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arallsopp — Self portrait in pencil

Published: 2007-10-31 18:11:01 +0000 UTC; Views: 555; Favourites: 3; Downloads: 0
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Description Ok.

This is me. I look a bit like this. I have a bit of a beard too normally, but how to differentiate between that and patches of hatched shading I've no idea

Its nice to pick up a pencil again. This was an F and 4B. Something a bit odd going on under my right nostril. Don't remember seeing it in the mirror this morning, so its probably a mis-representation.

A


-edit: ooh.. My first dA edit. Reworked it as much as I dare, which isn't a huge amount The shadows under the eyes and the area under the nose are a bit lighter, and I've remodelled the chin a little. Couldn't find a decent eraser, so used a bit of bread

I'm done with this one now. Hopefully she prefers it The original is still around in my scraps folder.
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Comments: 33

arallsopp [2007-11-02 20:54:09 +0000 UTC]

Thanks Kaarsel,

Its taken me a long time to get here, but I think you might be right
Phew...

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Kaarsel [2007-11-02 18:56:31 +0000 UTC]

Good job on that! It looks alot like you!

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arallsopp In reply to Kaarsel [2007-11-02 20:54:47 +0000 UTC]

Oops. Sorry. Replied to my own pic instead of your comment... See below

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Kaarsel In reply to arallsopp [2007-11-03 08:00:14 +0000 UTC]

No problem!

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bexyboo16 [2007-11-02 18:36:44 +0000 UTC]

Thats wikid reaally good! keep up the good work mate

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arallsopp In reply to bexyboo16 [2007-11-02 20:51:07 +0000 UTC]

Thanks bexyboo16.
I'm on a bit of a roll with drawing at the moment, and am currently trying my first double portrait. I'm being a bit precious with it (which is slowing me down a lot) but its of my boss' partner and her son, so is kinda important

If I get fired, I lose my web connection so wish me luck

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bexyboo16 In reply to arallsopp [2007-11-03 10:25:22 +0000 UTC]

Aww your brilliant, just take ya time, only you the artist know when u've got it how you want it. Rather take ages but be perfect than rush it and you not be happy with it

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arallsopp In reply to bexyboo16 [2007-11-03 14:32:40 +0000 UTC]

Thanks bex. That was just the advice I needed to return to my pencils. Ok... here we go again

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memorandom [2007-11-01 15:12:34 +0000 UTC]

brilliant work, again with those lines and the shading. i like that you leave some areas quite unworked too, it brings the detailed areas out that little bit more.

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arallsopp In reply to memorandom [2007-11-01 22:40:42 +0000 UTC]

Thanks for this memorandom. I always struggle to find the balance between underworked and too fussy. I'm glad you think this one worked. I'm due to revisit it shortly, so hopefully I won't ruin it

Thanks for the too
Maybe I should leave this untouched

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memorandom In reply to arallsopp [2007-11-04 11:02:18 +0000 UTC]

there is a line between underworked and fussy, definitely. i think finding that line is pretty hard, knowing when to instinctively stop working on a drawing. . . i think soemtiems when you look at something and say 'almost finished' is where you should stop, because usually, that's the point where you just keep GOING and get finnicky and work over some of what you've already done

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arallsopp In reply to memorandom [2007-11-04 22:24:43 +0000 UTC]

Agreed entirely. I rely on my thirst. When I'm about 2/3rds of the way through any piece, I tend to decide I'm thirsty, and head off downstairs to grab a bottle of coke. When I come back, either mysterious forces have benevolently finished the piece in my absence, or its still needing 20 mins work. 9 times out of 10, I can't see where to add another line, and thanking those mysterious forces, I leave the piece done.

If I don't take this break, I seem to just keep fussing over it until I've destroyed pretty much everything. Lesson of the day then:- Don't start a drawing if you've just had a drink.

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Joshick [2007-11-01 14:31:52 +0000 UTC]

Wow, u draw really real!!! And u actually "memorised" how exactly u look like?! Thats amazing...

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arallsopp In reply to Joshick [2007-11-01 15:04:06 +0000 UTC]

Thanks Joshick. Its very encouraging to have your feedback. I'm lucky in that I have a very strong visual memory. Mind you, if someone tells me something and I don't see it written down, its forgotten within seconds

I'm useless on the phone

Good luck with the essays.

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Joshick In reply to arallsopp [2007-11-01 15:16:28 +0000 UTC]

LOL, true, I don't have a good memory either. Thanks for writing such a long comment!

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KitoZeke [2007-11-01 14:30:34 +0000 UTC]

Wow this is amazing!

