This is an abstract face entitled “Portrait of Lines and Color”. The artwork is approximately 11″x13″ on card stock paper, drawn and painted with markers, pens, watercolor, and paint pens. A few wisps of silver and gold paint pens were also used to give the drawing a shimmer from different viewing angles. The shimmer does not show up in the digital reproduction.
The accompanying video shows the drawing and painting process in a time lapse format. The video recording process offers a clear reminder of how the drawing looked during various stages of creation. And I think some very interesting images appear throughout the process that lend a certain experience, age, and depth to the final portrait.
If you found this page useful, consider linking to it. Simply copy and paste the code below into your web site (Ctrl+C to copy) It will look like this: Abstract Face | Portrait of Lines and Color
The color palette on this one is fantastic. Really rich deep values. And your absolutely right. The face evolves from so many faces that come first. I love that the eyes look off – in contemplation. In the midst of the chaos of lines , the expression contradicts it’s make up by being soothing.
Although I’m sure that each is different, what is the actual time span from beggining to end on a work like this one?
Vikki
woaw your work is actually amazing i just so happened to come across your site and fell inlove with your pieces
your colours are absolutely beautiful and very expressive indeed
infact im using you for my written contextual artist cause your work is really inspiring
you best get me a good gcse grade :p aahhaaa
no, really keep up the good work!
youre amazing
hey, just looking on the internet for inspiration for my GCSE coursework piece and i’m so lucky i found your site!
we have to develop our self portraits into a “final design” which expresses us, the way you use all the wild strokes and all the energy is awesome.
I would love a hint as to how you go about starting a drawing like this as i think i’ll use you (if it’s okay) as my inspiration.
cheers, look forward to reading any comment back you can make. i love this easy feedback box you have
Hi Will,
Thanks for your interest in my work! I’m glad you have stumbled upon inspiration!
My initial response to your question is to say start wherever you want! There’s no right or wrong way, but I suspect some methods will be more fun or challenging than others.
When I draw faces the eyes are very important to me. Initially, I would make very minimalistic face sketches. Learning how the placement of the eyes, nose, and mouth affects the final image is interesting, and the viewer is encouraged to “imagine” the rest of the portrait.
Or you could start by laying down scribbles and blocks of color, and building a face out of that. Or mix the techniques, constructing something more organic and abstract. You may even find a method that works just for you. It’s up to your creativity, and what you want to explore!
If you’d like more insight into my own spontaneous and varied style, check out the portrait drawing videos.
Michael your work is truly amazing
i live in england and stumbled across your website months ago. i found that your work was insperational
i am now using you as my artist study for my GCSE
continue the awsome work
and I got an A* for my final peice of which was based on your work so thank you
Hi james,
That’s awesome! I’m delighted to hear you were inspired, and congratulations on the A! If you post your work online, feel free to send a link.
well it seems more than just me take inspiration from you. i’ve done a first draft and it looks okay, but i havent quite mastered covering the page in colour or adding the right blacks/building depth into the image. i watched the videos and they’re a great help.
i’m sure it will develop, thanks for the reply
one thing i did mean to ask… as in the above drawing… is it a marker you use to lay down the facial features or what? ive tried with oil pastel and paint, doesnt quite work as a base layer.
Hi Will,
I’m glad to hear you are learning a lot from your art making process. Sometimes when I lay down base blocks of color I use thick markers or colored pencils. They seem to be more flexible than watercolors/paint, there’s no drying time, and I can draw over the colors easier. The oil pastels repel water based mediums, which adds an interesting challenge to working with them.
I looked up green envy, doing a blog about jealousy in my show biz family (John Cullum is my husband). Saw your remarkable, powerfully active portrayal of the madness, pain, curiosity of it.
Can I use it (small, interspersed in a paragraph) on a post I’m doing June 12?
I suspect the answer is NO, but my compliment is sincere
hey, it’s me again, just posting to say i took your advice, used you as my main artist research because you inspired me so much and came out with an A* coursework project for my graphics GCSE. cheers.
