I'm drawing a picture of my parents at my Mom's Senior Prom for their 45th wedding anniversary. The original photo is a lovely whole-body snapshot. Scanned at 1200 DPI, blown up, and cropped, it looks like this:
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It's really fuzzy, obviously, but I know these people very well so I think I'm OK I'm drawing it at 11x14", the first time I've done something like this in this size. Like a sensible person, I did the portrait on the left first, so I wouldn't smear anything on the right:
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The problem is that now I'm very nervous about proceeding! With about six hours into this drawing, what if I mess up my Dad's portrait? I've drawn ten times as many women as men. Ahhhh!

By the way, C&C welcome.

I think so far you are doing a great job .. I just went through this with my portrait of my daughter and her boyfriend .. I was so worried after finishing him that i would mess up on her ...but I didnt .. so relax you can do this .

The only thging I see hun is on your dads mouth ...it looks like the left side closest to your mom is down too far and remove the lines comming from the nose to the corner of the mouth .. just shade the area when the time comes that will give it a softer look .

I know its nerve racking lol I have been there many times .. but I have confidence that your portrait will be a beautiful gift

Ernest so far you are doing a beautiful job!! Great pic of your parents, lovely couple. Congradulations to them for hitting 45 years!!! After the portrait you did of me and how beautiful it turned out I am sure this will be just as perfect.

Thank you, ladies! Kim, you're right, the sketch of my Dad's mouth isn't right at all; thanks.

Here's what the happy couple look like now (pasted from two recent photos):

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Ernest from your self portrait drawing and seeing what your dad looks like now I can tell who you resemble...LOL. Nice looking parents you have.

Yes, that's for sure. Photos of my Dad and myself as children look just like photos Zachary now. The three of us could be twins (except for the age difference thing.)

I think you are doing a beautiful job Ernest, they are going to be sooo pleased with it. You've managed to capture your Mum's facial features perfectly and her hair is so shiney. I just wondered if her neck was a tiny bit wide on your drawing on the viewers left. Sorry its difficult to tell without superimposing the images on one another.

Can't wait to see your progress.

Thanks, Andrea! You're absolutely right about the neck! Last night, since I still wasn't ready to start the second portrait, I did in fact overlay the images on the computer and found some issues to fix. The nostrils weren't right, the "Cupid's bow" on the top lip was too pronounced, and (by far the largest issue) the neck was much too wide on the left side. I will post an updated picture later on.

Still tweaking the Mom drawing:
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Looking great Ernest.
The line of her clavicle (viewers right) in your drawing looks a little higher than the photo, perhaps if it was lowered slightly her shoulders would look more substantial?

They are going to be so pleased with this.
Now don't be scared, you can't put it off much longer, just dive in there and start your Dad! ;-)

Ernest this drawing is going to be great! Please start on drawing your dad. I'd love to see the outcome!

Hmmmm, tapping foot, where is the progress of your dad's portrait Ernest? Its been over a day or two and no updates??? Quit procrastinating, I am sure you will do a fantastic job.

In one of those bizarre twists of fate, as I was talking and thinking about my Dad so much, he landed in the hospital with a kinked intestine. He's fine now and is coming home today.

I was sweating about the sketch; I wanted to get it to the "Hey, that's HIM!" point before I went any further, and I think it's there. I also worked on my Mom's collarbone as Andrea suggested and I like that, too. The levels are all screwed up in this so you can see the sketch part:

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Started rendering Dad. I'm not nervous anymore -- this is looking good!

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Yeh! It certainly is!

BTW, glad your Dad is feeling better.

Earnest, you Mom is gorgeous and I love her hair. Can't wait to see Dad. You are nervous because you are a talented artist, and put yourself through all that misery of self-doubt and craziness so common with artists. That is why your are so GREAT!! So RELAX.

Judyvan

I think you are doing a great job .. but I understand your fears .. its when you do not worry that you mess up .. so you will be fine

Hey Doc,
Looking real good!

Thanks, all! Here's the latest:
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I lightened up my Mom's irises because I am going to add more detail to them; they looked awfully flat before.

Ernest, your drawing is looking great! I can almost feel your mother's hair, and I love her smile. Your father is coming along nicely as well.

There are some things though - is his face a little too wide? I have tried measuring on my screen, but it is a bit difficult. However, it looks to me like the widest part of his face on the photo is just over his nose, while on the drawing it is somewhere around his mouth. And his forehead seems a little too rounded, though that could be because you are planning his hairline there, and just haven't drawn it yet. Men's faces are more angular (I have recently learned) than women's. I have always drawn more women than men, and I find it hard sometimes to change from one to the other.

I can't wait to see more of this! Are yout parents unaware of your account here, so you can keep the drawing a surprise?

Looking great, Ernest!
I know its a WIP; are you going to make your Dad's mouth bigger?

I've pulled up a chair to watch the grand finale of this, it's going to be a beauty!

Thank you all so much for the encouragement and suggestions!



My Dad is nearing 70 now. He does in fact have a computer, and I email him scans of drawings all the time! But exploring the Web is a bit beyond his capabilities; they live in the woods and access AOL via a 14.4 modem. So I think we're safe!



I don't post many WIPs here because my method is to kind of "circle around" the drawing, fixing, changing, improving, making lots of mistakes along the way. I envy folks who can get it right the first time, but I sure can't!

Anyway, in this shot, I think you can see that the mouth is bigger, the cheek is wider, the forehead is delineated from the hair, and in general the likeness is improved. A tiny bit more darkening-up, and then It's just about time to do the hair and the suit!
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Ernest you are doing a fantastic job!! I know it will be perfect and greatly appreciated and loved by your parents.

Going faster, now. Everything darkened, first pass at the hair done.

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AND... Done!

Well, unless I decide to change something. Or y'all have some input. At this point I like to leave a drawing around for about a week before I'll spray it, in case I notice something to fix.

I'll show it here together with the reference photo again:
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Comments and critiques welcomed.

Wow, amazing!!
Perhaps your best work so far!
Your parents will be so very happy with it...
Will you let us know their reaction?
Be very proud of yourself!

I agree with Mari .. I love this and I know you have to be proud of it ...this is some of your finest work

Fantastic Job, Ernest!! Your parents will love it. Be proud of yourself.

This will be the best gift at the party, excellent job!

Thanks everybody.

Now, the worst part -- waiting. Y'see, I finished this kind of early: their anniversary is September 30th!

They are visiting here, so I gave it to them today: they loved it. My Mom cried profusely. You can't ask for much better than that

Awww, Ernest congrats, you made your mom cry...LOL...no seriously thats a good thing, means she loved it with all of her heart. I have to say you can't ask for more than that.

Fabulous portrait Ernest and wonderful reaction! I'm sure it will be treasured by your parents, especially your mother.

Of course they loved it; they could see how much love you put into it.
Well done!

Awsome job hun ....I am sure they will love it and treasure it always.