Anyway, I am not much of a challenge player, but I did decide that it was high time to try my hand at some portraits again.
Here first of all is a recent attempt:
I really admire her loose style and faces full of character.... Oh to be able to do that, mine always look stiff and bland by comparison....
Anyway, here's a quick run down of how this spread came together:
A mop up page with some additional gesso was the start.
Some background stamping and further splatters. I had no plan in mind for this spread, I was just playing really. But then I started to see the outline of a face on the left side, so that's when I made the decision to finally try my hand at a portrait again.....
So here she is, a girl's face with an attempt of wind swept hair, drawn with a 4b and Stabilo All pencil and a water brush.
The finishing touches with some autumnal elements thrown in and some lines from a favourite poem.
When I rise, let me rise joyfully like a bird
When I fall, let me fall gracefully like a leaf without regret...
Now I am not actually a newcomer to portraits, I used to do them a lot, particular when I really got into journalling way back into 2010. So today I thought it would be fun to share some of these earlier attempts. When I look at them now, they make me cringe in many ways. Endless fiddling with acrylic paints taking hours and hours (one of the reasons I probably gave up on portraits).... stiff like I said and overly stylized..... ah well, judge for yourself. All I can say is, - they are no longer me really....
Done in June 2010, an attempt at a half profile.
I called this one Ode to Motherhood, I think I created it on Mother's day, - so sentimental (always a problem of mine)
The last portrait of that period. I quite like the background on this one and the bird, which also took a long time to draw......
Anyway, there you have it, - playing with portraits, warts and all. I am going to enter the first one into Susi's challenge Art Journal Journey where the theme is Inspired by Autumn Colours.
Thanks for your visit today and indulging me into a trip down memory lane...
37 comments:
Wow Astrid your drawings are fantastic and I love love the first journal pages the drawing is superb. Adore it. Tracy x
they are all lovely portraits! I do love the look of your newest one, and yes, that Susi is so inspiring!
Another beautiful creation!!! You are so talented!!!
Wonderful work, and thanks for joining us at Art Journal Journey, hugs, Valerie
Astrid - your journal pages are beautiful -as is the portrait! And, your previous works are wonderful as well.
I think your first portrait shown here is wonderful, as wonderful as the hole page is!! And I like the other protraits as well but the first one is stunning for me
I'm sure I will come back to your blog....
Beo
I'm so glad you had another go, for she is lovely, amazing background too. Your other faces are fabulous too Astrid. I stopped drawing/painting faces in my late teens because I felt I was good enough, but what I didn't realise then was that I do them because I enjoy the creation, and if they come out unrealistic so be it. I feel they create themselves nowadays.
Anyway I hope you continue. Lots of us link up with Kim Dellow on a Friday somewhere you might like to link your face. Hugs Debs xx
What a fantastic post - amazing to see the journey from where you were to today - and so happy you had another play with portraiture. I think your wild-haired girl is lovely, and all the better for how she grew organically out of on of your beautifully textured backgrounds. Looking forward to seeing more of the journey from here onwards!
Alison xx
In all the excitement I forgot to say how much I love the words on your new pages too! xx
Loved reading today's post and enjoyed your trip down memory lane. There were awesome paintings. Today's pages are beautiful, she looks so happy and at peace with herself. Hope to see more.
Yvonne xx
Fantastic pages, Astrid!
your drawings are amazing Astrid - I adore them all - and the poetry too! Hugs rachel x
Oh Astrid - I am really amazed about your wonderful face and I think that your older pages with faces are very very beautiful as well. I didn't know that you made such wonderful pages at that time... super that you reshowed it! Thank you .. and I am flattered over the moon .. your special praise means a lot to me!♥♥♥
So happy you linked your amazing autumnal page with that face to us at Art Journal Journey!
Wishing you a happy weekend!
oxo
Susi
Hi Astrid...WOW! Your portrait looks fantastic! When you show it against your past, you can see how you have changed. I like how she just looks so natural.