Thanks Will!
I like the bold lines and colors, and the solid forms emerging from all the chaos. You took on a new style fearlessly, and I admire your effort. Your strength is visible. And I like your other sketches too, nice work!
Hi , I have waited until retirement to take up art
found your site by accident and have to say your work is just amazing , and allthough i am nearly 70 ,you are inspiring, keep up the good work.
baz
Wow! I really love the way you draw, and how you make the face emerge from all of those lines
I hope you don’t mind, but I used your influence for an artwork (I must have an artist’s influence in each one) that I have to do for my IB art class.
Actually, when I saw your work I got inspired and I finally got a topic for my work I’m going to represent the Big-Bang explosion (all of the lines you draw made me think about explosions)
Thank you so much for publishing you art here
and good luch with everything you do.
-Dayana.
Leave a Comment
I am unable to respond to all comments individually. Please contact me if you have questions.
27 responses so far ↓
1 Vikki // Feb 27, 2009 at 11:06 pm
The color palette on this one is fantastic. Really rich deep values. And your absolutely right. The face evolves from so many faces that come first. I love that the eyes look off – in contemplation. In the midst of the chaos of lines , the expression contradicts it’s make up by being soothing.
Although I’m sure that each is different, what is the actual time span from beggining to end on a work like this one?
Vikki
2 MDE-ART.com // Feb 28, 2009 at 10:21 am
Thank you Vikki!
The Portrait of Lines and Color consisted of about 30 minutes of actual drawing/painting time.
~Michael
3 nish // Mar 12, 2009 at 1:46 pm
woaw your work is actually amazing i just so happened to come across your site and fell inlove with your pieces
your colours are absolutely beautiful and very expressive indeed
infact im using you for my written contextual artist cause your work is really inspiring
you best get me a good gcse grade :p aahhaaa
no, really keep up the good work!
youre amazing
xx
4 MDE-ART.com // Mar 14, 2009 at 11:15 am
Thanks nish! I appreciate your comments on my artwork and am glad to hear you are inspired! Good luck with your artistic pursuits, and grades!
~Michael
5 Nihil // Mar 18, 2009 at 7:56 pm
Very nice i never feel that before.
6 MDE Art Blog // Mar 21, 2009 at 10:45 pm
Thank you, Nihil!
7 Will // Mar 31, 2009 at 5:31 pm
hey, just looking on the internet for inspiration for my GCSE coursework piece and i’m so lucky i found your site!
we have to develop our self portraits into a “final design” which expresses us, the way you use all the wild strokes and all the energy is awesome.
I would love a hint as to how you go about starting a drawing like this as i think i’ll use you (if it’s okay) as my inspiration.
cheers, look forward to reading any comment back you can make. i love this easy feedback box you have
8 MDE Art Blog // Apr 2, 2009 at 7:27 pm
Hi Will,
Thanks for your interest in my work! I’m glad you have stumbled upon inspiration!
My initial response to your question is to say start wherever you want!
There’s no right or wrong way, but I suspect some methods will be more fun or challenging than others.
When I draw faces the eyes are very important to me. Initially, I would make very minimalistic face sketches. Learning how the placement of the eyes, nose, and mouth affects the final image is interesting, and the viewer is encouraged to “imagine” the rest of the portrait.
Or you could start by laying down scribbles and blocks of color, and building a face out of that. Or mix the techniques, constructing something more organic and abstract. You may even find a method that works just for you. It’s up to your creativity, and what you want to explore!
If you’d like more insight into my own spontaneous and varied style, check out the portrait drawing videos.
Good luck with your artistic pursuits!
~Michael
9 james // Apr 10, 2009 at 5:57 am
Michael your work is truly amazing
i live in england and stumbled across your website months ago. i found that your work was insperational
i am now using you as my artist study for my GCSE
continue the awsome work
and I got an A* for my final peice of which was based on your work so thank you
10 MDE Art Blog // Apr 11, 2009 at 12:51 pm
Hi james,
That’s awesome! I’m delighted to hear you were inspired, and congratulations on the A! If you post your work online, feel free to send a link.