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arallsopp In reply to KitoZeke [2007-11-01 14:58:03 +0000 UTC]

Thanks KitoZeke. I'm glad you like it.
I'd love to be able to draw like you, but I have no graphic eye at all

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KitoZeke In reply to arallsopp [2007-11-01 15:48:56 +0000 UTC]

Aw we all have our strengths! Always appreciate others!

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arallsopp In reply to KitoZeke [2007-11-01 22:46:05 +0000 UTC]

That's a good rule to live by. I'm really appreciating dA. I've only been here for 10 days or so, and the encouragement and feedback have really taken me to new places.

Thanks again.

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happycamel [2007-11-01 09:45:45 +0000 UTC]

very very nice

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arallsopp In reply to happycamel [2007-11-01 12:07:28 +0000 UTC]

Hello again

Thanks for the feedback. I'm really glad you like the piece.
Wow. You can REALLY draw faces.
I'm off to scour your gallery for tips

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arallsopp In reply to arallsopp [2007-11-01 12:12:18 +0000 UTC]

Oh darn. Not that bow. The other one.

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happycamel In reply to arallsopp [2007-11-01 12:30:22 +0000 UTC]

haha, thanks i'm glad you like my work too!
i added you to my watch list, which you might have noticed. i think you drawings are excellent, i can't wait to see any more you put!

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arallsopp In reply to happycamel [2007-11-01 12:39:35 +0000 UTC]

Thanks a lot Happycamel. I'm really looking forward to seeing what you do with mouths. Your work on eyes is stunning.
Here, have a watch

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patricktoifl [2007-11-01 09:32:31 +0000 UTC]

I think it's great! Very life-like - like in your ID-picture!

It's always hard to do a self-portrait! One of the toughest things an artist can do ... and your wife is the best judge on this one If she really really says it looks exactly like you then you've succeeded!

In my eyes you have!!!

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arallsopp In reply to patricktoifl [2007-11-01 11:56:53 +0000 UTC]

Thanks Patrick. Evey agrees that it is "life-like", but says it hasn't really captured my personality. You're right though, she knows me better than anyone (and has high expectations of my work and features) so is probably my harshest critic.

She says 'it looks like a photo' which is fair as I only really ever see myself in photographs, so that's probably what I've drawn. Oops.

I'm going to try reworking this tonight, maybe erasing some bits and softening others. I've never really tried that before, so I may well not post the result The surface of the paper (and my attitude towards it) changes when something has been erased. 9 times out of 10, my pencil falls back into the line that was there before, but comes out flatter.

Anyway, thanks for the encouragement. I'm going to keep working on this one.

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patricktoifl In reply to arallsopp [2007-11-01 12:21:57 +0000 UTC]

You're welcome Andy!

I always wondered how others would do a self-portrait. I did one a year or so ago and I took a photograph as a reference. But a mirror could be the better option ... don't know. Was not very happy with my own self-portrait ...

I never did a reworking on one of my pictures. So it's interesting to see the outcome. If you will post it of course

But maybe you should just make a new one?! Another self-portrait? Maybe not ... just loud thinking ...

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arallsopp In reply to patricktoifl [2007-11-01 12:26:54 +0000 UTC]

Tell you what, I'll rework this, and if it inadvertently ends up lining my bin in a thousand tiny pieces, well, I'll do one if you will

Drawing this, I realised the shape of my eyes hasn't changed since school. I did a few self portraits for my exams, and my hand remembered the line exactly. Very odd.

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patricktoifl In reply to arallsopp [2007-11-02 18:27:30 +0000 UTC]

Funny thing I love these little "secrets" of life

Can't wait to see the reworked one.

By the way - very cool new ID-picture!

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arallsopp In reply to patricktoifl [2007-11-02 20:46:21 +0000 UTC]

Thanks friend.

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patricktoifl In reply to patricktoifl [2007-11-02 18:58:20 +0000 UTC]

It's great! I am pleased that you just made gentle changes!

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arallsopp In reply to patricktoifl [2007-11-02 20:45:02 +0000 UTC]

Thanks Patrick. I'm glad you like it. They are very 'gentle' changes, and I felt a bit rude about posting it as a new image. Thing is, I now like the drawing quite a lot more, so its kind of evolved into a different piece for me anyway

Not sure if the improvement is down to walking away from it for a day, or from coming back, but I'm sure glad people still like it.

Thanks again for your encouragement.

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patricktoifl In reply to arallsopp [2007-11-03 10:05:21 +0000 UTC]

You're welcome!

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