Dot x
Oh my gosh Astrid, this is absolut stunning work, so you have absolut nothing to be fuzzy about here lady. Just get on with these beautiful portraits, as we don´t need any degree to see, that you´re doing amazing work, sooo beautiful and looks soo natural, so I sure hope to see lots more in the future. Thanks soo much for sharing the old ones again too, it was such a pleasure to watch and thanks for the trip down Memory LAne with you too.
Have a wonderful week-end ahead here and loads of great fun I hope.
Oh, yes, you are sooooo amazingly fantastic at drawing portraits! Marvelous work, Astrid! Love them all! Thank you for sharing your older works, it's such a pleasure to watch them again! I am really impressed by your new one! Brilliant spread and so artistics! Absolutely beautiful drawing!
Huge hugs to you! Branka xxx
The new spread and the face drawing is stunning Astrid as are your revisits. Hope to see more of your new faces and old.
Love Chrissie xx
Your journal pages are stunning Astrid......the beautiful face and words are very touching. The comparison of past journals is always interesting and it's amazing to see the different style/progress.
TFS and have a lovely weekend x
Annie x
They're all such beautiful faces. What a beautiful journal collection you must have.
Wow Astrid, there's just nothing that you can't do!! Your portraits are just amazing and I love the way you have displayed them in your pages! Such works of beauty!!
Hugs :)
My Little Craft Things
Das sind ganz wunderschöne Journalseiten - das Gesicht fasziniert mich sehr, eine großartige Zeichnung! Ulrike
Hi Astrid, your portrait and pages are gorgeous. I enjoyed seeing the other beauties hat you did a while ago, thanks for sharing again. I like trying my hand at faces, I'm a novice for sure, but keep telling myself to get back at it again (will have to start over). Have a great weekend xx
Dear Astrid, your spread is really so beautiful, wether you like your portrait or not ,I think you created a beautiful face, with some living eyes, looking into her self, -also love how you made interest in the face with the background spots.
Your older paintings are fun to see and shows you progress compaired with the new, more living drawing !!
Love the other side of your spread too, with the qoute and wonderful autumn touch !
Dorthe, xxo
These are beautiful portraits, Astrid! They are very touching and I can recognize your style in each one even if there's a progress between us. Thanks for sharing!
Sorry I meant "between them"! ;)
Lovely, almost haunting portrait, Astrid - I admire your talent with portraits, and fun to see how your style has developed. Haven't taken that leap myself yet! And love the poetry excerpt..... great match with these pages. xxx Lynn
Astrid! I had no idea you were so well versed in portraits as well as all the other beautiful art you create! I adore the first girl especially- with her Autumn all around her! Susi is absolutely an inspiration- as are you my sweet friend! xoxo
Spectacular... just loved this post and such an inspiration...xxx
Hi Astrid
Thank you for your review of previous diary portrait, they are wonderful.
Your new journal side is very sensitive in its expression, great to see the page.
Hugs, Susan
Astrid, your drawn faces are all wonderful, but the "newbe" is my favourite! The pages are wonderful earthy and the quote is so beautiful. Like always - inspiration at it´s best!
Hugs
Evelyn
Your journal faces/pages are such a delight to look at. I really really struggle with faces so I love looking at what others do to get my fix. Amazing hun xx
Gorgeous pages. Love the autumn leaves added to the first picture, gives a beautiful scrapbook feel.
Wow!! Your portraits are beautiful Astrid!! In one photo we're looking at a glob of gesso and in the next we're looking at this beautiful lady with a far away look in her eyes .. stunning!! I am so jealous. Couldn't draw a face if my life depended on it!! Even the older ones you've shown are lovely and not at all bland and stiff as you said. Love them!! xx
brilliant portaits you used,wonderful face so soft and expressive too, and amazing autumn pages,loved so much.
i love your other pages too,especially the motherhood,very beautiful.
have a great weekend.
hugs jenny
I could only see these on my phone last week but couldn't comment! They are all so beautiful! Chrisx
They are all lovely but especially the Autumn girl!
Fabulous journal page ! Astrid love all the autumnal shades and imagery . The portrait of your windswept girl is wonderful and love how you have kept it monochrome using only pencil and a waterbrush .
Thank you so much for sharing your journey of portrait journalling. Wonderful to see x
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