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brianv948 — Ed Harris
Published: 2009-11-12 14:27:20 +0000 UTC; Views: 3763; Favourites: 35; Downloads: 2080
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I had a lot of fun doing this drawing!This completed drawing is dedicated to my good friend -> Hope you & your family enjoy it!!
She asked me to draw a picture of Ed Harris about a year ago and here we go (major league procrastinator -> sorry Della, it's nothing personal!). Her husband, Jim, who is a proud and brave leader in our US Armed Forces (thx a ton!!) has always been told he bares a strong resemblance to Ed Harris.
I have found that I really enjoy drawing images that have extreme contrast. I am not as good at capturing the effect as I would like to be. In this particular image Ed had a lot of texture in his skin and the light made this pop. The dark area on his right cheek is actually kind of spotty like that, that wasn't a mistake (or maybe it was, may have been better without). For some reason when I printed out an image it turn out extremely dark and I could not see anything on his right side. I printed a second as light as I could to capture the feature on his right. So I ended up referring to two printed and one digital image, threw me a little at times.
Thanks for checking it out!
12x15 Stonehenge water color. Mechanical pencil, hd, 2b, 3b, 5b, stumps, tissue & cotton.
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Comments: 60
Ed Harris is an amazing actor. I loved him in Abyss, Glen Gary Glen Ross, and the Rock! You did a fantastic portrait! The eyes and the wrinkles are outstanding!
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Thank you for your kind words. I feel he may not be flattered, makes him look pretty old.
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You're welcome! You made him looked distinguished!
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I think you still did a great job on the left side.
What reference did you use? Maybe it would help if there was more light and shadow in the background?
I absolutely love this piece, because it's so real. You know the make up advertises? Where the models have no wrinkles, no little hair on the skin, no pores and absolutely no visible skin cells? They look totally unnatural and ugly then! But you drew his real, natural face with such dedication that it looks beautiful though it's not the youngest guy 
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Excellent point! I think that's what drew me to the reference photo, because it looked natural, real and almost vulnerable. His face seems to tell a story of all the characters he has played over the years. I thought it was important to capture that story line.
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This is amazing. The work that went into the skin is breathtaking. A must full-view! The eyes are very haunting too.
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Thanks once again for your kind words. I struggled to get the right shading level on his right side to match the blackened eye, may go back some day and have another go at it.
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You're most welcome! You know I never would have noticed that if you hadn't mentioned it. I see what you mean now, but I can assure you it does not take away from the picture in the least. I have little mistakes with every single picture of mine that are glaring to me, but I usually don't fix them as much as they bother me, as I consider them marked lessons learned.
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Very good Brian, i will ask that you study your value gradations closer in the future..
how u been?
~David
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So true David! The fruit of no formal training! That's why I value your comments, most around here just platisize!
Been good, very busy. My side business is very busy this time of the year!
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Brian, my sincere /really/ apologies if i come across as rough..i see your talent as emerging...each one really is better than the last!
go for it! what else we got to lose..i'm learning too ~
more soon! after christmas shoppin i look forward to more easel time today~!~
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No need at all to apologize! I was actually saying that I really appreciate it. I originally joined DA to learn and receive valuable input. It's been disappointing in that respect, very few take the time to offer constructive crits! So, I welcome it and want it. Besides, I have pretty thick skin!! LOL!
Thanks for your encouragement!
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Brian, i ran your drawing past my 83 year old Ma, who's also an artist..you have quite surpassed me Brian, this is a good thing. You've come a long way since the Mel Gibson drawing...as far as the wedding drawing you did? I would not have done a profile shot. That was great! But even Brian Dewey did one of the same pose, he had toruble also with the male profile and realism. Everthing you've posted after that has a high calibre of telent.
Just recall..the paper is as important as anything, maybe more. i cant stress that enough Brian...for me as well...time to get movin!! so i can get back!
l8r!!
~~David
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i must have seen this before and totally forgot to visit..drawing the old skin is hard. but you did a splendid job by adding some texture to it.. you are improving every time you draw..congrats!
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Thank you so much, your words are very encouraging to me!
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OMG! I had NO IDEA Ed had gotten so old. He looks ready for the morgue. Sad, and macabre at the same time. His 2 different eyes creep me out...Good attention to detail in drawing. Without seeing the photo ref I'd say maybe you over-accentuated some age-related features? I hope so for Ed's sake!
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LOL! I looked it up, he's going to be 59 at the end of this month. That used to seem really old to me, now not so much. I struggled to catch the shadowing on his right side (just kept going darker & darker...not dark enough after all). The reference photo has strong lighting coming in on his left side so all the little creases and wrinkles really popped out. That was part of what attracted me to this image. Might have had better context had I been able to get the shadow deeper. In some ways I am very happy with this, in other ways I'm frustrated. See for yourself -> [link]
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That's a hard one- he does look very aged in the photo, indeed. More like 80! His skin texture everywhere is very pronounced, must be the lighting. I think you'd have to keep the gray value relationships correct (as in darken his right side)-or- lighten it all up equally, which would mean at least matching his eyes up. The way they are now is really creepy! If it were me, I'd texturize his skin everywhere, so it's balanced, but I'd soften the hardest lines. Older people are the hardest to draw, I think.
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I cropped it, you might that better! I think I do!
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Well, isn't that the easy way out
I would go back and re-work the original- there's still a GREAT drawing in there. Correct values make all the difference! Follow the photo ref closely and you'll get it.
oh, I corrected my John Gomez drawing. That's how we learn!
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You are right as usual, but this is the beauty of digital media, you can play around and still have the original. I may tinker more with the original, but usually once I am done, I am done regardless. As they say here in the south...preciate cha!
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I'm just too anal to let a mistake go, once I see it. Especially if I know how to fix it. Hey, I'd play with it in Photoshop. Like copy the left eye and paste it into the right side, or put a gradient dark mask over the right side of his face.
See I play alot in Photoshop, it helps me find where I'm going wrong as well as experimenting with lighting, etc. Saves me much time at the drawing board.
after all I've got paying work to finish...*sigh*
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Really appreciate it! Thanks for the fav & watch!
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Thank you very much! And thanks for the 
You have some very intriguing and expressive work!
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Well, I must say thank you very much for kind words!
Greetings,
Marina
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OMG OMG OMG...Brian you did such an AWESOME job 
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I am so thrilled that you like it! I know that may sound silly, but you know how it is, we artist are always hard on ourselves. You are a total boost to my confidence - thank you so much for your kind words. I am now working on a commission for a young lady I know and I will then be ready to start on your drawing. Anytime you want to shoot me some photos I would love to look at them! Take care my friend and tell Jim/Ed I said hey!
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Great work Brian. Drawing wrinkly men is so challenging, but it didn't seem to cause you any trouble!
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Thanks a lot Karen! It certainly was a challenge!
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Fabulous drawing, Brian!! I love the way you've drawn the light and shadows!!
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Thank you very much Jackie, I really appreciate it. This was the key to the whole drawing - stark contrast. Still feel like it could have been better. Thanks for
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It looks pretty successful to me!
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Thanks a lot! Yes, the "crinkles" were a fun challange.
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Fun? I always have trouble with it, that's the reason I draw no crinkles.
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Well I can certainly understand that...especially now!
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