Untitled by Jenny Johnstone

You have incredible control over charcoal, I just make a complete mess and then look as though I've been out sweeping chimneys :) Super portrait, especially those eyes.

Amazing work for charcoal as it is clean and fresh looking. I have tried charcoal and just make the mother and father of all messes with it! Great portrait with such vitality.

Thank you Val and Thea. Yes, the mess is indescribable - it's the constant blowing off the excess, it rises like a cloud. House always looks like its covered in a layer of soot, and so do I, bronchial tubes like a coal miner ! But it is the most forgiving of mediums, soft and sooty and expressive. I love the soft willow sticks and love the way I can smudge and soften it with my fingers and lift it with the putty rubber.

Your work is incredible Jenny, you inject so much life into your pictures.

This caught my eye yesterday, but I didn't have time to comment. All your work is very powerful and this is no exception; wonderful texture and expression.

... I forgot to ask, what paper do you use? Thanks!

Thank you Fiona and Gudrun. Gudrun - I used Winsor & Newton, heavyweight cartridge, medium grain for this one. Often use watercolour paper but the grain is more suitable for older men's faces, although HP is suitable for most subjects

Jenny this is wonderful.

What size are your charcoal drawings, Jenny? Except for life classes, it's not a medium I've often used but you have incredible control over it. I still can't believe you don't show them anywhere now - they are so eye-catching and beautifully executed.

Thank you Denise and Carlina, this is small, about 8" X 8", most of the portraits are about 16" X 12" and some of the more complicated pieces are full sheet imperial - of course mounting and framing adds to those measurements. That is kind of you to say, Carlina, but I did show quite a few charcoal pieces in Gallery North and the public don't like them, they generally say "Rather dark". LOL I mostly just do them to practise things I find difficult, like faces and hands

Very beautiful, so well done Jenny even to the impressions of finger pressed to her cheeks.

Thank you Carole