Failure... and Success!

I got the great idea from an art friend of mine to start practicing drawing faces from magazines. Luckily we have a drawer full of old ones, so I pulled some out and started looking for some close-up shots with some shadows so I can mess with shading.

I found a picture of Cameron Diaz- unfortunately I do not hold her as a role model in my life, nor would I recommend her to be anyone else's. But her face was angular, it was shadowed, and close up, so I gave it a go!

Yeah... my first try wasn't pretty. I didn't measure the distances between facial features, I didn't pay attention to how the eyes were shaped or the position of the mouth. I drew it on a whim, and I was pleased with it... until I held the photo next to the drawing. But I didn't want to give up, so I decided to start from scratch.

You can see part of the magazine under her face.

This is my second try! Two is the charm, my friends. I measured the distance between her eyes, the length of her nose, and the width of her mouth.I paid attention, I took my time, and this is the result! A BIG lesson to myself to take my time.

God's been teaching me patience lately, so I guess this was appropriate. I've been wanting Him to show me things that I don't think I'm ready to see yet. As long as I continue to pursue Him, in His time I know He will make a way. Who knows, He might open a door I didn't even know was there! 

Upped the contrast so you can see the shadows/shading...

Finished product!

God bless,

The Artistic Believer

Taylor Swift

Click to improve quality

I was recently inspired to draw a portrait. I wanted the face to be simple and my drawing to be accurate. I wanted to have fun with the detail as well. This was the result!

This is the part I need to focus on next time

There are a few minor details that need tweaking. I am very pleased with her hair, but towards the bottom of the picture it looks less lifelike.  I think I made her face a bit too narrow, but it is hardly noticeable. I feel like I captured the overall expression of Taylor Swift. I have received several compliments on it from family and friends. :)

What I am learning how to do is fix those tweaks before I begin shading and to be very patient!

The inspiration came when I pulled up an old picture I had of Taylor Swift on my computer. She is certainly a young woman I admire. She holds a high standard of love and doesn't want to find "just anyone" to date. She wants to find the one. She should be a role model for every teenager wanting to find love.

There is an art contest coming up in the Mamaroneck Library. When I do get the chance to go there and enter, this will be my entry. Taylor Swift is not just a "celebrity" to me (nor is she more than that to me.) She is a beautiful young woman.  Like I said, she holds high standards for love that I think more people should hold (not to mention her singing is beautiful). It makes you wonder if she has ever experienced God's crazy love.

When you experience God's love, you don't want to find "just anyone" to be in a relationship with. God's love is the purest, most beautiful kind of love. It makes you view love in a completely different way. It flows through you; straight to the core of who you are. More importantly, His love overflows out of you and blesses other people. When His love overflows from you, you might bring more people to Him than you think.


In Christ,
The Artistic Believer

P.S. I just made a Twitter! Follow me, and I'll follow you! I also made a Facebook page. Like? :)