Ella

I like to do black and white portraits to warm up. There is no planning. Just some reference and a white piece of paper.  It is relaxing for me and a good way to ease into a more complicated piece later. I named this one "Ella" after a book character from the current audiobook I'm listening too. I often name my portraits after songs or book characters.

I had a lot of fun with this one. I wanted to add a little narrative since I often don't with my portraits, so I needed to consider what environment she was in. The character has a lot of curves to her face and hair, so I knew I needed some strong straight lines to help compliment all those curved shapes. A forest. I added debris to her hair to let the audience ask questions about this character's story. Why is she in a forest? Who is she? Who or what is she staring at? so on and so on....

The inspirational reference I used for this portrait. I looooved her hair.  I also thought it would be a good challenge working with the texture of her hair vs. the feather thing vs. the smoothness of her skin. I also loved how her face *pops!*

Coraline Spots

"Coraline closed the old wooden door, turned out the light, and went to bed. She dreamed of black shapes that slid from place to place, avoiding the light, until they were all gathered together under the moon. Little black shapes with little red eyes and sharp yellow teeth. They started to sing,

We are small but we are many

We are many we are small

We were here before you rose

We will be here when you fall.

Their voices were high and whispering and slightly whiney. They made Coraline feel uncomfortable..."

Then there is my favorite character Cat.

"...Coraline also explored for animals. She found a hedgehog, and a snake-skin (but no snake), and a rock that looked just like a frog, and a toad that looked just like a rock.

There was also a haughty black cat, who would sit on walls and tree stumps, and watch her; but would slip away if ever she went over to try to play with it."


One of my favorite sayings from the Cat:

“We...we could be friends.'

We COULD be rare specimens of an exotic breed of dancing African elephants, but we're not. At least, I'M not.”