Portrait of a Girl (Master Copy)

This is a charcoal drawing of Portrait of a Girl. The original was painted by Michiel Sweerts (1618-1684). He was a flemish painter of the baroque period. He has done some really lovely portraits.

This charcoal drawing was done on watercolor paper that was prepped with burnt sienna acrylic paint. I covered the painted paper with charcoal, rubbed it into the texture of the paper with a brush, then I coated it again and started removing charcoal with a kneaded eraser. The entire thing was a process of adding and subtracting charcoal. I also used white charcoal pencil for highlights. It was touch and go for a while. At first, it was looking like I was making a mess. But, if you just trust the process and keep going, it does get better and you can back down off the cliff and continue. (At least, that is MY process… LOL!)

I am very happy with her. When I started to work on her, I suddenly realized that I was not filming and started to get up and get my equipment. But then, I decided that I would like to just get lost in the zone every once in a while. I relaxed and took off.

I do have a new video on my youtube channel, if you are interested.

I have read the most nifty book! I will be posting about it next week. Oh, it is SO NIFTY! And beautiful! May you dream and wonder about it until I get my post up… LOL!

---

Though trees burn bare and girls turn wives,
We shall afford our costly seasons;
There is a gentleness survives
That will outspeak and has its reasons.
There is a loveliness exists,
Preserves us, not for specialists.

-- William DeWitt Snodgrass