Portraits At The Pub 33: Martin

Martin (detail), Portraits At The Pub, Paint Sticks and sgraffito, A3 Canson XL sketchbook.

Martin, Portraits At The Pub, Woody Pencil and wash, A3 Canson XL watercolour sketchbook.

This is last week’s portraits session of Martin – who works at Cass Arts in Kingston, and again a variety of kid’s materials – Woody Pencils, Paint sticks, and fountain pen and ink. As usual the model always has their shields up at the start – glasses, hat, headdress, it always is a process of making them feel comfortable to take them off and present themselves. Like a literal uncovering/reveal. So the first drawing is the one below in ink with the hat, then the Woody pencil and ink piece of the same pose (the Woody pencil piece was under 5 minutes, compared to the 20 for the ink piece).

Although the longer piece is more accurate, I must prefer the feel of the quicker Woody piece.

Martin, Portraits At The Pub, Fountain Pen and wash, A4 Flat White sketchbook.

Martin, Portraits At The Pub, Paint Sticks and sgraffito, A4 Flat White sketchbook.

Then we have the paintstick pieces which were later in the session – the ending piece below which was a short pose – under 10 minutes I think, and the best piece which is the large paintstick A3 piece. Like the silver background especially, As I’ve said before, portraits are always a struggle, I usually should leave them but it works here.

Martin, Portraits At The Pub, Paint Sticks and sgraffito, A3 Canson XL sketchbook.

It’s always a struggle with the paintsticks to know how abstract or realistic to go, because the colours don’t really lend themselves to realistic work, but you can mix them by layering….here I think got the balance right, to quote Depeche Mode.