Jimmy (Finnish Boy in Overalls) • Work in Progress
Drawing and painting people is irresistible to me. All the faces I see tell a story. This painting (in progress) was inspired by an old black and white photograph of a young boy named Jimmy sitting on the tailgate of his grandfather's car. His dog parked in front of him, ready for whatever might happen next.
I was drawn to this photo.
My first drawings were modified blind sketches in ink (one shown). I made adjustments of shape, size, direction, and detail along the way by re-drawing rather than erasing. I added color with Berol Prismacolor pencils.
I pulled out an eighth sheet of 140 lb. cold press paper, soaked it, towel-rolled it, and drew shapes of this boy with a #8 round brush using Stephen Quiller's watercolor in Cobalt Blue. Then I proceeded to paint with SQ's paint, mixing skin tone along the way. I will paint this young boy again by re-drawing with the brush on paper.
We artists have been told by other artists before us ("those with finer minds," as Ed Whitney would often say) to "paint what you feel; paint with love; and to paint the apple you must be the apple." For me, it is truly wonderful to draw and paint a subject I love — people.
As many of your know, I relish painting birch trees too — because they are like figures and family; also apple, basswood, and other blossoms because their petals remind me of a baby's cheek.