Good luck with your artistic pursuits as well!
~Michael
11 Will // Apr 24, 2009 at 6:19 am
well it seems more than just me take inspiration from you. i’ve done a first draft and it looks okay, but i havent quite mastered covering the page in colour or adding the right blacks/building depth into the image. i watched the videos and they’re a great help.
i’m sure it will develop, thanks for the reply
keep up the good work, you have a great style
12 Will // Apr 24, 2009 at 6:21 am
one thing i did mean to ask… as in the above drawing… is it a marker you use to lay down the facial features or what? ive tried with oil pastel and paint, doesnt quite work as a base layer.
13 MDE Art Blog // May 5, 2009 at 12:17 pm
Hi Will,
I’m glad to hear you are learning a lot from your art making process. Sometimes when I lay down base blocks of color I use thick markers or colored pencils. They seem to be more flexible than watercolors/paint, there’s no drying time, and I can draw over the colors easier. The oil pastels repel water based mediums, which adds an interesting challenge to working with them.
Thanks again for your interest, and good luck!
~Michael
14 Emily Frankel // Jun 8, 2009 at 12:45 pm
I looked up green envy, doing a blog about jealousy in my show biz family (John Cullum is my husband). Saw your remarkable, powerfully active portrayal of the madness, pain, curiosity of it.
Can I use it (small, interspersed in a paragraph) on a post I’m doing June 12?
I suspect the answer is NO, but my compliment is sincere
15 MDE Art Blog // Jun 8, 2009 at 12:54 pm
Hi Emily,
Thank you for your interest in my artwork. I have emailed you privately about your request.
~Michael
16 vanessa // Jun 8, 2009 at 5:56 pm
Great art!!!!
17 vanessa // Jun 8, 2009 at 5:57 pm
GREAT ART!!!
18 MDE Art Blog // Jun 9, 2009 at 12:12 pm
Thank you vanessa!
19 Will // Sep 11, 2009 at 11:42 am
hey, it’s me again, just posting to say i took your advice, used you as my main artist research because you inspired me so much and came out with an A* coursework project for my graphics GCSE. cheers.
20 Will // Sep 11, 2009 at 11:42 am
oh yeh and… http://s707.photobucket.com/albums/ww73/wilf_123/drawings/?action=view¤t=finalpiece.jpg
21 MDE Art Blog // Sep 11, 2009 at 9:58 pm
Hi Will,
Thanks for the update on your coursework, and congratulations on the A!
I clicked the link to check out your work, but the page says I need a password? Can’t wait to see your art.
~Michael
22 Will // Sep 12, 2009 at 4:44 pm
there, i’ve fixed it i believe, no password needed. same link above
23 MDE Art Blog // Sep 13, 2009 at 12:42 pm
Thanks Will!
I like the bold lines and colors, and the solid forms emerging from all the chaos. You took on a new style fearlessly, and I admire your effort. Your strength is visible. And I like your other sketches too, nice work!
~Michael
24 Will // Sep 13, 2009 at 6:49 pm
thanks
25 john // Sep 18, 2009 at 12:02 pm
whats the title of this portrait
26 barrie // Oct 14, 2009 at 7:51 am
Hi , I have waited until retirement to take up art
found your site by accident and have to say your work is just amazing , and allthough i am nearly 70 ,you are inspiring, keep up the good work.
baz
27 Dayana // Oct 22, 2009 at 9:14 pm
Wow! I really love the way you draw, and how you make the face emerge from all of those lines
I hope you don’t mind, but I used your influence for an artwork (I must have an artist’s influence in each one) that I have to do for my IB art class.
I’m going to represent the Big-Bang explosion (all of the lines you draw made me think about explosions)
Actually, when I saw your work I got inspired and I finally got a topic for my work
Thank you so much for publishing you art here
and good luch with everything you do.
-Dayana.
Leave a Comment
I am unable to respond to all comments individually. Please contact me if you have questions.