pencil portraits and really enjoyed doing them. I worked to make my portraits capture all the features, shading, personality and light of a black and white photo, but to me, they are timeless and capture something different and more special than a photograph.... I am really missing it lately. I did my last portrait about 7 years ago, when Kaiden was just a baby. All I have to remember how much I loved doing them, are these two that I did in high school --- This one of Jewel, who I don't listen to anymore and Ani DiFranco, who I listen to often, but never finished. It kind of makes me sad.
And in some ways, embarrassed, but I am sharing here because I plan on starting up again and undoubtedly will be sharing those efforts here, as well. This post will be the beginning of a new time of portrait making for me. I already decided the first new portrait I want to start is going to be in honor of my friend Leslie, for her family and church. And of course I have big plans for the three beautiful subjects that I have now, that I didn't have way back when.

Thanks for visiting --- Maureen

12 comments:

  1. That portrait of Jewel is quite amazing! No wonder you got some business after that. I also loved Jewel back in the day. Hmm.. where is that mix tape?

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  2. That portrait of Jewel really is incredible. You definitely should get out those pencils again! I liked Jewel way back when too. Hmmm... where is that mix tape?

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  3. WOW, you have such a gift for the pencil! You should definitely get that art started again.

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  4. oo jewel was on repeat for me all through middle and high school. ani difranco came along in my college years :)

    i love the second one even more though as i love seeing process...every artist who works with the figure has a different approach and i find it facinating.

    your work shows such depth maureen, glad you are taking it up again and can't wait to see more!!!

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  5. Thank you everyone - I do wish I had more of my old drawings. I either was doing it for $ or I would give them away.

    Kate - I like the Ani one too, just the way it is.

    It will be interesting to see what I am able to do now, 10+ years later. Stay tuned. : )

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  6. I can not believe you were only 16 or 17 when you drew those! Not that I don't love seeing all of your other creations, but imagine if you would have continued to do portraits all these years. I look forward to seeing what you can do now.

    Best always,
    Lisa

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  7. These are so amazing... so many memories (good, bad and sad) tied to Ani and Jewel songs....
    *gets nostalgic*

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  8. I have to agree AMAZING! I can't believe you used them for a backdrop for the owls. Can't wait to see more. :)

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  9. Wow, you are really talented!! The Ani one looks really neat and spooky unfinished.

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  10. Hey, that drawing of Jewel is quite good! You have talent in pencil portraits. :)

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