A Boat Of A Different Kind- Boat Race by Fiona Phipps

He looks good Fiona, better than I could do!!! Keep at it, you're doing so well with portraits.

I was expecting a selfie Fiona - you promised ( half ) - and I thought, this can't be Fiona! Not even on a bad hair day! Well, this is better than the first, the proportions are better. Just the nose needs a bit of extra work.

The practice will get it Fiona, just keep going. I have today discovered a super artist you might already know her Scottish artist Joan Eardley.I saw a piece of her art for the first time today and what an artist she is. I am telling you because I know you will appreciate her work as well. But you might already know of her.

I would find portraits very difficult to do in graphite so I think this is very promising. I find pastel pencils much more forgiving and easier to handle Fiona.

Thanks Margaret, I will keep trying! Lol....half promised.....are you sure that was me Marjorie ? 😂 This is certainly a better example of any of my bad hair days! I thought I hadn’t got the mouth in the right place, too near the bottom of the nose, lots of other stuff which I hope I can improve on. Thank you for you input. I do know of Joan Eardley John, I’m a huge fan, have several of her books. A sense of place was published for the exhibition of her work last year in Edinburgh, it’s a good book with a collection of her works divided between her Glasgow paintings and Catterline on the East coast of Scotland. Thanks for your comment John.

I have sent for one of Joans books, A Sense Of Place. Scottish artist are some of the best in the world. Joan get to the grit of life and more for me.

Nice portrait Fiona, Your portraits are coming on well, a lot better than my ones

It's a good solid drawing, Fiona. These full face, straight ahead whatever you call it, poses are the most difficult to do.

Good portrait Fiona, nothing wrong.

What you have done Fiona is bold and full of character, there are some good strong lines there, I'm always too neat with my drawings and I wish I could be more dynamic with my portraits, so well done!!

A handsome 'bat' man Fiona who obviously caught your eye..lol

Thanks David, I think we are both learning a lot about how difficult portraits can be! Now you have surprised me Lewis, I chose full frontal because I thought it was easier! Thank you for that appreciate it. Thank you for your comment Cesare, you give me confidence. It’s okay being dynamic in application Linda but I don’t get the accuracy that you do in your portraits. I must say though, scruffy hides a multitude! Lol.

Louise, I think his name was Robin something.......he is quite handsome in a rugged, craggy sort of way I suppose. I chose him because as Marjorie pointed out we have a characteristic in common.....hair that looks like a frosted mop! Thanks!

Thanks for the information Fiona, appreciated.

Hey, Fiona, this is much better than you give it credit for. I applaud your effort and would seriously encourage you to keep at it. It looks like a very credible sketch. Ok there are a few things that could be fixed, but some could be addressed quite quickly if you're willing. This is, incidentally, by no means a bad drawing, so don't even think about giving up. Given it's a line drawing with quick suggestions of shading: Try this quickly with gusto. * Is the hairline really that straight? Have a check and give it a nudge. Take a pencil and hold it to the part of the scalp you want to change. Line the pencil shaft with the hairline and pretend it's the hand of a clock. What time does the big hand say? *smile* 17 minutes past the hour? Draw it in before you forget. Do the other side * As a general rule the eyes will be the same size from a full face perspective. The gap between the eyes is often the same length as each eye, like you have three eyes.. (not always) Make the adjustment. * The eyes will often come to a point in the corners, but the eyeball will have rounded edges inside the eye. Check to see if the eyes are really that pointed at the outer edges, then draw a simple and short curve inside the eye. Nothing fancy because this is an exercise. * The nose: draw a diagonal line from the inner nostril to where the outer curve of the nose ends. IE that bit that curves away and back to the bridge of the nose. Either rub out or shade out the excess nose corners. Do this on both sides. reduce the size of the nostril then apply a curve in the same direction as the new nose. Don't worry if it seems too small. * The gap between the nose and mouth can generally be determined by placing the line that separates the top lip from the bottom lip just above half way. The corners often line up with the pupils of the eyes. * The face as a whole is often divided into three thirds, from top to eyes, eyes to the bottom of the nose, and from the nose to the chin. These are general rules but they are a good starting point. Try them and see if you get the result you were looking for. It DOES take a bit of practice but if you keep looking at those lines you'll get there. I guarantee it. I hope some of this helps and please post a revision to let us see how it comes along. Best Brian

Brian THANK you! I don’t suppose you have any plans to be north of the border anytime soon, do you? Lol. I could do with you stood at the side of me when I attempt my third. That’s a very condensed and fairly straight forward ‘map’ to follow and I will certainly put it into practice. Thank you again Brian for your help, I appreciate it.

Carole, sorry I’ve just noticed your comment, thank you. I only have about three pastel pencils...lol...white, ultra marine and grey, I think. I could try them actually, tonally they would work wouldn’t they? Thanks for the tip.

I think you have something there Fiona, I rather like that energy and style you have. keep at it.

Fiona, just how can your 'bat' man be called Robin? LOL

I think it's a great piece Fiona. You underestimate your talent. Sincerely Mrs. P.

A couple of corrections, Fiona, to my drawing notes. The eyes note should have read, "from the top to the eyebrows, with the eyes coming roughly half way down the face". I didn't want you to think the eyes were only a third of the way down. The mouth note should have read, " just above half way between the nose and chin". I forgot to say chin. Sorry about that but I was being rushed out the door by my son. He wanted a lift to five-a-side football. *grin* They won! Best Brian

P S The ears are spot on. B

I thought it was a 'selfie'... actually F, it is quite good with some expressive mark making and the proportions look fine - keep at it...

Ah ah love it Fiona, great portrait.

Keep with it Fiona

Charles, thank you, we’ll both keep at it! You know Louise......’bat’ man and Robin...lol. Na na na na Nan na ....Batman!! Michael you are very kind, thank you.

Brian thank you........glad they won!

Ha ha Alan.....he’s prettier than me! Many thanks Carole and Dennis!

Well done Fiona, portraits are so hard to do.

That's an impressive array of marks and lines, Fiona, and I think the result is pretty darned good!

Sarah, Seok, thank you both very much indeed!