Impression Evergreen

"Self-Portrait with Hat" Colored Pencil This self-portrait is not meant to be a photographic likeness or a complete psychological profile. This drawing is a careful study in contrast while also breaking some academic rules. COLOR SCHEME - An obvious contradiction is the complementary color scheme comprised of yellow-orange and blue-violet. When placed side-by-side, these two colors actually enhance each other’s vibrancy. VALUE RANGE - Another strong disparity is found in the wide value range. Just as light emerges from darkness, the murky-blue background is a somber foil at odds with the pale-yellow face. TEXTURE - Another example of divergence is the different textures on display throughout. Some of the deep shadow areas are burnished smooth while other parts are stippled like pointillism. SHADING - There are a few patches of flat color, especially in the coat and hat, that are contradicted by sleek gradients. The most careful shading is reserved for rendering the facial...

"Judy Thinking" Colored Pencil During a moment of meditative silence and quiet contemplation, the artist’s wife is drawn while thinking. This reserved scene evokes a certain melancholy and sense of resignation that betrays the private introspection. Seated in a comfortable brown chair, Judy’s posture is rigid and geometric as her exact contour is faithfully outlined with black pencil. The pensive mood is achieved through the static composition and muted color palette that consists of mostly browns and grays. She wears charcoal leggings and a turquoise top that contrasts sharply with the rest of the warm hues. The clothing is described with some basic shading and blocks of solid shadows. Like a ghostly apparition, the skin tones are pale and delicate, exuding an aura of something spiritual. Layers of yellow are defined by deep, dark shadows that give her hair a sculptural quality. Adorned with golden jewelry, her arms are slightly distorted and shaded in a matter-of-fact manne...

"Lukas in Black and White" Colored Pencil Lukas is 20 years old and this portrait is a simplified description composed in black and white. Not intended to be a photographic likeness, the sitter’s unique personality is expressed through deliberate exaggeration. The young man’s head is close-cropped bringing his vigorous presence up close and personal. His jet-black hair is splayed off the page while some unruly strands hang down over the forehead. Luke’s bright eyes are the focal point so they are the most precise feature while there is less detail as the drawing radiates out to the edges. The sharp contrast between light and dark defines his appearance. The thick nose and full lips cast soft shadows that create the illusion of three dimensions. The prominent chin is the centerpiece of a rugged jawline, creating a rigid contour that is his most striking characteristic. The facial structure is built upon the foundation of a powerful neck that betrays the physical tenacity posse...

"Dark Self-Portrait" Colored Pencil Composed in a somber shadow of murkiness, the resulting work is a dark self-portrait. A sliver of illumination creates a streak of highlights that defines the firm structure of an antique face. The side sunk in deep shadow is described by a limited palette of gold, orange and dark brown. Soft shading is employed to graduate from one tone to another evoking an aura of still calm. The understated mood and stingy color scheme is inspired by the work of the masters of old. Another experiment in line, form, color and chiaroscuro and less a study in the psychology of the sitter. Thin, wavy hair tops a high forehead that has been wrinkled by time. Searching intensely for the essential features, black eyes are set into deep sockets below a sharp brow ridge. A broad nose casts the darkest shadow that blends seamlessly into the ochre cheek. The stern mouth is delineated by reddish lips that dissolve into a prominent jowl. The pinkish ear is more tran...

"Self-Portrait with Green Background" Colored Pencil A self-portrait more concerned with the possibilities of line and color and less preoccupied with character and psychology. The picture is merely a sheet of textured paper covered by drawn forms that are filled with pencil pigment. The head’s deep shadow sculpts the rigid structure of the face while an array of golden hues attempts to express a glowing inner-light. The pink nose, ruddy ear and indigo eyes add some allure to the numinous color scheme. Thick strands of dark hair curl across a high forehead while tufts of muted gray are streaked into the sideburn. Accentuating the intense glare, sharp line work represents the many wrinkles and weathered features. The biggest gamble is the verdant background that is quilted from a puzzle of interlocking shapes. The various shades of green contrast strongly with the earthen flesh, creating a vibration between the complementaries. Searching for stability, the intention is not to ...

"Portrait of Lukas" Colored Pencil Emerging from a violet void, the Portrait of Lukas is carefully rendered with flecks of unblemished gold. The intentionally soft shading reflects the gentle temperament of an innocent soul. Invoking interest in this idyllic representation of adolescence is the tension created by contrasting the precise modeling of the face with the flattened grid pattern defining the much simplified shirt. The deep, blue-violet background forms a strong complement with the child’s pale, yellow-orange complexion. The sparkling tones expressing the naive character of someone so full of life. Influenced by his avocations, the heavy-handed line work, disentangled hair and detailed eyes is Anime inspired. A callow presence during disarray - like a kite in a hurricane or a ray of sunshine during a storm.